Tennessee Titans, Philadelphia Eagles Emerge As 2025 Fantasy Football DEF/ST Sleepers

If you’re planning to stream or wait on defense, like most of us do, here are a few sleepers that could turn into weekly winners without the early-round price tag.

Sep 8, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) is sacked by Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) in the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Let’s face it, no one’s doing a mock draft fired up to grab a defense. But if you want to win your league (and I know you do), don’t sleep on how much a perfectly timed D/ST pick can swing your weekly score.

Sure, you could pay big for a top-tier defense, or you could get sneaky. I’ve been digging into the training camp updates, rookie breakouts, and projected matchups, and a few defenses are shaping up as straight-up fantasy football sleepers heading into 2025.

Las Vegas Raiders: Built for Disruption

The Raiders' defense is starting to look spicy. Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham is out here building a Swiss Army knife unit stacked with guys like Maxx Crosby, Jeremy Chinn, and Isaiah Pola-Mao, who can rotate, disguise, and confuse opposing QBs. Add in edge rusher Tyree Wilson continuing his glow-up, and you’ve got a defense with legit sack and turnover upside.

Fantasy Take: They're not a plug-and-play every week just yet, but in the right matchup, the Raiders could absolutely feast. Draft them late, stash them, and watch.

Philadelphia Eagles: Not Just the Usual Suspects

Ok. Fine. The Eagles aren’t exactly “under the radar,” but some fantasy folks are still sleeping on just how solid this group can be in 2025. The standout? Cooper DeJean. He’s already locking down the slot like a vet, and if this secondary takes a step forward, Philly could absolutely outscore their ADP.

Fantasy Take: If you miss out on the top-tier D/STs, grab the Eagles and feel good about it. Their pass rush and upgraded coverage make for a sneaky weekly floor.

Tennessee Titans: Young, Fast, and Furious

With Harold Landry out the door, all eyes are on Titans rookie edge rusher Oluwafemi Oladejo, and he’s not shying away from the spotlight. Inspired by guys like T.J. Watt and Maxx Crosby, Oladejo is bringing major energy to a Titans defense that’s quietly reloading. While at UCLA, he earned recognition as the Kenny Clark Award winner for the team's best defensive lineman, so we know he has what it takes.

Fantasy Take: They’re risky, but intriguing. Perfect stash if you’re streaming defenses or want to take a flyer on breakout potential.

The Titans are signing LB Oluwafemi Oladejo to a 4-year, $8.4M rookie contract, which includes 3 fully guaranteed years and a $2.7M signing bonus, per Tom Pelissero. pic.twitter.com/4r4wA7Kze7

— IG: NFLPreme (@premefootball) July 21, 2025

Streaming-Ready Defenses Worth Watching

Minnesota Vikings & Detroit Lions
These NFC North squads are ranked just outside the elite tier but get cushy early-season matchups. If you play the schedule game right, they’re excellent openers while you wait to see which defenses break out.

Houston Texans
They’re consensus top-10, but still going later than they should. With C.J. Stroud keeping the offense humming and the defense playing from ahead more often? Look for sacks and picks.

Final Thoughts

Buffalo Bills
Still turnover-hungry. Still under-appreciated. And with a schedule that leans home-heavy early on, they could come out hot.

Who says defense doesn’t win championships in fantasy? The right defense can absolutely win you a few weeks. And that could be the difference between missing the playoffs and showing up with your eyes on the prize.

So whether you're a ride-or-die streamer or just want to stash one with upside, don’t sleep on these defenses. Your future self in Week 6 will thank you.