Rent-A-Defense: Week 11

Our Sigmund Bloom finds waiver-wire defenses with great matchups that should be featured in your starting lineup.

Sigmund Bloom's Rent-A-Defense: Week 11 Sigmund Bloom Published 11/12/2024

 

© Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Week 10 Results

Detroit (at Houston) - 4 sacks, 2 INT

Most of this production came in the second half, which started with the Lions down 23-7. It’s exciting to consider what this opportunistic defense can do playing with the lead.

A Look Ahead: JAX @IND CHI - Full speed ahead

Los Angeles Chargers (vs Tennessee) - 7 sacks

Will Levis didn’t make the big mistake, but he was under pressure all day and couldn’t keep up with Justin Herbert. The Titans remain a team to target with our D/ST picks.

A Look Ahead: CIN BAL @ATL - The Chargers pass rush has come alive, but there are probably better options for Weeks 11-13.

Chicago (vs New England) - 1 sack, 1 INT

In a turn of events that led to Shane Waldron finally getting fired, the Patriots pantsed Chicago in their own building. We had the wrong side of this one.

A Look Ahead: GB MIN @DET - The Bears D/ST goes into hibernation

LA Rams (vs Miami) - 3 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 1 INT

Not a disaster by any means, but the Dolphins D/ST was actually the better side of this matchup. The Rams are a hard team to project week-to-week, but we know they have a high ceiling on both sides of the ball.

A Look Ahead: @NE PHI @NO - If the Rams can play from ahead, Drake Maye playing on the rookie razor’s edge has payoff potential

San Francisco (at Tampa Bay) - 2 sacks

Baker Mayfield’s production cratered without Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, but he wasn’t making big mistakes and somehow kept his team in it until the end against a 2023 Super Bowl team for the second straight week.

A Look Ahead: SEA @GB @BUF - Geno Smith can be a turnover machine, so worth considering.

Buffalo (at Indianapolis) - 4 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 3 INT, 1 DEF TD

Joe Flacco threw a pick-six before some fans got to their seats. It didn’t get much better after that. Flacco will start in Week 11 and in case you were wondering, he’ll face the mercurial Jets defense.

A Look Ahead: KC BYE SF - Two really fun matchups, but not for fantasy D/ST play

Arizona (vs NY Jets) - 3 sacks, 1 fumble recovery
NY Jets (at Arizona) - 1 sack

The Cardinals dominated this game even though it didn’t show up in the D/ST stats. The Jets defense looked as bad as any defense has in any game this season.

A Look Ahead Arizona: BYE @SEA MIN - Bye bye
A Look Ahead NY Jets: IND BYE @SEA - Hey Joe, where you going with that football in your hand?

NY Giants (vs Carolina - Germany) - 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery

When the Panthers defense creates more sacks and takeaways than the Giants, you know it’s bad. 

A Look Ahead: BYE TB @DAL - The Dallas matchup will be tempting if they keep playing like a bottom dweller… but then again, that’s what the Giants are.

Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda

New England (at Chicago) - 9 sacks, 3 pts allowed

That’s how you get an offensive coordinator fired. A proud moment for any defense, but especially for a rebuilding unit like the Patriots.

Houston (vs Detroit) - 5 INT

And still, somehow, they lost. Dan Campbell magic.

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Week 11 Candidates

**Minnesota and San Francisco are assumed to be on a roster**

Detroit (vs Jacksonville)

Don’t think we are going to see Trevor Lawrence this week. The Jaguars offense was maybe the worst in the NFL last week. This could be combustible for D/ST purposes.

A Look Ahead: @IND CHI GB - There’s a good chance we just leave the Lions D/ST in the lineup for the rest of the season.

Houston (at Dallas)

If the Jaguars weren’t the worst offense in the league last week, then the Cowboys get that title. The Texans D/ST has been good in four of the last five weeks.

A Look Ahead: TEN @JAX BYE  - The Texans D/ST is going to be a preferred option for the next three weeks.

Miami (vs Las Vegas)

The Dolphins defense didn’t allow a touchdown to Matthew Stafford with all of his weapons and two of his starting offensive linemen back from injured reserve. They also sacked him four times and forced two turnovers. They should have an even better day against Desmond Ridder or Gardner Minshew II.

A Look Ahead: NE @GB NYJ - If Dolphins D/ST stays hot, there’s no reason to bench them against Drake Maye.

LA Rams (at New England)

This is an ascending defense and they are facing a rookie quarterback who is allowed to play at the edge of his burgeoning abilities.

A Look Ahead: PHI @NO BUF - This is probably the last time we’ll use the Rams D/ST this year.

NY Jets (vs Indianapolis) 

The Jets defense has been Jekyll and Hyde this year, but so has Joe Flacco

A Look Ahead: BYE SEA @MIA - The Jets have Jacksonville in Week 15, so if they come through against Flacco, we’ll remember that in December.

Green Bay (at Chicago)

New offensive coordinator... same old results? It's worth a shot.

A Look Ahead: SF MIA @DET - Send 'em packing

New Orleans (vs Cleveland)

The Saints defense has cooled off after a strong start to the season, but Jameis Winston’s return to the Superdome has the potential to turn into an interception bonanza.

A Look Ahead: BYE LAR @NYG - We may come back to the Saints in Week 14 facing whoever the Giants put out there at quarterback.

Looking Ahead to Week 12

Washington (vs Dallas)
Houston (vs Tennessee)
Kansas City (at Carolina)
Tampa Bay (at NY Giants)
Detroit (at Indianapolis)

Playoffs Preemptive Pickups

Week 15

Denver (vs Indianapolis)
Baltimore (vs NY Giants)

Week 16

Arizona (at Carolina)
Tampa Bay (at Dallas)

Week 17

Tampa Bay (vs Carolina)
Philadelphia (vs Dallas)
New Orleans (vs Las Vegas)

 

Photos provided by Imagn Images

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