Raiders D/ST or Eagles D/ST: Who Should You Start?

Preliminary board

2026 Week 3 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Verdicts sharpen as practice reports land.

Eagles D/ST wins a narrow call despite the Raiders’ far better matchup

Start Eagles D/ST, but this is a narrow call driven by the model’s strong crowd signal and a slight projection edge, not by Chicago being an inviting opponent. The Raiders have the better takeaway and pressure setup against New Orleans, yet their road defense is paired with a projected scoring environment that leaves little margin for mistakes. Philadelphia’s real risk is a quiet fantasy day if Chicago’s ball security holds; the Raiders are the better pivot for managers prioritizing matchup volatility.

What flips it: A late change that lowers Chicago’s scoring outlook or raises its turnover risk.

AI editor

Raiders D/ST

D/STLVvs NO

Projected Points

Toss-Up· medium

Eagles D/ST

D/STPHIvs CHI

Projected Points

Sit
LV@
NOSun, Sep 27, 4:25 PM ETView the game →
PHI@
CHIMon, Sep 28, 8:15 PM ETView the game →

Why Raiders D/ST

Toss-Up· medium

NO's 23.0 implied total and 1.4 turnovers per game make this streamable, but a 5.2-point projection and 25.0 points allowed keep Raiders DST at the replacement line.

  • New Orleans’ willingness to give up sacks and turnovers gives Las Vegas a real splash-play path.
  • The Raiders’ recent defensive surge makes them more viable than their low lineup share suggests.

The call

  • The matchup is the selling point: New Orleans carries just a 23.0 implied total and coughs up 1.4 turnovers per game while allowing 3.1 sacks per game, so the giveaway path to fantasy points exists.
  • The projection does not follow the matchup — 5.2 points and DST16 is exactly where streamers live, and 25.0 projected points allowed undercuts the low implied total, capping the shutout-bonus upside.
  • Only 2.7 sacks and 0.6 interceptions projected means Vegas-style splash plays, not volume, have to carry the week; 1% lineup share says the market sees it the same way.
  • Tipper: if your alternative is a defense facing a top-10 offense, roll with the Saints' turnover rate here; if you hold any DST with a home spot against a bottom-tier offense, start that one instead.

Why Eagles D/ST

Sit

Sit — a bottom-tier defensive matchup this week (No. 14): CHI protects the ball (0.7 turnovers a game), and Vegas has them at 24 points.

  • Philadelphia’s widespread usage reflects a sturdier weekly baseline, even against a low-giveaway Chicago offense.
  • The Eagles’ projection edge is small, so their case rests on avoiding a disastrous floor rather than chasing a ceiling.

Head-to-head stats

MetricRaiders D/STEagles D/ST
Projected points
Projection rankProj.DST16Proj.DST14
Started in1% of leagues85% of leagues
Opponent sacks allowed / game3.1(2025)1.9(2025)
Opponent turnovers / game1.4(2025)0.7(2025)
Opponent implied total23.024.0
Home / awayAwayAway
Start/Sit record0–0+1 toss-up0–1

Recent form

Raiders D/ST — last 2 weeks

Week 2vs LAC
Week 1vs MIA

Eagles D/ST — last 2 weeks

Week 2vs TEN
Week 1vs WSH

Signal breakdown

  • 5.2 vs 5.5 projected PPR pointsEagles D/ST +
  • Started rank 28 vs 2 (1% vs 85% of leagues)Eagles D/ST +
  • 3.1 sacks / 1.4 TO vs 1.9 sacks / 0.7 TO per game allowedRaiders D/ST +
  • Opponent implied 23.0 vs 24.0 pointsRaiders D/ST +
  • Away vs Awayeven

Compare different players

Week 3220 players
Player A
vs
Player B

Every fantasy-relevant player this week — search or filter by position.

More D/ST comparisons

More D/ST comparisons

This week’s toughest calls

Start/Sit Board•Weekly Rankings•Streamers•Sleepers & Busts•Waiver Wire•My Team•MLB NRFI Board•Free Tools•NFL Props•NFL Games

Get a Start/Sit call on your whole roster →

Save your team once and see a Start, Sit, or Toss-Up verdict on every player, every week — with the matchup, usage and game-script evidence behind each call.

Add to My Team — free

Or browse this week’s NFL games or NFL player props.