NFL DFS: Ranking the Must-Play Defense Matchups for Week 9

1. Minnesota Vikings

FanDuel Salary: $5,200

Opponent: Indianapolis Colts

FanDuel Opponent Rank vs. Position: 11th

Losers of two in a row, the Minnesota Vikings have relinquished their stranglehold on the NFC North. Nevertheless, we expect their defense to respond with a slate-leading performance against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday Night Football. 

Minnesota's Achilles' heel has been its pass defense, and thankfully, the Colts cannot exploit that weakness. Benched starter Anthony Richardson has been one of the worst passing quarterbacks in the league, posting a 44.4% completion rating and 4-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio. While Joe Flacco could be an upgrade, Indy's air attack is under par. That means the Colts will be left running the ball into the Vikings' most prominent strength. 

The Vikings have the top-ranked rush and ninth-best scoring defense. Moreover, they lead the NFL in interceptions per game, resulting in the second-most takeaways. Indianapolis will struggle against Minnesota's secondary, which could lead to multiple defensive scores for the Vikings. They're the priciest unit, but the Vikings defense is worth the investment.

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4. Philadelphia Eagles

FanDuel Salary: $4,500

Opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars

FanDuel Opponent Rank vs. Position: 15th

While things haven't gone superbly for the Philadelphia Eagles this season, their defense has been a constant for the NFC contenders. Allowing just 20 combined points over the past few weeks, Philadelphia continues its upward trajectory with a Week 9 tilt versus the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

The Eagles are coming off two of their best defensive outings of the season. Last Sunday, they held the Cincinnati Bengals to just 17 points while turning the ball over twice and sacking Joe Burrow once. But they were even better the week prior. In Week 6, Philadelphia sacked New York Giants quarterbacks eight times while holding the NFC East basement dwellers to just three points. 

Jacksonville has seemingly lost a step on offense. The Jags are giving up 2.3 sacks per game while turning the ball over four times over the past few weeks. Surely, those metrics are on the rise as they contend with a fierce Eagles' pass rush and a raucous home crowd.

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3. Los Angeles Chargers

FanDuel Salary: $4,200

Opponent: Cleveland Browns

FanDuel Opponent Rank vs. Position: 10th

Still underappreciated, we're captaining the Los Angeles Chargers' defense parade again in Week 9.

Los Angeles stymied the New Orleans Saints in Week 8, limiting the NFC South also-rans to eight points at home. They got to Saints' quarterbacks five times, bumping their season-long average up to 2.6 sacks per game. Further, they remain an above-average team at turning the ball over. The Chargers' 1.4 takeaways per game is the 12th-most in the NFL. 

None of the previous three teams the Chargers have faced have eclipsed 17 points. With the regression-bound Cleveland Browns on deck, we anticipate another elite defensive performance on Sunday's main slate.

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2. Tennessee Titans

FanDuel Salary: $4,700

Opponent: New England Patriots

FanDuel Opponent Rank vs. Position: 26th

Finally, the Tennessee Titans' defense is getting the respect they deserve. A top-tier defending team throughout the year, the Titans are primed for their best performance of the season against the visiting New England Patriots. 

Granted, it's easy to look past the Titans after last week's humbling defeat against the Detroit Lions. But even with those metrics weighing against their season average, the Titans remain one of the best in the NFL. Tennessee allows the fewest total and passing yards in the league, coming in at 281.4 and 151.6, respectively. Still, their scoring defense is tied for the fourth-worst, implying the Titans are progression candidates over their coming games. 

That upward trajectory starts with Sunday's tilt against the lowly New England Patriots. The Pats have four turnovers across the past three weeks with eight sacks allowed. We're betting the Titans extend those woes and put forth one of the best defensive performances of the week.

1. Minnesota Vikings

FanDuel Salary: $5,200

Opponent: Indianapolis Colts

FanDuel Opponent Rank vs. Position: 11th

Losers of two in a row, the Minnesota Vikings have relinquished their stranglehold on the NFC North. Nevertheless, we expect their defense to respond with a slate-leading performance against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday Night Football. 

Minnesota's Achilles' heel has been its pass defense, and thankfully, the Colts cannot exploit that weakness. Benched starter Anthony Richardson has been one of the worst passing quarterbacks in the league, posting a 44.4% completion rating and 4-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio. While Joe Flacco could be an upgrade, Indy's air attack is under par. That means the Colts will be left running the ball into the Vikings' most prominent strength. 

The Vikings have the top-ranked rush and ninth-best scoring defense. Moreover, they lead the NFL in interceptions per game, resulting in the second-most takeaways. Indianapolis will struggle against Minnesota's secondary, which could lead to multiple defensive scores for the Vikings. They're the priciest unit, but the Vikings defense is worth the investment.

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