Unless most of the teams in your league carry a backup defense, more than half of the league should be available to you every week. Perhaps instead of playing one above average defense every week, regardless of matchup, we should instead target the widely available waiver wire defenses with the best matchups in any particular week? You can always make exceptions if your rent-a-defense gets hot - heck, you might find a team worth starting all year by accident. Even if you don't, good matchups will continue to get greater in number as more QBs get injured or yanked as the season goes on. You can steal some points from bad weather come December. Each week I'll list the startable fantasy defenses on most waiver wires and rank them.
Week 11 Results
Miami (at Denver) - 1 fumble recovery, 1 INT
The Dolphins shockingly had the second best quarterback and second best defense in Denver.
A Look Ahead: @NYJ CIN KC - Joe Flacco is still there for us, and a bonus Ryan Finley start comes after that.
Cleveland (vs Philadelphia) - 1 safety, 5 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 2 INT, 1 DEF TD
No Myles Garrett? No Problem. Carson Wentz was harassed all day by Olivier Vernon and took a hit while dumping the ball off to a running back for an easy pick six. His confidence continues to sink as the Eagles remain in first place.
A Look Ahead: @JAX @TEN BAL - Myles Garrett has already been ruled out, but it’s hard to go away from the Browns right now.
New Orleans (vs Atlanta) - 8 sacks, 2 INT
The Saints defense turns into an elite unit when Drew Brees is out.
A Look Ahead: @DEN @ATL @PHI - We’ll stick with them this week and until they let us know
Los Angeles Rams (at Tampa Bay) - 1 sack, 2 INT
The lack of numbers hide a strong performance against Tom Brady that didn’t allow him to get anything going in the downfield passing game and rendered the Buccaneers offense very beatable.
A Look Ahead: SF @ARI NE - They will be a preferred option for Week 12
Los Angeles Chargers (vs New York Jets) - 1 sack, 1 INT, 1 DEF TD
Joe Flacco had one terrible gaffe on a short out that was easily undercut for a pick six but otherwise didn’t make any huge mistakes.
A Look Ahead: @BUF NE ATL - One and done.
Detroit (at Carolina) - 1 sack, 2 INT
PJ Walker got confused about who to throw to in the red zone, but otherwise the Lions defense was a welcome mat.
A Look Ahead: HOU @CHI GB - We won’t even think about using them again this year.
Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda
Carolina (vs Detroit) - 5 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 0 pts allowed
The Lions decided to pack it in for 2020 and didn’t tell anyone.
Indianapolis (vs Green Bay) - 1 sack, 3 fumble recoveries, 1 INT
Aaron Rodgers had a breezy first half, but the Colts defense clamped down and put their mark on this game in the second half and overtime.
Week 12 Candidates
**Pittsburgh has a good matchup but is assumed to be rostered**
New Orleans (at Denver)
The Saints defense is surging and they should be able to get consistent pressure on Drew Lock while bottling up the emerging Denver running game.
A Look Ahead: @ATL @PHI KC - We’ll keep riding the Saints as long as they are carrying the team
Miami (at New York Jets)
The Dolphins were a letdown last week, but they shut out the Jets in the first meeting and still have merit this week as an option
A Look Ahead: CIN KC NE - One of the best reasons to play the Dolphins this week is so that you have them next week vs. Ryan Finley
Cleveland (at Jacksonville)
The Browns won’t have Myles Garrett again this week, but they overcame that against Carson Wentz for the best D/ST performance of Week 11. Jake Luton (or maybe Gardner Minshew?) should be ready to tee up some big D/ST results again this week.
A Look Ahead: @TEN BAL @NYG - We’ll probably go away from Cleveland after this week, but they get the Jets in Week 16...
Seattle (at Philadelphia)
When in doubt, we’ll pick on Carson Wentz and the Eagles offensive line. The Seahawks defense is coming around with at least three sacks in the last four games.
A Look Ahead: NYG NYJ @WAS - The Seahawks are potentially a D/ST we can ride for the next four weeks.
Los Angeles Rams (vs San Francisco)
There’s risk here as the D/ST put up a goose egg in a loss to the 49ers earlier this year, although that was with Jimmy Garoppolo at the helm.
A Look Ahead: @ARI NE NYJ - The Rams might be worth holding just for the Week 15 matchup against the Jets
Green Bay (vs Chicago)
The Packers D/ST has only hit against the Lions so far this season, but a home game against whoever the Bears put out there at quarterback is a recipe for success
A Look Ahead: PHI @DET CAR - Part of the reason to grab the Packers for this week is seeing Carson Wentz and the Lions up the next two weeks
New York Giants (at Cincinnati)
The Giants D/ST has been a good option about half of the time this year as it is and the Bengals will be starting Brandon Allen. That's not as good for the Giants defense as Ryan Finley would have been, but it's still sufficient for a rent-a-defense start.
A Look Ahead: @SEA ARI CLE - That’s curtains for the G-men for this year barring any starting quarterback injuries
Week 13 and Beyond Preemptive Pickups
Week 13
Miami (vs Cincinnati)
Minnesota (vs Jacksonville)
Chicago (vs Detroit)
Green Bay (vs Philadelphia)
Kansas City (vs Denver)
Week 14
Kansas City (at Miami)
Seattle (vs New York Jets)
Green Bay (at Detroit)
Week 15
Los Angeles Rams (vs New York Jets)
Week 16
Cleveland (at New York Jets)
Kansas City (vs Atlanta)