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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
Philadelphia (vs Tennessee) - 5 sacks, 1 INT, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 ST TD
From the opening kickoff the Eagles D/ST was red hot again. In addition to tormenting Zach Mettenberger, Josh Huff’s return got things going for one of the fantasy MVPs this year.
A Look Ahead: @DAL SEA DAL - At Dallas on Thanksgiving could be a dud, but I’m not benching them.
Buffalo (vs New York Jets) - 7 sacks, 1 INT, 1 ST TD, 3 pts allowed
The Jets looked like they would rather be watching the Ravens-Saints game (which was a much better game in their defense).
A Look Ahead: CLE @DEN GB - At home with a playoff shot hanging in the balance against a QB who just threw three picks last week, the Bills are worth a shot.
San Francisco (vs Washington) - 5 sacks, 1 fumble recovery
The 49ers made Robert Griffin III look meek in the win, but he didn’t make any huge mistakes, so just a par for this D/ST play
A Look Ahead: @SEA @OAK SEA - No way you want to start a D/ST at the Clink.
Indianapolis (vs Jacksonville) - 4 sacks, 1 INT, 1 fumble recovery, 3 pts allowed
Cha-ching! The D/ST against the Jags pays off yet again.
A Look Ahead: WAS @CLE HOU - The Colts D/ST added Josh Cribbs and now they get a QB on the ropes in their house. Good eatin’.
Seattle (vs Arizona) - 3 sacks, 1 INT, 3 pts allowed
The Seahawks didn’t make the signature D/ST play to break the game open, but they stifle Drew Stanton and Andre Ellington all day, making them at least worth holding for Week 15 at home against the 49ers, if not a road game against Mark Sanchez in Week 14 too.
A Look Ahead: @SF @PHI SF - Stash them if you can.
New England (vs Detroit) - 2 sacks, 1 INT
Matthew Stafford never got anything going against the Patriots in Foxboro, but it didn’t result in any huge gaffes or splash play by the New England defense
A Look Ahead: @GB @SD MIA - Back to the waiver wire
Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda
St. Louis Rams (at San Diego) - 3 sacks, 2 INT, 1 fumble recovery, 1 DEF TD
Janoris Jenkins went coast-to-coast to confirm that this sleeping giant D/ST has indeed been woken up.
Chicago (vs Tampa Bay) - 5 sacks, 2 INT, 2 fumble recoveries
Jay Cutler can say, hey, I’ve been uneven, but I’m still better than Josh McCown… at least on this day.
San Diego (vs St. Louis) - 1 sack, 2 INT, 1 fumble recovery, 1 DEF TD
San Diego giveth to D/STs and their D/ST taketh away.
Baltimore (at New Orleans) - 4 sacks, 1 INT, 1 DEF TD
The powers of the Superdome have been reversed somehow. Will Hill will steal from Drew Brees and take it to the house.
Jacksonville (at Indianapolis) - 5 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries
No, don’t go grab the Jaguars defense, but take note of the how porous the Colts offensive line was against them,
Week 13 Candidates
**Buffalo, Miami, Detroit, and Houston are owned in most leagues and should be played over any rent-a-defense**
New York Giants (at Jacksonville)
This one is pretty easy. The Jaguars have not let us down as a D/ST opponent all year no matter who they are playing, home or road. The Giants have enough playmakers on their defensive line and in their secondary to make this one work.
A Look Ahead: @TEN WAS @STL - Maybe worth sticking with if they come through as expected.
St. Louis (vs Oakland)
The Rams may well have been snapped up during their recent warm streak, but if not, they are an attractive play, even against a Raiders offense that surprisingly limits sacks and turnovers. The Rams are at home, where they have gotten better QBs than Derek Carr battered on the ropes this season.
A Look Ahead: @WAS ARI NYG - Perhaps the Rams may welcome Colt McCoy back to the starting ranks next week? Stay tuned.
Indianapolis (vs Washington)
Speaking of Colt McCoy, if the Colts defense plays well, we could be seeing McCoy on Sunday. Andrew Luck and company should be able to open up a lead and give their defense a chance to tee off on Robert Griffin III - if Jay Gruden doesn’t pull him first.
A Look Ahead: @CLE HOU @DAL - The Colts are only worth playing against very weak opponents. Maybe Week 15 will qualify.
Dallas (vs Philadelphia)
Thanksgiving and a hated division foe can bring some inspired performances in front of a home crowd. Mark Sanchez has six picks in a little under four games, and the Cowboys could control this game with their offensive line and triplets, putting Sanchez in a bad spot.
A Look Ahead: @CHI @PHI IND - This defense might be too undermanned to be worth playing on the road unless Jay Cutler really comes unraveled on Thanksgiving.
Cincinnati (at Tampa Bay)
The Bengals were rostered everywhere at the beginning of the season, but that might not be true now. They haven’t had a big outburst all season, but against Josh McCown while they are fighting for a playoff spot, better late than never!
A Look Ahead: PIT @CLE DEN - Nothing to see here
Playoffs Pre-emptive Pickups
If you like to devote two roster spots to a D/ST, or you suspect other teams are going to stream defenses this year, you might want to grab a top option for the playoffs to stash away. Here are the best ones to target:
New York Giants (Week 14 @TEN, Week 15 WAS, Week 16 @STL)
New England (Week 16 @NYJ)
Tennessee (Week 16 @JAX)
Houston (Week 14 @JAX)
Baltimore (Week 15 JAX, Week 16 @HOU)
Seattle (Week 15 SF, Week 16 @ARI)
Detroit (Week 14 TB, Week 15 MIN, Week 16 @CHI)
Arizona (Week 14 KC, Week 15 @STL, Week 16 SEA)