Streaming Defenses: Week 13 Options

With fantasy playoffs right around the corner, we're now including a section at the bottom of the page focusing on D/ST strategy for Weeks 14-16. Schedules looks particularly favorable for the NFC West teams during that stretch, but we also have a couple other recommendations if you're in the market for a defense to stash for the playoffs.

For injury/ranking updates throughout the week, follow me on Twitter (@JerryDonabedian).

Note: These recommendations are limited to team defenses that are rostered on less than 60 percent of teams on Yahoo or 45 percent on ESPN. Any references to fantasy points are based on Yahoo standard scoring, which doesn't include yards allowed.

Top Streaming Options for Week 13

1. Kansas City Chiefs (vs. DEN)

71% rostered on Yahoo, 43% on ESPN

Team implied total: 32.25

Opponent implied total: 18.25

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 14: 16th (at MIA),  Week 15: 20th (at NO)

The Chiefs D/ST has been rostered in most fantasy leagues throughout the season, but we've seen it available on waivers more and more the past month, with a Week 10 bye followed by trips to Las Vegas and Tampa Bay. Now it's time for the reward, which comes in the form of a home matchup with the Broncos. This won't be another Kendall Hinton / Royce Freeman production, but Denver had given up the second-most fantasy points to team defenses even before the Week 12 disaster. You might even remember Week 7 when the Chiefs D/ST scored a season-high 24 FPs in a Mile High blowout.

2. Seattle Seahawks (vs. NYG)

61% Yahoo, 54% ESPN

Team implied total: 29

Opponent implied total: 19

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 14: 1st (vs. NYJ),  Week 15: 7th (at WAS)

Technically, the Seahawks narrowly miss our ownership requirement for inclusion in this article, as they were picked up by a lot of fantasy teams prior to Monday's win over the Eagles. Turnovers have still been few and far between for the Seahawks, but they're now up to five consecutive games with three or more sacks, including three in a row giving up 23 or fewer points to the opponent. The Seattle defense is a worthy target for FAAB or waiver priority, preparing for back-to-back home games against the New Jersey teams.

3. Chicago Bears (vs. DET)

59% Yahoo, 58% ESPN

Team implied total: 23.5

Opponent implied total: 20.5

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 14: 10th (vs. HOU),  Week 15: 12th (at MIN)

The Bears predictably crumbled once their schedule got tricky, but they can at least take some solace in knowing they aren't the Detroit Lions. Matthew Stafford and Co. have gifted 57 fantasy points to team defenses over the past five weeks, despite facing a less-than-intimidating schedule (IND, MIN, WAS, CAR, HOU) in that stretch. This battle of NFC North beasts should be ugly, which is a good thing as far as we're concerned.

4. Las Vegas Raiders (at NYJ)

9% Yahoo, 3% ESPN

Team implied total: 27.25

Opponent implied total: 19.75

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 14: 23rd (vs. IND),  Week 15: 19th (vs. LAC)

Make no mistake, the Raiders defense is really, really bad. It's just not quite as pathetic as the Jets offense, a unit that actually seemed slightly better off with Joe Flacco under center. Sam Darnold's return to the lineup for Week 12 was a disaster, with the Jets scoring fewer than 10 points for a fourth time this season. Sunday's matchup will be the opposite of iron sharpening iron.

5. Minnesota Vikings (vs. JAX)

52% Yahoo, 43% ESPN

Team implied total: 30.5

Opponent implied total: 21

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 14: 28th (at TB),  Week 15: 4th (vs. CHI)

This matchup looked better a couple weeks back when the Vikings had just ripped off three straight wins over NFC North rivals. They then went down to the wire in home games against the Cowboys and Panthers, destroying whatever confidence and goodwill had been built up over the previous weeks. Even so, the Minnesota defense finds its way onto our list, facing a Jacksonville squad that's given up the ninth-most fantasy points to D/STs. Keep in mind that Mike Glennon's solid Week 12 performance came in a home game against a defense that was missing its two best players. The Vikings should put up a better fight than the Browns did.

Week 13 Rankings

1. Miami Dolphins vs. CIN
2. Kansas City Chiefs vs. DEN
3. Pittsburgh Steelers vs. WAS
4. Seattle Seahawks vs. NYG
5. Chicago Bears vs. DET
6. Baltimore Ravens vs. DAL
7. Las Vegas Raiders at NYJ
8. Green Bay Packers vs. PHI
9. Minnesota Vikings vs. JAX
10. Buffalo Bills at SF
11. Tennessee Titans vs. CLE
12. Los Angeles Rams at ARZ
13. New Orleans Saints at ATL
14. San Francisco 49ers vs. BUF
15. Indianapolis Colts at HOU
16. Detroit Lions at CHI
17. New England Patriots at LAC
18. Los Angeles Chargers vs. NE
19. Arizona Cardinals vs. LAR
20. Dallas Cowboys at BAL

Looking Ahead to Week 14

1. Seattle Seahawks vs. NYJ
2. San Francisco 49ers vs. WAS
3. New Orleans Saints at PHI
4. Los Angeles Rams vs. NE
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. MIN
6. Carolina Panthers vs. DEN
7. Tennessee Titans at JAX
8. Dallas Cowboys at CIN
9. Cincinnati Bengals vs. DAL
10. Chicago Bears vs. HOU
11. Houston Texans at CHI
12. Baltimore Ravens at CLE
13. Washington Football Team at SF
14. Green Bay Packers at DET
15. Pittsburgh Steelers at BUF
16. Kansas City Chiefs at MIA
17. Cleveland Browns vs. BAL
18. Arizona Cardinals at NYG
19. Buffalo Bills vs. PIT
20. Indianapolis Colts at LV

Preparing for the Playoffs

Week 14

1. Seattle Seahawks vs. NYJ
2. San Francisco 49ers vs. WAS
3. New Orleans Saints at PHI
4. Los Angeles Rams vs. NE
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. MIN
6. Carolina Panthers vs. DEN
7. Tennessee Titans at JAX
8. Dallas Cowboys at CIN
9. Cincinnati Bengals vs. DAL
10. Chicago Bears vs. HOU
11. Houston Texans at CHI
12. Baltimore Ravens at CLE
13. Washington Football Team at SF
14. Green Bay Packers at DET
15. Pittsburgh Steelers at BUF

Week 15

1. Pittsburgh Steelers at CIN
2. Los Angeles Rams vs. NYJ
3. Baltimore Ravens vs. JAX
4. Minnesota Vikings vs. CHI
5. San Francisco 49ers at DAL
6. Buffalo Bills at DEN
7. Seattle Seahawks at WAS
8. Miami Dolphins vs. NE
9. Green Bay Packers vs. CAR
10. Arizona Cardinals vs. PHI
11. Cleveland Browns at NYG
12. Chicago Bears at MIN
13. Indianapolis Colts vs. HOU
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers at ATL
15. Tennessee Titans vs. DET

Week 16

1. Baltimore Ravens vs. NYG
2. Chicago Bears at JAX
3. Cleveland Browns at NYJ
4. New Orleans Saints vs. MIN
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers at DET
6. Houston Texans vs. CIN
7. Pittsburgh Steelers vs. IND
8. Los Angeles Chargers vs. DEN
9. Washington Football Team vs. CAR
10. Kansas City Chiefs vs. ATL
11. Dallas Cowboys vs. PHI
12. Buffalo Bills at NE
13. Philadelphia Eagles at DAL
14. Carolina Panthers at WAS
15. Arizona Cardinals vs. SF

Recommended D/ST Stashes for the Playoffs

1. San Francisco 49ers

 Week 14: No. 2 vs. WAS

Week 15: No. 5 at DAL

Week 16: No. 17 at ARZ

You probably won't want to use the 49ers for Fantasy Super Bowl week, but they're a great choice if you're looking to cover Weeks 14 and 15.

2. Seattle Seahawks

Week 14: No. 1 vs. NYJ

Week 15: No. 7 at WAS

Week 16: No. 17 at ARZ

Seattle will face both New York teams and then Washington over the next three weeks, followed by a matchup with the Rams in Week 16. The Seahawks defense has looked much better of late, and it should be a strong start for each of the next three matchups.

3. Houston Texans

Week 14: No. 11 at CHI

Week 15: No. 26 at IND

Week 16: No. 6 vs. CIN

The Texans defense is awful, but so are Nick Foles and Ryan Finley. If you've got the roster space, consider stashing the 49ers or Seahawks for Weeks 14-15 and then Houston or Cleveland for Week 16.

4. Cleveland Browns

Week 14: No. 17 vs BAL

Week 15: No. 11 at NYG

Week 16: No. 3 at NYJ

The Cleveland defense is rostered in around 70 percent of Yahoo leagues, but that number should drop ahead of a Week 13 trip to Tennessee. Jump in and grab the Browns off waivers if you're looking to stash for Week 16.