It’s getting deep enough into the season to seriously consider dropping some of your fantasy football disappointments. But there are other players to hang on to for the rest of the year. But let’s focus on the often-overlooked defensive side of the ball. Here are the fantasy football defense and special teams rankings for Week 6 of the 2026 season.
With the bye weeks upon us, streaming defenses might not be as easy. That’s because managers with good defenses will be looking for a replacement. Included in the mix is one of the best defenses in the NFL. The Vikings are off this week.
So let’s look at how things shake out for Week 6.
Fantasy Football standouts
It may seem like a gamble based on what happened last week, but it’s time to pick on the Buccaneers again this week. Rookie undrafted free agent Jalon Daniels looked good last week against the Cowboys. However, the Steelers will have a whole game of film to study on Daniels. And that could make life tough for the Tampa Bay offense.
We will have to wait and see whether Asante Samuel’s claim holds any water. He said Baker Mayfield’s job should be in jeopardy, according to a post on X by Say What Needs To Be Said via Pro Football Network.
“Todd Bowles, he has a tough decision ahead of him to save his job,” Samuel said. “Baker Mayfield shouldn’t see the field again as long as Jalon Daniels is a healthy athlete. Who cares if Baker Mayfield was just given a new contract?
“The proof is right there. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ defense is legit. So who does the finger point to after Tampa Bay getting their first win of the season against one of the top offenses in the NFL?”
What will the Steelers do with Daniels? They haven’t been great as a fantasy defense this year. They started strong with a DST2 finish in Week 1. But since then, they went 9, 16, 11, and 25. They were pretty bad against the Colts, although they did defend 11 passes.
Former Steelers great James Harrison said the team did better against the Colts than meets the eye, according to the Deebo and Joe podcast via Yahoo.
“The defense held that man Jonathan Taylor to 45 yards on 15 rushes. That's what it's supposed to look like. That's what you do to a top running back.
“And when they get down there, stand up, stiffen up. Don't let them get touchdowns. Hold them to field goals. Good job, defense. That pass defense is still a problem. Rush and coverage work together, so that means we've got to get more pressure and we've got to cover better.”
Another good option for Week 6 is the Chiefs. They get the surprisingly hapless Chargers offense. Who would have dreamed you could pick on the Chargers this season?
However, Justin Herbert looks like a shell of his former self. The bad thing is the Chiefs haven’t been able to get to the quarterback this season. In four games, they have a paltry four sacks. However, they’ve held opposing quarterbacks to a passer rating of 76.8. That’s fourth-best in the NFL.
This could be a game where the Chiefs go wild on defense. The Chargers are 0-5 and haven’t scored more than 20 points in four of their five games.
Other standouts
This is a good week to start the Ravens. It’s not because of what they’ve done so far. They have just one top-10 finish this season, and it was No. 10 against the Titans in Week 4.
However, they are coming off a decent performance against the Falcons. They tied their season high with three sacks. And they clinched the game with Kyle Hamilton’s interception.
They get the Browns in Week 6. And even though it’s on the road, the Ravens are a decent pick. They have become a team that makes the necessary plays at the end of games, according to baltimoreravens.com.
“We talk about being at your best when your best is needed, and just like, no flinch, no panic, not getting affected by plays,” head coach Jesse Minter said. “I think that's what we did, and that's a big step for us. That's a big step for our team.”
Another good option is New England. The Patriots get to play the Jets at home. And while the Jets have been surprisingly competitive this season, it’s more about their defense than their offense.
Plus, the Patriots are due for a good fantasy defensive game. They finished as the No. 2 defense in Week 2, but sank to 30 against the Jaguars in Week 3. The Patriots looked strong against the Bills and did what they needed to do against the Raiders.
Article Continues BelowLook for the Patriots to get after Jets quarterback Geno Smith hard and heavy this week.
Fantasy Football sleepers
The Jaguars game against the Texans has the look of a low-scoring contest. Sometimes that means the offenses play surprisingly well. But in this case, the Jaguars are a good fantasy bet.
They have three top-10 finishes this season. And this could very well be another one.
Another choice is the Eagles. They are coming off a reasonably good effort against the Jaguars’ tough offense. It was a game the Eagles should have won. And their defense had a strong hand in keeping it close.
This week they get the Panthers’ tough offense. So it won’t be easy. But this is what fantasy sleepers are made of.
Fantasy Football Week 6 Defense Rankings
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (PIT) at TB
2. Kansas City Chiefs (KC) vs. LAC
3. Baltimore Ravens (BAL) at CLE
4. New England Patriots (NE) vs. NYJ
5. Seattle Seahawks (SEA) at DEN
6. Denver Broncos (DEN) vs. SEA
7. Los Angeles Rams (LAR) vs. ARI
8. Houston Texans (HOU) at JAC
9. Jacksonville Jaguars (JAC) vs. HOU
10. Philadelphia Eagles (PHI) vs. CAR
11. Indianapolis Colts (IND) vs. TEN
12. San Francisco 49ers (SF) vs. WAS
13. Buffalo Bills (BUF) at LV
14. New Orleans Saints (NO) at NYG
15. New York Giants (NYG) vs. NO