Breaking down the top individual defensive players in Week 8 fantasy football

The NFL returns for Week 8 and so do our individual defensive player fantasy football leagues. Thankfully, we’ll only have the Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens on bye, which means we’ll need to replace key players like Earl Thomas, Leighton Vander Esch and Jaylon Smith this week.

Matchups will be important when deciding who to start at each position with most teams and players available. For the defensive ends, Danielle Hunter has the best matchup this week going up against a weak Washington offensive line. Linebacker Luke Kuechly will have plenty of opportunities going up against the run-heavy San Francisco 49ers. Defensive back Landon Collins gets the Minnesota Vikings, who give up the eighth most fantasy points to the safety position.

So far this season, the teams giving up the most fantasy points to defensive ends are the Tennessee Titans, New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Christian McCaffrey and the Carolina Panthers are still giving up the most fantasy points to opposing linebackers with the New York Giants and Denver Broncos not too far behind. Lastly, the Atlanta Falcons remain as the offense who gives up the most fantasy points to the Safety position with the Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears rounding out the top three most fantasy-friendly offenses for opposing secondaries.

Injuries: Carl Lawson (status uncertain), Kenny Clark (status uncertain), Marcell Dareus (status uncertain), Chris Jones (week to week), Alex Okafor (status uncertain), Melvin Ingram (week to week)

Injuries: Jayon Brown (Questionable)

Injuries: Dre Kirkpatrick (Week to week), Greedy Williams (Week to week), Denzel Ward (Week to week), Darius Slay (Questionable), Kendall Fuller (Week to week), Xavien Howard (Week to week), Eli Apple (Status uncertain), P.J. Williams (out)