Week 5 presents some intriguing defensive opportunities that could significantly impact your fantasy football lineup decisions. Several defenses are positioned to capitalize on struggling offenses that have shown consistent vulnerabilities through the first month of the season.
The key is identifying units that combine strong pass rush capabilities with opportunistic secondaries facing quarterbacks prone to mistakes. Smart fantasy football managers will want to examine which defensive units have the best matchup advantages this week, particularly those facing teams with high turnover rates and offensive line struggles.
Miami Dolphins DEF (at CAR)
In three of the first four weeks of the season, the defense facing Carolina has finished in the top six in fantasy. This week, that defense will be the Dolphins, fresh off their first win of what has been an incredibly disappointing season so far.
The Panthers have turned the ball over on 12.8% of offensive drives, the ninth-highest rate in the league. Miami may have lost its star receiver in Week 4, but it looks like a team on the up after three miserable weeks to start the year.
The Jets scored two touchdowns against Miami in Week 4, one of which was a 43-yard scramble from Justin Fields, who did well to avoid a sack. Bryce Young can run but doesn’t possess anything close to Fields’s athleticism, and ranks 33rd in PFSN’s QB Impact metric.
The Dolphins should be able to get pressure on Young, and could feast on a struggling Panthers offense in Week 5.
Indianapolis Colts DEF (vs. LVR)
The Colts’ defense was grossly underestimated heading into the season, but has impressed to start the year. Indianapolis is tied for the seventh-most turnovers forced (six) in the NFL this year, four of which have been interceptions (tied-fifth).
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On the other hand, the Raiders’ offense has surrendered the ball a league-high (tied) eight times so far this year. Veteran quarterback Geno Smith leads the league in interceptions, with seven, including five in his last two games. The Raiders rank 27th in PFSN’s Offense Impact metric this season, while Smith ranks 24th in PFSN’s QB Impact metric.
This week, the Colts will be confident of returning to winning ways, having had two touchdowns chalked off due to errors from receiver Adonai Mitchell in Week 4. The Raiders, meanwhile, have lost three games in a row and have looked uninspiring in the process.
Los Angeles Rams DEF (vs. SFO)
The Rams’ defense is currently ranked 10th on the season in fantasy, with three top-12 finishes in four weeks. This week, the team faces the 49ers on Thursday Night Football and will be confident of another productive defensive display.
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The Jacksonville Jaguars’ defense faced Brock Purdy and the 49ers’ offense in Week 4 and ranked second among all defenses in fantasy. The 49ers are tied with the Raiders for the most turnovers so far this season (eight), and their 18.6% turnover rate is the worst in the NFL.
Only the Denver Broncos (15) have recorded more sacks than the Rams (14) in 2025. Purdy is elusive in the pocket and can avoid sacks better than many quarterbacks. However, the added pressure from the Rams’ pass rush and multiple health concerns surrounding his top receivers could make things incredibly difficult on Thursday night.
