Three weeks into the 2025 season, and we are starting to get a clearer view of the playing field. Many of the Defense/Special Teams units that were expected to be great are living up to their billing, while there are others who didn’t have such lofty expectations starting to state their case. On the offensive side of the ball, we are also forming a better understanding of the line between the high-flying and the hapless. Factoring in these points, let’s take a look at the next month and identify some teams D/ST’s with soft spots in their upcoming schedule.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 4: vs. Minnesota Vikings (Ireland) | Week 5: vs. Cleveland Browns | Week 6: @ Cincinnati Bengals | Week 7: vs. Green Bay Packers
The Pittsburgh Steelers might not seem like the most desirable of DST targets, given they’ve allowed 1158 yards and 77 points against this season, but a team’s defense doesn’t need to be traditionally “good” in order for them to generate fantasy points. The Steelers are currently 2nd in the league with 8 turnovers forced, thanks in large part to their 8 sacks and 30 quarterback pressures. Over the next four weeks, the Steelers face some of the most pressure-susceptible quarterbacks in the league in Carson Wentz, Joe Flacco, Jake Browning, and Jordan Love. Most are likely staying away from the Steelers in Week 4 after Minnesota went scorched-earth last week against the Bengals, so there’s a good chance the Pittsburgh DST is available on your wire. If they are, they are well-positioned to hold the DST spot in your lineup for weeks to come.
Los Angeles Chargers
Week 4: @ New York Giants | Week 5: vs Washington Commanders | Week 6: @ Miami Dolphins| Week 7: vs. Indianapolis Colts
Week 4 is the easy part for the Los Angeles Chargers as they are set to face the Giants. Making his NFL debut in this game is 1st-round rookie Jaxson Dart. We’ve made our living targeting rookie quarterbacks in their first starts and the long-standing trend of them throwing an interception in that game. After New York, the Chargers’ schedule alternates between favorable and unfavorable matchups. The Commanders and the Colts in the odd-numbered weeks have some scoring potential but are not without their flaws. Week 6 is the other major target for the Chargers, where they travel to Miami to face the spiraling Dolphins. It helps that their tougher matchups both happen to come at home, and while not ideal, the Chargers are holding their opponents to 16.7 points per game despite two of those games featuring the Chiefs and the Broncos.
Cleveland Browns
Week 4: @ Detroit Lions| Week 5: vs. Minnesota Vikings | Week 6: @Pittsburgh Steelers | Week 7: vs. Miami Dolphins
It’s the opposite circumstance for the Cleveland Browns, opening this 4-game stretch with a matchup against a Lions team that is currently 2nd in the league with 34.3 points scored per game. The only silver lining with that game is the run-centric nature of the Lions’ offense, averaging 30 rushing attempts per game, playing right into the teeth of the Browns’ top-ranked run defense. Given how well Cleveland has been playing defensively, I think you can justify clicking the button in Week 4. Once we clear that hurdle, the Browns are on easy street. It’s not clear if the Vikings will have JJ McCarthy back for Week 5 or choose to play him if he is, but Cleveland should be able to wreak havoc on whomever Minnesota trots out for that game. Pittsburgh’s defense might be good at generating turnovers, but their offense is anemic, and Aaron Rodgers is averaging just 5.1 air yards per attempt and already has 5 turnover-worthy plays on the season. Lastly comes Miami, who remains one of our favorite punching bags in this article.
Photo by Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Kurt Wasemiller (@kurt_player02 on Instagram & Threads)