Six teams are on bye in Week 12, requiring fantasy football managers to dig a little deeper into the waiver wire for bye-week replacements. Below, we look at the defense/special teams rankings for Week 11, with insights into particularly strong streaming units.
All stats are courtesy TruMedia unless otherwise stated.
1) Denver Broncos (at LV)
After a couple of tricky matchups, the Denver Broncos are back on top of the fantasy defense rankings for Week 12. Denver gets a matchup against the woeful Raiders offense, which leads the league in turnovers per drive.
The Broncos had three takeaways in the first meeting between these teams in Week 5, including a Pat Surtain II pick-six. Denver remains a top-three defense in EPA per play and is one of the highest floor options for this week.
2) Minnesota Vikings (at CHI)
The Minnesota Vikings are a strong play almost every week given their propensity for splash plays. This week they are near the top of the fantasy defense rankings thanks to how well they match up against the struggling Chicago offense.
Caleb Williams ranks 22nd in EPA per play when blitzed, due in part to the Bears being a bottom-10 offense in terms of pressure rate allowed when opposing defenses bring extra rushers. The Vikings have the second-highest blitz rate, which should provide plenty of opportunities for Brian Flores’ defense to generate a litany of negative plays.
3) Chicago Bears (vs. MIN)
Minnesota’s hot offensive start has faded, with Sam Darnold now leading the league in turnovers. Playing at home makes the Chicago Bears an elite fantasy defense even in a game where they’re decided underdogs as a team.
The Bears lead the league in EPA per dropback while also ranking as a top-10 team in takeaways. The downside here stems mostly from the Bears offense, which could create several short fields while facing a Vikings defense leading the league in takeaways per drive. Still, don’t expect a very high down-to-down success rate for the Minnesota offense.
4) Kansas City Chiefs (at CAR)
The Kansas City Chiefs have been a better real-life defense than a fantasy unit, ranking 27th in sack rate but still in the top half of the league in EPA per play and success rate.
Bryce Young’s second stint as a starter for Carolina has gone better, but that’s not really saying much. Since Young returned to the starting lineup in Week 8, the Panthers are still a bottom-10 offense by EPA per play, success rate, and points per drive.
5) Pittsburgh Steelers (at CLE)
Thursday night road games are always a tricky spot, so the Pittsburgh Steelers are a little more volatile than their ranking might suggest. Still, the Jameis Winston experience always provides a very high defensive ceiling, making the Steelers an enticing start.
Pittsburgh is a top-five defense in takeaways, specifically ranking seventh in interception rate. That strength makes them worth starting in this matchup. Off the heels of an extremely impressive performance against the MVP favorite Lamar Jackson, the Steelers are a top-five D/ST in Week 12.
6) Houston Texans (vs. TEN)
The Houston Texans are a top-three team in takeaways this season, driven in part by their five interceptions off Jared Goff in Week 10. Now they get a home spot against human turnover machine Will Levis, making Houston a top-10 defense.
The Texans have been a more consistent unit than their reputation might suggest. Houston has the second-highest defensive success rate for the season and is also top 10 in EPA per play. While they’ve allowed at least 20 points in all but two games this season, the Texans are more helpful in fantasy due to their propensity for splash plays (in addition to the takeaways, they’re also eighth in sack rate).
7) Washington Commanders (vs. DAL)
The Washington Commanders collapsed in the fourth quarter of their Thursday night loss to Philadelphia but have generally turned the corner on defense. Even in the wake of that Eagles loss, the Commanders rank seventh in scoring defense and third in EPA per dropback since Week 4.
The Cowboys have been hopeless all season, and the Cooper Rush-led attack has fared even worse. The Commanders are rostered in fewer than 30% of ESPN and Yahoo leagues, with many likely sending Washington to waivers before the Eagles matchup. Pick them back up if you need a starting defense in Week 12.
8) Philadelphia Eagles (at LAR)
The Philadelphia Eagles have been the NFL’s best defense since Week 5, ranking first in both success rate and EPA per play over that span. That makes them a must-start in nearly every matchup, even against a Rams offense getting healthier.
The Eagles’ defensive turnaround has been driven in part by its increase in takeaways. Philly ranks seventh in takeaways per drive since Week 5 after ranking 28th from Weeks 1-4. With a significantly younger and more athletic secondary compared to 2023, there’s reason to believe some of that is personnel-driven and not simply due to random chance.
9) Detroit Lions (at IND)
Outside of a rough first half in Week 10, the Detroit Lions have been a shockingly elite defense since Aidan Hutchinson’s potential season-ending injury. Since Week 6, the Lions rank second in both EPA per play and success rate.
The Colts remain an undependable offense regardless of whether Anthony Richardson or Joe Flacco is under center. The only cause for slight hesitation is that the Lions are a slightly below-average defense in terms of explosive play rate (percentage of plays allowing 20+ yards), while the Colts rank sixth in that category on offense.
But Indy is entirely dependent on those splash plays, and even if a couple of Richardson deep shots hit, expect the Lions to compensate enough to make them a very strong start.
10) Miami Dolphins (vs. NE)
The Miami Dolphins were a popular pickup ahead of their Week 11 matchup with Las Vegas. Hopefully, you scooped them up if you were defense-needy, as they can remain in all starting lineups in a home matchup versus New England.
The Dolphins force three-and-outs at the sixth-highest rate of any defense. Although there’s a perception that the Drake Maye-led Patriots are far more explosive, they still rank just 21st in three-and-out percentage since Maye became the starter in Week 6. That should limit New England’s yardage upside, giving the Dolphins a fairly high floor.
11) Cleveland Browns (vs. PIT)
These days, projecting a defense against Pittsburgh boils down to how well it defends the deep ball. With Russell Wilson operating an all-or-nothing passing attack, it’s a little easier to pinpoint which matchup to focus on against the Steelers.
The Cleveland Browns fare well in this regard, ranking eighth in completion percentage allowed on passes traveling 15+ air yards. Myles Garrett and the pass rush should have opportunities to get home on Wilson as well, as Cleveland ranks first in pressure rate and sixth in sack rate this season. Wilson has been notorious for holding the ball throughout his career and has the second-highest average time before passing this year.
12) Tennessee Titans (at HOU)
The Texans can be had as long as their offensive line woes persist. Still, the Tennessee Titans aren’t really the team best equipped to exploit that weakness.
The Titans rank 21st in sack rate and 30th in pressure rate. With Nico Collins back in the fold, Houston should be a little more dangerous than their recent malaise indicates. Tennessee continues to sit in the middle of these rankings every week due to strong down-to-down indicators (third in yards per play) but doesn’t have enough upside to rank in the top 10.
13) Los Angeles Chargers (vs. BAL)
The Los Angeles Chargers continue to allow the fewest points per game, even after their near-collapse on Sunday night vs. the Cincinnati Bengals. But it’s difficult to rank any D/ST in the top 10 against Baltimore, even after their clunker in Pittsburgh in Week 11. Look no further than the Broncos in Week 9, an elite defense that got shredded for 41 points and 7.3 yards per play.
The Chargers will be a difficult defense to use the rest of the fantasy regular season but do have a pair of positive matchups during the fantasy playoffs in Week 16 (vs. Denver) and Week 17 (at New England). It’s worth holding the Chargers D/ST until then if you have the bench space but not if you’re making a push to simply reach the playoffs in your league.
14) Los Angeles Rams (vs. PHI)
The Los Angeles Rams have been a fairly steady defense after a woeful first three weeks. Since Week 4, the Rams rank seventh in defensive EPA per play.
While Philadelphia’s boom-or-bust dropback passing game could play into the Rams’ hands, they’ll face a significantly bigger challenge trying to contain Saquon Barkley. The Rams remain a below-average defense by rushing success rate while also allowing the second-highest yards per attempt to RBs in 2024.
As the Commanders found out in Week 11, Barkley alone can sink a defense’s day even if the rest of the Eagles’ offensive stars are contained.
15) San Francisco 49ers (at GB)
The 49ers couldn’t hold the Seattle Seahawks out of the end zone on the final drive in Week 11, finally cracking after losing top pass rusher Nick Bosa. Only Trey Hendrickson has accounted for a higher percentage of his team’s pressures than Bosa this season, as he is a totally irreplaceable piece in this defense.
The Niners do have a little more upside against Jordan Love. The Packers quarterback continues to own the second-highest interception rate in 2024 behind only Levis. However, the 49ers are only a borderline startable unit if Bosa is able to suit up.
16) Arizona Cardinals (at SEA)
One of the most anonymous units in the league, the Arizona Cardinals defense has quietly excelled during the team’s ascent to first place in the NFC West. Since Week 7, the Cardinals rank third in scoring defense and yards per play.
The Seahawks have been an inconsistent week-to-week offense, in part because of a bottom-10 unit in turnovers per drive. The Cardinals are a tricky play on the road with DK Metcalf back for Seattle, but they’re rostered in less than 5% of ESPN and Yahoo leagues if you’re desperate.
17) Green Bay Packers (vs. SF)
The takeaways that powered the Green Bay Packers defense to begin the season have mostly dried up. After forcing multiple takeaways in each of their first six games of the season, the Packers have two takeaways over their last four games combined.
The 49ers have been an above-average offense in turnovers per drive, and that’s without Christian McCaffrey for their first eight games. Season-long numbers are a little difficult to parse for the 49ers with CMC back in the lineup, so proceed with caution on the Packers’ defense this week.
18) New York Giants (vs. TB)
The New York Giants still lead the league in sack rate, but their early-season success has fizzled out. In their two games before their Week 11 bye, the Giants had one sack despite blitzing on 45% of opponent dropbacks. For perspective, the highest blitz rate for the season is 40% by the Broncos.
With Mike Evans potentially returning after Tampa Bay’s bye week, Baker Mayfield should have his top weapon back to make the Bucs offense even more potent. If you can keep the Giants on your bench, it might be worth holding on to New York to see if the pass rush perks back up ahead of juicy matchups against Dallas and New Orleans in the next two weeks.
19) Seattle Seahawks (vs. ARI)
The Seattle Seahawks have made some drastic changes, with opening day starting linebackers Jerome Baker and Tyrel Dodson both gone. Mike Macdonald’s unit still ranks 25th in points allowed per drive since Week 4, though they had their most impressive performance since September in holding the San Francisco 49ers to 17 points in Week 11.
This week, Seattle’s issues against the run could create problems against the Cardinals. The Seahawks are 25th in rushing defense success rate and face a Cardinals offense that ranks fifth in rushing success rate and second in yards per carry. Even after an encouraging Week 11, the Seahawks’ D/ST is not a unit worth starting.
20) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at NYG)
Most defenses are worth starting at MetLife Stadium versus the Giants. In 51 drives at home this season, the Giants have a total of four touchdowns, the lowest touchdown rate for any team in home games in 2024.
Still, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are reeling on defense and tough to play regardless of the competition. For the season, the Bucs are a bottom-five defense in PPG, EPA per play, and success rate. They’ve allowed at least 23 points in six straight games while forcing three turnovers in their last four games combined. Even against the two-win Giants, Tampa’s D/ST isn’t worth trusting.
21) New England Patriots (at MIA)
Season-long numbers are virtually useless for Miami, which was one of the worst offenses over the first seven weeks but has performed at a top-10 level since Tua Tagovailoa returned from injured reserve.
Since Week 8, the Dolphins rank second in points per drive and third in success rate. Apart from the nine-sack outburst against Chicago two weeks ago, the New England Patriots have not really been a startable defense in fantasy and should remain on waivers this week.
22) Baltimore Ravens (at LAC)
While the Chargers began the year with a run-first reputation under Jim Harbaugh, that hasn’t been the case for a couple of months now. Since returning from their bye in Week 6, the Chargers have the 11th-highest dropback rate in one-score situations.
That plays right into the Baltimore Ravens’ defensive weakness. The Ravens continue to field one of the leakiest pass defenses in the NFL, ranking 28th in yards per attempt and 31st in passing touchdowns allowed. Baltimore is not a defense worth keeping on your roster until further notice.
23) Dallas Cowboys (at WAS)
Jayden Daniels hasn’t quite looked the same since suffering his rib injury. Since he got injured in Week 7, the Commanders rank 14th in both yards per play and EPA per play. Coupled with Micah Parsons being back in the Cowboys lineup, you can at least squint and see a touch of upside for Dallas.
Still, with the offense floundering and forcing the defense to play from behind, there isn’t as much of a ceiling as in past seasons. If the Commanders can play from ahead and run the ball, that’s big trouble for the Cowboys, who rank 28th in rush defense success rate. Even amid recent offensive struggles, Washington still ranks fourth in rushing success rate.
24) Las Vegas Raiders (vs. DEN)
The Broncos had a strong offensive game back in Week 5 versus the Las Vegas Raiders, recording their second-highest scoring game of the season with 34 points.
Bo Nix is trending up, as the Broncos rookie quarterback ranks 10th in EPA per play since Week 7. Raiders aren’t worth playing in any matchup, and let the first game between these teams serve as a reminder of that reality.
25) Indianapolis Colts (vs. DET)
The only argument for playing the Indianapolis Colts is takeaways. The Colts have the seventh-most takeaways this season and now face the Lions and Goff, who threw five interceptions two weeks ago.
The only problem is that the Lions are still a top-10 offense in terms of fewest turnovers per drive, even with that five-pick calamity. Facing the Lions should lead to an automatic benching for most D/ST units, and the Colts are no exception.
26) Carolina Panthers (vs. KC)
The NFL’s worst defense is back from bye to reoccupy the bottom of these rankings. The Carolina Panthers delivered their best defensive performance of the season in Germany against the Giants but are unlikely to replicate that against Kansas City.
Even after forcing three takeaways and holding the Giants to 17 points, the Panthers rank last in success rate and 31st in EPA per play on defense. Don’t expect much versus the efficient Chiefs offense.