Hello. Welcome to the Week 10 Exemption Wire Watch!
The weekend NFL games are just about ready, marking the midpoint of the 2025 regular season. This past weekend was particularly encouraging for defenses and special teams in fantasy leagues, with 10 units notching at least seven fantasy points.
Here are some defense and special teams to keep an eye on while scouring the waiver wire ahead of Week 10. Just a reminder, we consider players available in up to 50% of the league for these additions.
Week 10 bye weeks: Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, Tennessee Titans
Buffalo Bills D/ST (43.7%)
The Bills clinched victory against the Chiefs last Sunday, winning 28-21. Their defense managed to unsettle Patrick Mahomes, limiting his passes to under 50% completion, racking up 15 QB hits, five defensed passes, three sacks, and one interception. Even though they only put up five fantasy points, their presence on the field was notable.
This week, the Buffalo defense has a chance to build on their performance, going up against a Miami team that suffered a 28-6 defeat to the Ravens last Thursday. The Dolphins’ offense often struggles, sitting at 30th in success rate. The Bills could capitalize on that, putting Tua Tagovailoa in challenging second and third down situations that might lead to more turnovers.
Cleveland Browns D/ST (26.4%)
The Browns recently enjoyed a bye and have maintained a solid defense amidst a challenging season. Currently averaging 7.3 fantasy points per game, they’ve ranked in the top 10 across various metrics like EPA per play, sack rate, and more. It’s frustrating to see their efforts wasted by lackluster quarterback play; otherwise, they could be serious contenders in the competitive AFC North.
This week, Cleveland faces one of the league’s weaker offenses, the Jets, led by Justin Fields (or possibly Tyrod Taylor). Fields will have to rely on his legs to evade Myles Garrett. I believe the Browns’ defense has the potential to create enough chaos to almost single-handedly secure a win.
Carolina Panthers D/ST (3.0%)
The Panthers pulled off a surprising victory against the Packers, winning 16-13 at Lambeau Field. They didn’t make it easy for Jordan Love, with four pass defenses, one sack, one forced fumble, one recovery, and an interception, leading to nine fantasy points this week.
Carolina faces New Orleans this Sunday, and ideally, they’ll want to take advantage of a struggling 1-8 team. The Saints have managed just 13 points in their last two games and are now testing out rookie quarterback Tyler Schau. This presents a great opportunity for the Panthers to capitalize on their recent success and continue their upward trajectory.
