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 12 Results
New Orleans (at Denver) - 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery, 2 INT, 3 pts allowed
The Broncos offense without a quarterback was as feeble as expected, although it didn’t result in a huge defensive fireworks display for the Saints. It was still more than good enough to justify the start in most scoring systems.
A Look Ahead: @ATL @PHI KC - Why would we go away from the Saints defense with Atlanta up this week and Philadelphia in Week 14?
Miami (at New York Jets) - 3 sacks, 2 INT, 3 pts allowed
Like the Saints, the Dolphins defense more than took care of business, but the output was just ok in a big week for fantasy defenses.
A Look Ahead: CIN KC NE - Brandon Allen? Yes please.
Cleveland (at Jacksonville) - Nada. Bupkis. Zilch.
Who knew Mike Glennon was the answer to neutralizing the Browns defense? Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward being out sure helped.
A Look Ahead: @TEN BAL @NYG - We might come back to the Browns against the Giants and Jets in Weeks 15 and 16 and if you bench can fit them, they are worth the stash.
New York Giants (at Cincinnati) - 2 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 INT
Brandon Allen was pretty bad, but an early kick return touchdown by the Bengals and continued mediocrity from the Giants offense kept this one from getting out of hand and turning into a defensive bonanza for the G-men.
A Look Ahead: @SEA ARI CLE - We will toss em back like a little fish against this schedule, especially with Daniel Jones hurting.
Seattle (at Philadelphia) - 6 sacks, 1 INT
This was a solid fantasy result for this defense on the rise, but let’s be honest, it felt like Carson Wentz was sacked at least ten times. We’ll be targeting the Eagles going forward.
A Look Ahead: NYG NYJ @WAS - Against this schedule it’s Seahawks defense or bust!
Los Angeles Rams (vs San Francisco) - 2 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 INT, 1 DEF TD
Aaron Donald made his presence known in this one, forcing a fumble that Troy Hill took to the house.
A Look Ahead: @ARI NE NYJ - The Rams have earned the status of a set and forget D/ST with multiple takeaways in each of the last five games
Green Bay (vs Chicago) - 3 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 2 INT, 1 DEF TD
The Packers harassed Mitchell Trubisky all night, although they did get away with a face mask penalty or two on their sack/strip/fumble return for a touchdown.
A Look Ahead: PHI @DET CAR - Yes we will pick on Carson Wentz and keep playing the Packers.
Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda
Atlanta (vs Las Vegas) - 5 sacks, 4 fumble recoveries, 1 INT, 1 DEF TD, 6 pts allowed
Derek Carr turned into his big brother as the Falcons pass rush came alive
Carolina (at Minnesota) - 2 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries, 2 DEF TD
Jeremy Chinn became the first defensive player to score on consecutive plays in NFL history and it still wasn’t enough for the Panthers to win.
San Francisco (at Los Angeles Rams) - 2 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 2 INT, 1 DEF TD
Javon Kinlaw dropped into coverage and housed an interception just like the 49ers expected when they took the defensive tackle in the first round
Houston (at Detroit) - 4 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 INT, 1 DEF TD
JJ Watt is on a tear above the rim and pulled down a Matthew Stafford pass like a grizzly bear, taking it back for six in a heartwarming scene that reminded us of better times.
Tennessee (at Indianapolis) - 2 sacks, 1 INT, 1 ST TD
AJ Brown is the most dangerous onsides kick returner in the league
Week 13 Candidates
**Pittsburgh, New Orleans, and Baltimore have good matchups but is assumed to be rostered**
Kansas City (vs Denver)
The Broncos will have a quarterback in Week 13, but they will likely get buried by Patrick Mahomes II and their offense will be a great disadvantage. When these two teams faced earlier this year, the Chiefs had 3 sacks, 4 takeaways, and 2 D/ST touchdowns.
A Look Ahead: @MIA @NO ATL - We can rely on the Chiefs for the rest of the fantasy playoffs assuming they face Taysom Hill in Week 15.
Seattle (vs New York Giants)
We’ll watch Carlos Dunlap’s foot injury as his arrival and the return of Jamal Adams helped turn this into a respectable unit. Either way, Colt McCoy is an attractive target and the playoff schedule is right.
A Look Ahead: NYJ @WAS LAR - The Seahawks D/ST can be ridden all the way to the fantasy finals if they stay hot.
Green Bay (vs Philadelphia)
The Packers are always better in Lambeau and no offense is hemorrhaging sacks and giveaways more than the Eagles.
A Look Ahead: @DET CAR TEN - The Lions and Panthers both look like good matchups so the Packers can be a solution until they face Derrick Henry.
Miami (vs Cincinnati)
The Dolphins have another easy matchup this week against Brandon Allen. They did well enough against the Jets last week to earn our trust again this week
A Look Ahead: KC NE @LV - We might come back to them in Week 15 if Cam Newton is still in a slump.
San Francisco (vs Buffalo)
The 49ers defense came alive last week with the return of Richard Sherman. This week they’ll get the Bills who surrendered three sacks and three giveaways to the Chargers last week. Josh Allen may still have a turnover fest left in him this year.
A Look Ahead: WAS @DAL @ARI - One reason to get the 49ers this week is to get the upcoming NFC East matchups.
Los Angeles Chargers (vs New England)
The Chargers D/ST had a surprisingly good day against Buffalo despite trailing for most of the game. This week they’ll face the impotent Patriots offense. Joey Bosa is playing as well as he ever has coming into this one, and playing the Chargers D/ST gets him into your lineup.
A Look Ahead: ATL @LV DEN - It’s a shame the Chargers have lost so many close games, or else they could use this soft schedule for a playoff run. If the defense heats up, we might stick with them through the finals.
Chicago (vs Detroit)
The Bears defense is far from being the Monsters of the Midway, but they might be monstrous against a Lions team that appears to have given up, but could get a ding dong the witch is dead bounce this week.
A Look Ahead: HOU @MIN @JAX - We could come back to them for Week 16
Fantasy Playoffs Preemptive Pickups
Week 14
Kansas City (at Miami)
Seattle (vs New York Jets)
Green Bay (at Detroit)
Week 15
Los Angeles Rams (vs New York Jets)
Arizona (vs Philadelphia)
Week 16
Cleveland (at New York Jets)
Houston (vs Cincinnati)
Tampa Bay (at Detroit)
