Bengals D/ST or Rams D/ST: Who Should You Start?

2026 Week 1 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Start the Rams — the lineup-share and projection edges are too wide to ignore.

Rams D/ST is started in more leagues (started rank 3 to 26) and projects 6.2 to the Bengals's 4.5. the Bengals's edge is opponent giveaways, 2.4 sacks allowed to 1.8. The gap is wide.

Bengals D/ST

D/STCINvs TB

Projected Points

Sit

Rams D/ST

D/STLARvs SF

Projected Points

Sit
TB@
CINSun, Sep 13, 1:00 PM ETView the game →
SF@
LARThu, Sep 10, 8:35 PM ETView the game →

Why Bengals D/ST

Sit

Sit — a bottom-tier defensive matchup this week (No. 21): 4.5 pts projected vs TB.

  • TB's offense gives up 2.4 sacks and 0.9 turnovers a game (2025), near league average.
  • Vegas has TB at 23.5 points as 3.5-point dogs.
  • Under-started: only 1% of leagues have them in, 26th among defenses, against a No. 21 matchup.

Why Rams D/ST

Sit

Sit — a bottom-tier defensive matchup this week (No. 9): SF protects the ball (1.3 turnovers a game), and 6.2 pts projected vs SF.

  • SF's offense gives up 1.8 sacks and 1.3 turnovers a game (2025), below league average.
  • Vegas has SF at 22.8 points as 3-point dogs.
  • Over-started: 89% of leagues have them in, 3rd among defenses, against a No. 9 matchup.

Head-to-head stats

MetricBengals D/STRams D/ST
Projected points
Projection rankProj.DST21Proj.DST9
Started in1% of leagues89% of leagues
Opponent sacks allowed / game2.4(2025)1.8(2025)
Opponent turnovers / game0.9(2025)1.3(2025)
Opponent implied total23.522.8
Home / awayHomeHome

Signal breakdown

  • 4.5 vs 6.2 projected PPR pointsRams D/ST +
  • Started rank 26 vs 3 (1% vs 89% of leagues)Rams D/ST +
  • 2.4 sacks / 0.9 TO vs 1.8 sacks / 1.3 TO per game allowedBengals D/ST +
  • Opponent implied 23.5 vs 22.8 pointsRams D/ST +
  • Home vs Homeeven

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