3 FanDuel Defenses to Target in Week 8

Picking a defense can be an overlooked part of playing daily fantasy football on FanDuel. It makes sense, too, as D/STs rarely produce huge outputs.

However, we still need to give a lot of thought to which defense we roster, and there's definitely an edge to be had if you hit on a D/ST.

With that in mind, here are three defenses to have on your radar for this week's main slate.

All betting odds come from the NFL odds at FanDuel Sportsbook.

Baltimore D/ST

FanDuel Salary: $4,800

The Baltimore Ravens' defense continues to be a reliable play. The unit ranks third in total fantasy points, generating most of its production from a league-best 29 team sacks.

Following their dominant 38-6 win over the Detroit Lions, Baltimore has a favorable matchup against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 8. According to numberFire's adjusted run offense rankings, Arizona features the fourth-best rushing attack. This will be a strength-on-strength matchup with the Ravens ranking within the top half of numberFire's adjusted run defense ratings. Plus, Baltimore features one of the best off-ball linebackers in football with Roquan Smith.

Kyler Murray's return this week seems unlikely, which should make the Cardinals' passing attack virtually ineffective. The Ravens feature numberFire's top adjusted pass defense while Arizona features the 10th-worst passing attack.

Most importantly, Arizona is 20th in ESPN's pass-block win rate. Baltimore's pass rush could be in store for another big week, creating the prime opportunity for fantasy points.

New York Jets D/ST

FanDuel Salary: $4,400

Looking for a lower salary? The New York Jets could be an option as they face the New York Giants on Sunday. This would be a rather safe play with the Jets holding the 10th-most fantasy points among defenses. Of course, the Giants' offense has been atrocious, ranking second-to-last in numberFire's offense ratings.

The G-Men also hold the fourth-worst marks in numberFire's run and pass offense rankings. The Giants' offense looked much improved in Week 7 with Tyrod Taylor racking up 279 passing yards. Considering Taylor's -0.01 expected points added per drop back (EPA/DB) compared to Daniel Jones' -0.38 EPA/DB, New York could have a QB controversy on its hands.

However, the Giants' competition will be much improved in Week 8. The Jets have numberFire's eighth-best pass defense, while the Washington Commanders (last week's opponent) has the fifth-worst pass defense.

The Jets' D/ST finished among the top six in fantasy points in back-to-back weeks by generating turnovers. The Giants are 26th in turnover margin and 17th in giveaways per game. The Jets seem poised for another monster defensive showing against a sputtering offense.

Minnesota D/ST

FanDuel Salary: $3,700

The Minnesota Vikings are riding high after perhaps the most surprising win of Week 7 -- their 22-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. The defense flourished, allowing only 3.0 yards per carry, and it generated three turnovers.

The Brian Flores effect seems to be settling in. Minnesota's D/ST has two top-4 finishes since Week 4, and it has been among the top 13 units in three of the last four games. The Vikings' defense is also 11th in total fantasy points.

After showing out on Monday Night Football, this unit is no longer flying under the radar, yet Minnesota has a $3,700 salary for Week 8. That seems like a steal to me -- especially when they're playing the Green Bay Packers.

The Packers have been much-maligned this week. Jordan Love is struggling with seven interceptions over his previous four games. The Vikings have snagged four picks over their last two contests.

Minnesota also features numberFire's seventh-best run defense, which could offset Green Bay's ground game. Aaron Jones (hamstring) and Christian Watson (knee) are questionable for Sunday's game, which could lead to another tough day for the Pack's offense.

With the Vikings generating turnovers in recent games, Minnesota could be a terrific value against Green Bay's stumbling passing attack.

Looking to build some NFL DFS lineups? Head over to FanDuel’s daily fantasy football lobby to see all the offerings for this week's slates.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.