Eric Samulski releases Week 6 2026 fantasy football DST rankings and analysis

Analyst Eric Samulski published his Week 6 rankings of fantasy football defenses for the 2026 NFL season, noting that six of his top-10 picks from the previous week remained in the top ten. He said the Vikings, Texans and Bengals posted solid performances, while the Jaguars and Bears, which he had ranked in the top five, produced only three fantasy points.

Samulski observed that "splash plays" such as sacks and turnovers were a common factor in his missed picks. He cited Jacksonville’s strong yardage limit against Philadelphia but lack of sacks or turnovers, contrasted with the 49ers and Packers, which generated both and finished higher. He concluded that one-week spikes in defensive production should be treated as noise, and he will continue to prioritize defenses that consistently generate pressure and limit third-down conversions.

The analyst outlined his ranking tiers, with Tier One featuring the Kansas City Chiefs (vs. the Chargers), Seattle Seahawks (at Denver) and Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. Houston). He explained the Chiefs’ favorable matchup against a low-scoring Chargers offense and highlighted Seattle’s strong underlying metrics across pressure, third-down conversion and fantasy points allowed. Jacksonville was noted for its high turnover rate and pressure statistics despite a recent underperformance.

Tier Two includes the Pittsburgh Steelers (at Tampa Bay), New England Patriots (vs. New York Jets) and Baltimore Ravens (at Cleveland). Samulski discussed Tampa Bay’s inconsistent offense, the Patriots’ injury concerns, and the Ravens’ favorable matchup against a struggling Browns offense.

He also provided rankings for Tiers Three through Five, offering brief rationale for each defense based on recent performance, injury updates and matchup projections. The full list and detailed reasoning are available in his accompanying video on the NFL on NBC YouTube channel.