October 12, 2016

Bill's fantasy football rankings for Week 6 defenses (DEF) -- streamers, starts, sits and D/ST waiver wire pickups to add. His Week 6 (2016) tiers and ranks for all NFL defenses.

Below are RotoBaller's Week 6 defense tiers and rankings, or which defenses to stream, start and target at the end of your 2016 drafts for Week 6 of the NFL and fantasy football season. Our tiered defense rankings are your guide to drafting defenses, making waiver wire pickups/adds to improve your lineups, and to decide which defenses to start, sit, target, avoid or stream for Week 6.

Any and all _____ or ______ questions can be answered by the rankings--whoever I have ranked higher is who I would start.

Starting the right defense every week can be a difference-maker, so we have broken out our defense rankings into tiers with analysis on each matchup. Some of these Week 6 defenses have good matchups and are not widely owned, representing fantasy scoring opportunities if they are available on your league's waiver wire for a Week 6 pickup or add. Good luck in Week 6, RotoBallers!

Editor's Note: Once you're done here, be sure to read about more Week 6 waiver wire recommendations, for all other positions. Just click on any link: ALL - RB - WR - TE - QB - DEF - FAAB - CUTS

Week 6 Defenses To Start & Stream: Tiers & Rankings

Teams on bye: Minnesota Vikings, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tier 1 Defenses

1. Buffalo Bills (vs. SF)
2. Arizona Cardinals (vs. NYJ)
3. Denver Broncos (@ SD)

I'm doin' it. I'm putting the Bills up top. All this defense has done in the last three games is allow an average 12.33 points, tally nine total turnovers, score two defensive touchdowns, and post 12 sacks. Hell, UDFA Lorenzo Alexander is leading the NFL in sacks. They'll now face a 49ers offense that may have some new life with Colin Kaepernick under center, but will probably have some sort of learning curve as he gets up to speed. Don't count on them scoring 20 or more points on the Bills on the road, but do plan on a couple of turnovers and a handful of sacks.

The Cardinals D/ST has still been one of the top fantasy units in 2016, thanks in large part to the pressure they're able to put on opposing quarterbacks. They're second in the NFL in sacks through five games (18) and have racked up 12 turnovers--many as a result of quarterbacks making poor choices under the aforementioned pressure. Know who makes bad choices under pressure (and sometimes without pressure)? Ryan PickSixTrick. Gimme the Cardinals at home seven days a week and twice on Sundays.
Tier 2 Defenses

4. New England Patriots (vs. CIN)
5. Philadelphia Eagles (@ WAS)
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (@ MIA)
7. Seattle Seahawks (vs. ATL)
8. Los Angeles Rams (@ DET)
9. Baltimore Ravens (@ NYG)
10. Kansas City Chiefs (@ OAK)

As soon as I tweeted this the Eagles defense responded with a fumble recovery and three sacks, salvaging their previously disappointing fantasy day. This squad is still averaging just 194 total yards of offense against per game, and I'm confident that the Redskins won't be able to run on them (they're in the bottom third in the NFL in rushing). Add to that the fact that the Eagles have at least three sacks in each game and you've got a recipe for a high-floor D/ST in Week 6.

Which defense is the real Rams defense? They were toasted in Week 1 by the 49ers and again on Sunday by the resurgent Buffalo Bills, both of whom ran all over them. To be fair, they were without three of their starting defensive linemen in the Bills game, but depth is just as big a factor in a defense's success. This same unit dominated both the Seahawks and Cardinals, and I think they bounce back against a Lions team that is going to be forced to throw to move the ball forward.
Tier 3 Defenses

11. Green Bay Packers (vs. DAL)
12. Detroit Lions (vs. LA)
13. Tennessee Titans (vs. CLE)
14. Houston Texans (vs. IND)
15. Carolina Panthers (@ NO)

We're officially in "stream against the Browns" territory now. Terrelle Pryor might have to play QB with every other passer (even Clipboard Jesus!) currently injured, and even if Charlie Whitehurst or Cody Kessler does suit up that offense isn't scary. Give me the Titans, who are coming off a six-sack effort against the Dolphins. They should be able to keep Isaiah Crowell in check, and if they can they'll merit fantasy consideration.

So uh, the Panthers defense has allowed at least 21 points in every game this year. I'm writing this before their Monday night game with the Bucs, so I'll update once that occurs. Regardless, this defense has been nowhere close to dominant, and I'm not counting on them to suddenly figure it out in the Superdome against Drew Brees and company. The home/road splits for the Saints offense are ridiculous, and I have way more faith in those than I do in the Panthers. Seriously consider other options this week--Drew Brees should pick apart that secondary.
Tier 4 Defenses

16. Cleveland Browns (@ TEN)
17. Washington Redskins (vs. PHI)
18. Jacksonville Jaguars (@ CHI)
19. Chicago Bears (vs. JAX)
20. Atlanta Falcons (@ SEA)
21. San Diego Chargers (vs. DEN)