Week 11 Results

Detroit (vs Jacksonville) - 1 sack, 1 INT, 6 pts allowed

This was a lot more lopsided than the D/ST stats indicate. The Lions offense is staking the defense to big leads, don’t get discouraged by this result.

A Look Ahead: @IND CHI GB - Lions D/ST or bust

Houston (at Dallas) - 5 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 1 INT, 1 DEF TD

This was the best D/ST play of the week. Cooper Rush giveth, and giveth, and giveth.

A Look Ahead: TEN @JAX BYE - No reason to go away from the Texans until their bye.

Miami (vs Las Vegas) -  3 sacks, 1 INT

Not a bad result by Week 11 standards, but Gardner Minshew II was actually safe with the ball in his comeback attempt, and he didn’t get benched!

A Look Ahead: NE @GB NYJ - The Patriots offense was good for multiple sacks and takeaways allowed last week, so the Dolphins remain a good play.

LA Rams (at New England) - 3 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 1 INT

The Patriots hung around in this one, but there was still a decent amount of D/ST points for the Rams to harvest from Drake Maye and company.

A Look Ahead: PHI @NO BUF - The Rams could get back on our target list in Week 16 against the Jets.

NY Jets (vs Indianapolis) - 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery

It ends up Anthony Richardson learned something during his benching. He’s not nearly as fun to target with a D/ST play as Joe Flacco.

A Look Ahead: BYE SEA @MIA - The Jets D/ST flies off into the sunset.

New Orleans (vs Cleveland) - 3 sacks

Jameis Winston played from behind and didn’t throw a pick or fumble!

A Look Ahead: BYE LAR @NYG - We’ll come back to the Saints in Week 14 and Week 17 (Las Vegas).

Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda

Week 11 was one of the quietest D/ST slates in recent memory. Other than the Texans, only the Broncos, Steelers, and Vikings, who are all likely rostered, had D/ST performances that even moved the needle. None of them were above the 10-point standard scoring threshold used to identify D/ST plays for this weekly section.

Week 12 Candidates

**Minnesota, Denver, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Houston, Miami and Kansas City are assumed to be on a roster**

Washington (vs Dallas)

Double check that list above as Denver, Pittsburgh and Kansas City could be out there after having so-so matchups for D/ST last week. Even if they are, you might opt for Washington over them after watching Cooper Rush fuel the Texans D/ST to the #1 score of the week on Monday night.

A Look Ahead: TEN BYE @NO - We can comfortably write the WAS D/ST in pen as a top option next week too.

Tampa Bay (vs NY Giants)

The Bucs D/ST will face Tommy Devito.

A Look Ahead: @CAR LV @LAC - The Chargers are the only minus D/ST matchup left for the Bucs D/ST.

Arizona (at Seattle) 

The Cardinals defense features few names you will recognize, and they are on the road in a tough game. However, they were one of the hottest D/STs in the league going into their bye, and the Seahawks just won an exhausting game against the 49ers. 

A Look Ahead: @MIN SEA NE - We may stick with the Cardinals in Week 13 and 14  if they come through this week. And we’ll come back to them in Week 15 and 16 (at Carolina) in any event.

LA Chargers (vs Baltimore)
Baltimore (at LA Chargers)

Both of these defenses can generate pass rush and takeaways even though they are facing top quarterbacks. The Chargers have the homefield advantage and Lamar Jackson was very uneven last week, but Justin Herbert had a tale of two halves game himself and the Ravens did a good job bending but not breaking against the Steelers in a sign of progress.

LAC A Look Ahead: @ATL @KC TB - Kirk Cousins was pretty rough last week. If the Chargers frustrate Jackson, they could be a Week 13 option.
BAL A Look Ahead: PHI BYE @NYG - We’ll come back to the Ravens in Week 15.

Philadelphia (at LA Rams)

The Eagles defense is coming together under Vic Fangio. They have 11 takeaways over the last four games and eight sacks over the last three. They have been a decent to great play every week since their Week 5 bye. The Rams aren’t an ideal D/ST matchup, but Matthew Stafford plays on the razor’s edge at times.

A Look Ahead: @BAL CAR @PIT - Week 14 is looking prettay, prettay good 

Chicago (vs Minnesota)

The Bears D/ST is still in the top 10 year-to-date, but they have been cold for the last four games. They are still viable at home against a very uneven Sam Darnold in a game that they need to keep their season alive.

A Look Ahead: @DET @SF @MIN - Talk about a tough road trip

Week 13 and Playoffs Preemptive Pickups

Kansas City (vs Las Vegas)
NY Giants (at Dallas)
Dallas (vs NY Giants)
Washington (vs Tennessee)
Tampa Bay (at Carolina)

Week 15

Baltimore (vs NY Giants)
Arizona (vs New England)
Kansas City (at Cleveland)

Week 16

Arizona (at Carolina)
Tampa Bay (at Dallas)
Indianapolis (vs Tennessee)
Atlanta (vs NY Giants)

Week 17

Tampa Bay (vs Carolina)
Philadelphia (vs Dallas)
New Orleans (vs Las Vegas)
Indianapolis (at NY Giants)
LA Chargers (at New England)