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Fantasy Football: Week 8 Kicker and Defense Rankings

By Alex Butler
Seattle Seahawks running back Christne Michael (32) is tackled by Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Linval Joseph (98). Photo by Jim Bryant/UPI
1 of 6 | Seattle Seahawks running back Christne Michael (32) is tackled by Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Linval Joseph (98). Photo by Jim Bryant/UPI | License Photo

MIAMI, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- There are quite a few streaming options this week available on the waiver wire when it comes to filling in for your kicker and defense.

With six teams on a bye, you might even want to play strategy and keep a great option away from your opponent.

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To help you with that research, I have ranked my top 20 defense/special teams units and top 15 kickers for the week in the tables below. You can also view my add/drops for the week and more positional rankings in the links below.

TOP SHELF

The Minnesota Vikings are my top defense/special teams unit for Week 8. This road matchup against the Chicago Bears is vital in its quest for the NFC North. Chicago has scored more than 17 points in a game only once this season. The Vikings have held every opponent this season to less than 17 points and allowed 10 points or less to three of its previous four opponents. The Vikings also have four touchdowns and have forced 16 turnovers through six games. With Brian Hoyer heading to injured reserve, this unit should feast on turnover king Jay Cutler.

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Mason Crosby is my top ranked kicker with a matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. Crosby has netted at least two field goals in five of six games this season. I expect plenty of chances in a shootout in Atlanta.

RANK NAME TEAM OPPONENT
1 Mason Crosby Green Bay Packers at Atlanta
2 Cairo Santos Kansas City Chiefs at Indianapolis
3 Adam Vinatieri Indianapolis Colts vs. Kansas City
4 Stephen Gostkowski New England Patriots at Buffalo
5 Stephen Hauschka Seattle Seahawks at New Orleans
6 Brandon McManus Denver Broncos vs. San Diego
7 Dan Bailey Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia
8 Chandler Catanzaro Arizona Cardinals at Carolina
9 Matt Bryant Atlanta Falcons vs. Green Bay
10 Mike Nugent Cincinnati Bengals vs. Washington
11 Blair Walsh Minnesota Vikings at Chicago
12 Sebastian Janikowski Oakland Raiders at Tampa Bay
13 Josh Lambo San Diego Chargers at Denver
14 Dustin Hopkins Washington Redskins at Cincinnati
15 Caleb Sturgis Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas

SNEAKY PLAYS

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The Tennessee Titans are quietly putting together a good season defensively as a streaming play. With pockets of good matchups, this unit has another good week hosting the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars have scored 17 points or fewer in four of six games this season. I don't expect an offensive explosion here against a struggling and turnover prone Blake Bortles.

Seattle Seahawks kicker Stephen Hauschka will show plenty of leg against the New Orleans Saints. Although Hauschka has missed a field goal in each of his previous two contests, I expect him to excel in this road matchup. Check out your waiver wire, Hauschka could still be available if he was dropped during his Week 5 bye.

LONGSHOTS

The Cincinnati Bengals host the Washington Redskins Sunday. I like the Bengals' defense/special teams unit in this spot against Kirk Cousins. The Bengals' early season schedule began with tough battles against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos, Dallas Cowboys, and New England Patriots. Eventually, that experience will start paying off. Look for the 3-4 Bengals to get back on track at the turning point of its season.

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Oakland Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski travels for a battle against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Janikowski has made four field goals in two of his last three contests. He also hit three extra points in his Week 7 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Look for that success to continue against the Buccaneers.

RANK TEAM OPPONENT
1 Minnesota Vikings at Chicago
2 New England Patriots at Buffalo
3 New York Jets at Cleveland
4 Denver Broncos vs. San Diego
5 Tennessee Titans vs. Jacksonville
6 Cincinnati Bengals vs. Washington
7 Kansas City Chiefs at Indianapolis
8 Seattle Seahawks at New Orleans
9 Arizona Cardinals at Carolina
10 Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas
11 Houston Texans vs. Detroit
12 Carolina Panthers vs. Arizona
13 Detroit Lions at Houston
14 Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia
15 Washington Redskins at Cincinnati
16 Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Oakland
17 Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee
18 Green Bay Packers at Atlanta
19 Oakland Raiders at Tampa Bay
20 Buffalo Bills vs. New England
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