NFL Fantasy Football Week 4 2026 Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em: D/ST

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A fantasy football team’s D/ST unit often goes unnoticed most weeks. However, a good D/ST can often be the difference between a clutch win and a brutal loss this early into the season. Let’s look at the best and worst D/ST units in fantasy football this week and see which teams you need to start and which teams should be left on the bench.

NFL Fantasy Football Week 4 2026 D/ST Start ‘Ems

Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks had a bit of a down game in Week 3. Facing off against a Washington Commanders team led by Marcus Mariota, the usually stout Seattle defense allowed 33 points. They were also unable to force a turnover against Washington and had just two sacks on the day, which led to a dismal two-point outing for the unit.

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Until proven otherwise, though, performances like this are a fluke for Seattle. They’re also set to take on a Los Angeles Chargers team that’s struggled in their first three games, even against middling defenses. With LA’s struggles against pass-rushers (eight sacks allowed through three games) and their turnovers (four interceptions and two fumbles lost), the Seattle unit is due for their breakout performance.

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens are another team that suffered a brutal outing in Week 3. They were already in a negative matchup against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3, and that resulted in a two-point outing for the unit. The lack of sacks and turnovers in that game also didn’t help matters for Baltimore, as they allowed 31 points to one of the strongest offensive units in the league.

That being said, Baltimore has a great bounce-back game lined up for them in Week 4. The Tennessee Titans have one of the worst offenses in the league, despite their 14th-rank in points allowed to opposing D/STs. With Cam Ward’s struggles and the offensive line’s issues, the Ravens’ defense should be one of the best performing units in Week 4.

Buffalo Bills

After a brutal start to the season, the Bills defense seems to be finding its form this season. They limited the struggling Chargers to just 16 points this season and forced a turnover and two sacks against Justin Herbert and co. Thanks to standout performances from their rookies, Buffalo is finally starting to perform better than they did at the start.

The Bills have another positive matchup lined up for them in Drake Maye and the New England Patriots. Maye’s turnover problems (seven giveaways through three games) and struggles in the pocket gives Buffalo’s defense an amazing chance at putting up points on the board.

NFL Fantasy Football Week 4 2026 D/ST Sit ‘Ems

Cincinnati Bengals

After a strong two-week start to the season, there were more than a few fans who started to notice the Cincinnati Bengals’ defensive glowup. After a four-turnover game in Week 1 and a shutdown of the Houston Texans in Week 2, many pegged the Bengals as a sneaky D/ST pick. However, despite a positive matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Bengals’ defense underperformed, allowing 27 points to the struggling unit.

Against a tougher offense in the Jacksonville Jaguars, it might not be wise to start the Bengals’ defense this week. Look towards better options with a better matchup.

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers are on here for a few reasons. Despite their pedigree, the one thing haunting the 49ers’ D/ST unit is… the injuries. Nick Bosa has already been ruled out in Week 4 due to an injury and Dre Greenlaw was limited in their most recent practice. That, combined with their struggles in Week 3 against the Arizona Cardinals, should be cause for concern.

The nail in the coffin is their matchup in Week 4: the Denver Broncos are one of the better offensive units in the league and are a nightmare for D/STs. They protect the ball pretty well and score points in bunches.

Detroit Lions

The Lions’ defense, at least in fantasy football, seemed to bounce back in Week 3 against the New York Jets. After a negative two game in Week 2, Detroit’s D/ST scored seven points last week. They did that despite allowing 24 points for the Jets. Their five sacks and forced fumble certainly helped in that regard.

The Panthers also struggled in Week 3, but the first two weeks of the season gives hope that their performance last week was a fluke. Detroit is still a risky D/ST pickup, and taking on a surging Panthers team might not be the best idea.

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