ARGOMENTO: Several solid D/STs are on bye this week (Bills, C

Several solid D/STs are on bye this week (Bills, Cowboys, Steelers), but fortunately, only one "favorable matchup" (Jaguars) is out. That opens the door for some risky potential sleepers and waiver wire pickups to enter the top 15 of our Week 7 fantasy defense rankings.The Cardinals (vs. Texans), Panthers (@ Giants), Saints (@ Seahawks), Dolphins (vs. Falcons), and Giants (vs. Panthers) are all available in roughly half of leagues, and all are decent plays in a tough week. The Jets (@Patriots) are also in play if you're willing to trust them. It'sa bit surprising the Cardinals and Saints are so widely available given that they've been two of the best D/STs in fantasy this year, but you can find them in close to 50 percent of Yahoo leagues.WEEK 7 STANDARD RANKINGS: | | | | A couple D/STs that are normally in play are in rough matchups this week. The Bears (@ Buccaneers) are in the toughest spot, but the Broncos (@ Browns) are also not a recommended play. Even if you have the Bills or Steelers and Jamar Johnson Jersey the Bears are available on your waiver wire, you should look to the teams mentioned above.WEEK 7 STANDARD RANKINGS: | | | | It looks like an especially good week for a few of the top defenses, with the Rams (vs. Lions), Bucs (vs. Bears), and Patriots (vs. Jets) all in great matchups. Unfortunately, the starter's tier drops off pretty noticeably after around eight or nine. The Colts (@ 49ers),Browns (vs. Broncos), and even the Seahawks (vs. Saints) are in play, but they have fairly low ceilings.WEEK John Elway Jersey 7 FANTASY: | | At least a few owners won't feel great about their defense this week, but that's not unusual, especially when the bye weeks start. Fortunately, one big play is all it takes for a defense to have a decent day, so just hope that return TD or a few takeaways and try to get through it.WEEK 7 DFS LINEUPS: | | Also, this is a good reminder to plan ahead. Several defenses that are good plays this week (Packers, Cardinals, Dolphins) were much more widely available prior to this waivers period. If you had the roster space to look ahead to Week 7 and grab one of these D/STs prior to Week 6 as a free agent, you wouldn't have to fight the crowd.Note:We'll be updating these D/ST rankings throughout the week, so check back for the latest analysis and player movement.Fantasy Defense Rankings Week 7: Who to start, sit at D/ST in fantasy footballRankTeam1Los Angeles Rams vs. DET. The Rams are coming off their best fantasy showing off the season, limiting the Giants to 11 points and piling up four sacks and four takeaways. The Lions don't turn it over much (eight all year), but they struggle to score (15.2 ppg since Week 1) and have allowed three or more sacks in half their games. When you factor in the familiarity (and po sible contempt) this defense has for former teammate Jared Goff, you can bet the Rams will be fired up for this matchup.2Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. CHI.The Bears are another mediocre offense that perhaps surprisingly doesn't turn it over much (five all year), but with 3.7 sacks allowed per game, the potential for mistakes is always present. The Bucs have nine sacks and five takeaways over their past three games, and this feels like a spot where they'll batter a rookie QB who figures to be in more pa sing situations than usual.3New England Patriots vs. NYJ.After a horrible beginning to the season, the Jets have been solid against poor Tenne see and Atlanta defenses (three sacks allowed, two turnovers, 23.5 offensive ppg). The Pats have disappointed this year, but they're better than those defenses. When these teams met in Week 2, New England held the Jets to six offensive points while racking up four sacks and four turnovers. It's unlikely they'll dominate Mike Purcell Jersey like that again, but New England has plenty of upside.4Arizona Cardinals vs. HOU.Houston has scored fewer than 10 offensive points in three of the past four games. They've also turned it over nine times and allowed 12 sacks in that span. Until Tyrod Taylor (hamstring) comes back, this is an offense you want to start D/STs against. Arizona has been one of the best and most consistent fantasy defenses all season (10 sacks, 10 takeaways in past four games), so if anything, they're ranked too low here.5Carolina Panthers @ NYG.Maybe it's injuries, maybe it's Daniel Jones' true colors showing. Either way, the Giants have struggled the past two weeks, committing six turnovers and allowing four sacks. Mike Glennon was part of that in Week 5, but in Week 6, it was all Jones. The Panthers have found a way to fantasy points every week except Week 4 against Dallas, and they should do it again in a neutral-to-positive matchup.6New Orleans Saints @ SEA.Geno Smith was slightly better than expected on Sunday night, only turning it over once and leading the Seahawks to 20 points Bobby Massie Jersey on the road against Pittsburgh. The Saints have been up and down for fantasy purposes, but one thing they do consistently is get interceptions (nine, with at least one in each game). Ultimately, we still don't trust Smith, even at home. A well-rested Saints defense should get multiple sacks and for multiple turnovers.7Green Bay Packers vs. WAS.Taylor Heinicke has regre sed over the past two weeks, as Washington has turned it over four times and averaged just 17.5 ppg. However, Washington doesn't allow sacks (six all year), Jerry Jeudy Jersey but the Packers have racked up 13 QB takedowns over the past four weeks. Their streak of multiple turnovers ended at four last week, but this is still an opportunistic defense that can take advantage of favorable home matchup like this.8Indianapolis Colts @ SF.The Colts have had a brutal schedule this year, but they've started to perform better defensively over the past three weeks (seven sacks, six takeaways). The 49ers have been a neutral matchup most of the year, but because of QB i sues, they've turned it over five times and allowed eight sacks. Jimmy Garoppolo (calf) should be back this week, but a hobbled Jimmy G isn't exactly a plus. The Colts should continue posting solid, starter-level numbers.9New York Giants vs. CAR.By fantasy stats, the Giants D/ST has been terrible this year, but they've quietly racked up four takeaways the past two weeks. Bad matchups (Cowboys, Rams) have yielded a lot of points, so perhaps a game against a much lower-powered offense will help New York actually perform well. Sam Darnold has regre sed (six INTs, 12 sacks the past three weeks), so we'll trust the Giants at home.10Baltimore Ravens vs CIN.The big-play talent on Bal