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 14 Results
Green Bay (vs Atlanta) - 1 sack, 1 INT
This one started out like the typical Lambeau blowout, but just like the DAL/CHI Thursday night game, the Falcons rallied back from a huge deficit and the defense playing with the lead couldn’t force turnovers and rack up sacks
A Look Ahead: @BUF @TB - We’re done with Green Bay
Denver (vs Buffalo) - 4 sacks, 2 INT, 1 fumble recovery
This defense produced fantasy points playing with a big lead for most of the second half. The sack artists on the outside and ballhawks in the secondary go together like peanut butter and jelly.
A Look Ahead: @SD @CIN - Being on the road isn’t ideal, but the Broncos have the offensive firepower and defensive personnel to be a good play against just about any opponent in any setting.
San Francisco (vs Oakland) - 1 sack
The Harbaugh era in San Francisco is ending with a whimper, not a bang.
A Look Ahead: @SEA SD - No way, no how.
Jacksonville (vs Houston) - 2 sacks
The Jaguars defensive roll comes to a stop against the Texans
A Look Ahead: @BAL TEN - The Ravens are surging, but the Week 16 matchup is a good one.
New York Giants (at Tennessee) - 8 sacks, 2 INT, 1 fumble recovery, 1 DEF TD
Our hit of the week as the Titans were without their top two receivers and powerless to move the ball for most of the day.
A Look Ahead: WAS @STL - Bonus! The Giants are once again one of the best D/ST matchups of the week for the semis.
Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda
Cleveland (vs Indianapolis) - 3 sacks, 2 INT, 2 fumble recoveries, 2 DEF TD
The Browns defense did everything but win the game. They are red hot and worth a look at home against Andy Dalton this week.
Minnesota (vs New York Jets) - 3 sacks, 1 INT, 1 fumble recovery, 1 DEF TD
The Jets decided to throw again this week, and these were the results
San Diego (vs New England) - 1 sacks 1 INT, 1 fumble recovery, 1 DEF TD
The Chargers defense outscored the offense this week.
Week 15 Candidates
**Seattle, St. Louis, New England, Houston, Philadelphia and Detroit should be played over any rent-a-defense**
New York Giants (vs Washington)
The Giants actually played up to their name against the Titans, who did not. No comments about names with Washington up this week, but they might be playing the worst football of anyone in the NFC right now, and that’s good enough to stick with the hot Giants D/ST.
A Look Ahead: @STL - no thanks
Baltimore (vs Jacksonville)
Jacksonville has been the most generous D/ST opponent, and with the playoffs hanging in the balance seemingly every week, the Ravens should bring it at home, even if they are playing other teams rejects in the secondary right now.
A Look Ahead: @HOU - Not bad, because of Ryan Fitzpatrick’s propensity for ill-fated derring-do
Indianapolis (vs Houston)
The Colts D/ST had trouble with the Eagles and Patriots at home, but in their other five home games they had at least four sacks+takeaways and put up good D/ST scores in every game. Ryan Fitzpatrick could be forced into some turnovers if Andrew Luck can build an early lead.
A Look Ahead: @DAL - Nope
Cleveland (vs Cincinnati)
With the shot in the arm of Johnny Manziel starting, having a defense that played amazing football against Andrew Luck last week, and a home game against Andy Dalton, the Browns are a tempting play.
A Look Ahead: @CAR - If the Panthers are starting former Brown Derek Anderson in this one and they play anywhere close to the level they showed against Luck this week against Cincinnati, they’ll be worth a look.
Carolina (vs Tampa Bay)
Speaking of those Panthers, their front seven is still formidable, and they are facing a team that might be changing quarterbacks yet again this week, and they’re at home. We have to wait to hear about about Cam Newton’s availability
A Look Ahead: CLE - If Johnny Manziel is a disaster this week, the Panthers could be a go-to D/ST in Week 16.
Week 16 Preemptive 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:
**Play Philadelphia, St. Louis, Seattle, Houston, Detroit, New England and Miami over any rent-a-defense in Week 16**
Arizona (vs SEA)
Jacksonville (vs TEN)
Carolina (vs CLE)
Denver (@CIN)
Baltimore (@HOU)
