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Below are RotoBaller's Week 7 defense tiers and rankings, or which defenses to stream, start and target at the end of your 2016 drafts for Week 7 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 7.
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 7 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 7 pickup or add. Good luck in Week 7, RotoBallers!
Editor's Note: Once you're done here, be sure to read about even more Week 7 waiver wire recommendations, for all fantasy-relevant positions. Just click on any link: ALL - RB - WR - TE - QB - DEF - FAAB - CUTS
Week 7 Defenses To Start & Stream: Tiers & Rankings
Teams on bye: Dallas Cowboys, Carolina Panthers
Tier 1 Defenses
1. Minnesota Vikings (@ PHI)
2. Buffalo Bills (@ MIA)
3. Denver Broncos (vs. HOU)
I don't need to explain why the Vikings are back in the top tier, do I? Carson Wentz has fallen back to Earth after his divine beginning to the season, and this defense has stood up to everyone they've faced anyway. With an extra week to prepare for this game, I'm betting folding money that they come back with a vengeance.
The Bills, uh...they seem pretty real. I am no starry-eyed dreamer who ignores the fact that their four consecutive wins have come against a sloppy Carson Palmer, Jacoby Brissett, Case Keenum and Colin Kaepernick, but hey! They get Ryan Tannehill in Week 7! The good times shall continue to roll in South Beach.
Tier 2 Defenses
4. Seattle Seahawks (@ ARI)
5. Baltimore Ravens (@ NYJ)
6. Arizona Cardinals (vs. SEA)
7. Philadelphia Eagles (vs. MIN)
The Ravens defense looked pretty terrific the first few weeks of the season, but they've now gone three straight games with one or fewer sacks. With a limited pass rush, there is a chance they'll struggle to contain the Jets offense--but I'm betting on Ryan PickSixTrick pulling some of his usual shenanigans and gifting this DST a few points.
The Eagles DST was actually not that impressive in Week 6, despite the high fantasy point total--they allowed 27 points and produced no sacks. They did manage one interception, which was returned for a touchdown, along with a kick return touchdown. I have faith that they'll return to form in Week 7 against the Vikings in what should be a relatively low-scoring game.
Tier 3 Defenses
8. Tennessee Titans (vs. IND)
9. Los Angeles Rams (vs. NYG)
10. New England Patriots (@ PIT)
11. Washington Redskins (@ DET)
12. Houston Texans (@ DEN)
13. Green Bay Packers (vs. CHI)
Don't look now, but the Titans have posted six sacks in back-to-back games. Sure, those games were against the Dolphins and Browns, but in Week 7 they get the Colts, who, as of this writing, are leading the NFL in sacks allowed. The Titans should be able to put Andrew Luck on his back a few times, giving them a nice, high floor as an unlikely streaming option.
There's no getting around it--the Steelers offense is not as good without Ben Roethlisberger. He'll be out for at least two weeks following a meniscus "clean-up" surgery on Monday morning, and with his departure comes plenty of opportunity for the Patriots DST. There is a ton of upside here, both in keeping the Steelers off the board and in forcing some turnovers.
Tier 4 Defenses
14. Oakland Raiders (@ JAX)
15. Cincinnati Bengals (vs. CLE)
16. Kansas City Chiefs (vs. NO)
17. Chicago Bears (@ GB)
18. Miami Dolphins (vs. BUF)
This Bengals defense has allowed 22 or more points in all of their games but one in 2016. They've only generated seven turnovers in six games, and are struggling to get a consistent pass rush going. Their presence in Tier 3 is only due to the matchup with the Browns, whose shocking offensive output makes me exceedingly nervous. With all that said, it is the Browns--there is a bit of upside with Cincy.
The Chiefs' DST got back on the right track in their first game since their 43-point drubbing at the hands of the Steelers, holding the Raiders to just 10 points. While this unit hasn't done much in the sack department, they are leading the NFL in interceptions (six of which came in one game against Ryan PickSixTrick, but that's neither here nor there). They do face the Saints, which is why they're in Tier 4, but they're the on-the-road Saints, which is why they're not in Tier 5.
Tier 5 Defenses
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@ SF)
20. San Francisco 49ers (vs. TB)
21. Detroit Lions (vs. WAS)
22. Atlanta Falcons (vs. SD)
23. San Diego Chargers (@ ATL)
24. Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. NE)
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