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.
**Buffalo, Tampa Bay, Arizona, Dallas and New England are assumed to be rostered**
Week 13 Results
Arizona (at Chicago) - 3 sacks, 4 INT
‘Tis the season of giving and Andy Dalton was in a giving mood, with some help from Cole Kmet
A Look Ahead: LAR @DET IND @DAL - There’s no reason to go away from the Cardinals this week with the Lions up in Week 15. Matthew Stafford has been generous to defenses recently until he faced the Jaguars
Miami (vs New York Giants) - 3 sacks, 1 INT, 9 pts allowed
This one was a bigger hit in leagues that give bonuses for yards and points allowed as the Giants only mustered three field goals.
A Look Ahead: BYE NYJ @NO @TEN - This is a great schedule for their defense and they are worth carrying through the bye.
Indianapolis (at Houston) - 4 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 1 INT
Boom! Tyrod Taylor was benched in this one as the Texans ineptness on offense continues to shine through
A Look Ahead: BYE NE @ARI LV - The Colts have been a great D/ST this year, but none of these opponents are compelling from a fantasy perspective, so there’s a good case to drop them.
Los Angeles Rams (vs Jacksonville) - 2 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 7 pts allowed
Like Miami, this was a good play, but better in yards/points allowed leagues as the Jaguars offense didn’t commit any huge gaffes.
A Look Ahead: @ARI SEA @MIN @BAL - The Rams defense could hit against the Seahawks, Vikings, or Ravens, but you would likely want to look elsewhere this week, which makes them droppable.
Kansas City (vs Denver) - 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery, 2 INT, 1 DEF TD, 9 pts allowed
Daniel Sorensen made the Chiefs night as they stayed hot after the bye.
A Look Ahead: LV @LAC PIT @CIN - The Chiefs D/ST is verging on set it and forget it status
Dallas (at New Orleans) - 2 sacks, 4 INT, 1 DEF TD
Taysom Hill could be the key to D/ST plays down the stretch
A Look Ahead: @WAS @NYG WAS ARI - The Cowboys D/ST is unbenchable right now
Minnesota (at Detroit) - 3 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 1 INT
Pretty good considering that the Vikings were playing from behind for most of this one.
A Look Ahead: PIT @CHI LAR @GB - Ben Roethlisberger took control of the offense and actually looked good in the second half, so we’re probably going away from them this week, although the Bears and Rams matchups could be attractive, so we’re probably not done with them.
Baltimore (at Pittsburgh) - 1 sack
I let my Steelers fan neurosis get in the way here. The Steelers side was the better of the two and should have been the play over the Ravens.
A Look Ahead: @CLE GB @CIN LAR - The Ravens D/ST had multiple sacks and takeaways against the Browns two weeks ago, so maybe there’s something there.
Philadelphia (at New York Jets) - 2 sacks, 1 INT
Zach Wilson was actually good for a half.
A Look Ahead: BYE WAS NYG @WAS - Not worth carrying through the bye with Antonio Gibson balling
Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda
Los Angeles Chargers (at Cincinnati) - 6 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 2 INT, 1 DEF TD
The Joe Mixon fumble returned for a score by backup corner TeVaughn Campbell when the Bengals were driving for the lead was a backbreaker.
Pittsburgh (vs Baltimore) - 7 sacks, 1 INT
The Steelers have Lamar Jackson’s number and the Ravens offense has been cold lately
Cincinnati (vs Los Angeles Chargers) - 4 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 INT
Chidobe Awuzie had a whale of an interception when he was beat and the Bengals also forced a couple of Austin Ekeler fumbles
San Francisco (at Seattle) - 4 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 INT
Gerald Everett was responsible for all three turnovers, and all three came at the goal line
Week 14 Candidates
**Buffalo, Tampa Bay, Arizona, Dallas and New England are assumed to be rostered**
Green Bay (vs Chicago)
Whether it’s Justin Fields or Andy Dalton, the Bears beleaguered offense taking a trip to Lambeau sounds like a recipe for D/ST fantasy points.
A Look Ahead: @BAL CLE MIN - Nothing here to discourage us from plugging in the Packers for the rest of the season.
Los Angeles Chargers (vs New York Giants)
Jake Fromm is set to start for the Chargers. Jake Fromm.
A Look Ahead: KC @HOU DEN - The only reason the Chargers aren’t #1 this week is because they are facing Patrick Mahomes II. Week 16 looks great, and Week 17 might end up being good. Then again, the Chargers only good D/ST game heading into Week 13 came against the Chiefs in Week 3
Seattle (at Houston)
The Seahawks defense came alive last week with three takeaways and a safety against the 49ers, just in time for a date with Davis Mills.
A Look Ahead: @LAR CHI DET - This team has been morose for a bit, but home matchups against the Bears and Lions are very attractive in Weeks 16 and 17, and Matthew Stafford has been uneven, so they might even work out for Week 15.
Pittsburgh (at Minnesota) **Thursday**
Just like his big brother, T.J. Watt is having the kind of year that makes you want to play his D/ST just to share in his greatness in some way. The VIkings offense without Dalvin Cook and Adam Thielen is very beatable.
A Look Ahead: TEN @KC CLE @BAL - All matchups with potential AFC playoff teams, but all matchups with teams that have had offensive issues as of late. The Steelers D/ST could turn into a hot shooter down the stretch.
San Francisco (at Cincinnati)
The 49ers defense wasn’t always great against Seattle, but they gave Gerald Everett nightmares by forcing three turnovers at the goal line. The Bengals had their own turnover nightmares last week. The 49ers offense could be without some key personnel, so the Bengals could end up being the better half of this matchup.
A Look Ahead: ATL @TEN HOU - The 49ers D/ST looks like a good play in Weeks 15 and 17 at a minimum, and Week 16 might be good if the Titans offense continues to sputter.
Kansas City (vs Las Vegas Raiders)
This unit is hot and the Raiders offense is not.
A Look Ahead: @LAC PIT @CIN - As long as the Chiefs D/ST hits, we will leave them in the lineup
Denver (vs Detroit)
Detroit is probably still a good offense to pick on with our D/ST selections even though they finally got a win. Being outside in the elements in Denver only helps.
A Look Ahead: CIN @LV @LAC - That’s all folks
Tennessee (vs Jacksonville)
Once upon a time this year, this D/ST looked like it was turning the corner, then the team lost Derrick Henry. A week of rest and matchup with the Jaguars could be just the tonic they need.
A Look Ahead: @PIT SF MIA - This will be the last time we use them this year
New Orleans (at New York Jets)
The Saints D/ST has been cold for over a month, but they haven’t gotten to face Zach Wilson either
A Look Ahead: @TB MIA CAR - We might look at playing them vs. Cam Newton in Week 17
Cleveland (vs Baltimore)
The Browns picked Lamar Jackson four times in their matchup two weeks ago. Lightning doesn’t strike twice in the same place they say, but the Ravens offense is not trending in the right direction.
A Look Ahead: LV @GB @PIT - The Browns D/ST has been plucky, but we are probably done with them after this week.
Fantasy Playoffs Preemptive Pickups
Week 15
Miami (vs New York Jets)
Week 16
Miami (at New Orleans)
Los Angeles Chargers (vs Houston)
Philadelphia (vs New York Giants)
Seattle (vs Chicago)
Week 17
San Francisco (vs Houston)
Seattle (vs Detroit)
