NFL Week 8 fantasy defense rankings: Best DST starts
The simplest strategy for picking a fantasy defense in recent weeks is to go against the shakiest quarterback you can find.
Sure enough, the Denver Broncos (vs. the Saints' Spencer Rattler) and the Los Angeles Rams (vs. the Raiders' Gardner Minshew) were Week 7's highest-scoring fantasy defenses ... with the Cincinnati Bengals (vs. the Browns' trio of QBs) and Buffalo Bills (vs. the Titans' Mason Rudolph) not far behind.
If Washington's rookie QB Jayden Daniels is limited, the Chicago Bears could be the best start of Week 8.
Fantasy football rankings are based on scoring used in most seasonal and daily fantasy football formats. Six points are awarded for defensive and kick return touchdowns. Two points are awarded for safeties and one half point is awarded for sacks.
Rankings are compiled by Daniel Dobish, TheHuddle.com.
Fantasy football Week 8 defense/special teams rankings
| Rank | Team | Opp |
| 1 | Denver Broncos | vs. Car. |
| 2 | Chicago Bears | at Was. |
| 3 | Minnesota Vikings | at L.A.-R |
| 4 | Green Bay Packers | at Jac. |
| 5 | San Francisco 49ers | vs. Dal. |
| 6 | Pittsburgh Steelers | vs. N.Y.-G |
| 7 | New York Jets | at N.E. |
| 8 | New Orleans Saints | at L.A.-C |
| 9 | Seattle Seahawks | vs. Buf. |
| 10 | Cleveland Browns | vs. Bal. |
| 11 | New York Giants | at Pit. |
| 12 | Detroit Lions | vs. Ten. |
| 13 | Buffalo Bills | at Sea. |
| 14 | Los Angeles Chargers | vs. N.O. |
| 15 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | vs. Atl. |
| 16 | Arizona Cardinals | at Mia. |
| 17 | Houston Texans | vs. Ind. |
| 18 | Baltimore Ravens | at Cle. |
| 19 | Atlanta Falcons | at T.B. |
| 20 | Dallas Cowboys | at S.F. |
| 21 | Cincinnati Bengals | vs. Phi. |
| 22 | Washington Commanders | vs. Chi. |
| 23 | Miami Dolphins | vs. Ari. |
| 24 | New England Patriots | vs. N.Y.-J |
| 25 | Indianapolis Colts | at Hou. |
| 26 | Tennessee Titans | at Det. |
| 27 | Jacksonville Jaguars | vs. G.B. |
| 28 | Kansas City Chiefs | at L.V. |
| 29 | Philadelphia Eagles | at Cin. |
| 30 | Los Angeles Rams | vs. Min. |
| 31 | Las Vegas Raiders | vs. K.C. |
| 32 | Carolina Panthers | at Den. |