Knowing which defenses to start in fantasy football can be critical to winning your matchups. This position, arguably more so than any other, is matchup-dependent on a weekly basis, and the best results can be obtained by being flexible with a streaming strategy. Here’s a look at our Week 13 fantasy defense rankings and the top options to stream this week.

Top Fantasy Defense Streamers in Week 13

Week 12 gave us a reprieve from byes and a medley of defensive options. The penultimate week of the fantasy football regular season is once again a challenging one for defensive streamers. Here are my top fantasy defense streamers, all of which are rostered in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues.

Cleveland Browns (at HOU)

This season’s punching bag for streaming defenses has been the Houston Texans. Never was that more evident than in last week’s shellacking at the hands of the Dolphins.

Kyle Allen didn’t fare much better than Davis Mills, taking five sacks and throwing two interceptions. The Dolphins also tacked on a fumble recovery for a touchdown for good measure. The only reason they even gave up 15 points is that they took their foot off the gas in the third quarter and just coasted to victory.

The Texans entered Week 12, allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing defenses. The Browns do not have a good defense. They are also on the road. In fact, all three of this week’s recommendations are road teams, which is less than ideal. It’s tough out there.

With that said, the Browns did manage to sack Tom Brady three times in Week 12. They have at least one sack in every game this season. Unfortunately, they haven’t forced many turnovers. We’re just banking on the opponent here.

Seattle Seahawks (at LAR)

How the mighty have fallen. The Rams have completely packed it in. Last season’s Super Bowl champions were just a cornucopia of fantasy goodness. You wanted pieces of this offense. Now, you literally do not want anyone. I believe when this season ends, not a single Ram will be rostered in more than 50% of Yahoo leagues. That’s how bad it’s gotten.

Cooper Kupp and Matthew Stafford have not been ruled out for the remainder of the season, but it’s coming. Allen Robinson, who was not doing much to begin with, is now out for the year with a foot injury. This team is going to play out the season just by going through the motions.

It’s going to be some combination of Bryce Perkins and John Wolford the rest of the way. They will be throwing to Van Jefferson as the WR1. Behind him is a carousel of role players that are better suited to playing a handful of situational snaps per game. I regret not recommending all of their lowers on Underdog Fantasy. Yet, they are forced into more prominent roles due to injuries.

The Rams only managed 10 points in Week 12. Perkins was sacked three times, and he threw two interceptions. Meanwhile, the Seahawks just gave up a 40 burger to the Raiders. Again, these are not quality streaming options — just the best we’ve got.

We’re banking on the Rams’ lack of talent on offense resulting in them struggling to move the ball and taking sacks or turning it over in a negative game script. The Seahawks have forced a turnover in all but one game this season. I’d be surprised if that streak didn’t continue in Week 13.

Green Bay Packers (at CHI)

For those keeping score at home, this is yet another defensive recommendation for a team that allowed 40 points last week. What a time to be alive!

The Packers are coming off their worst defensive effort of the season. In fact, they really only had two or three, depending on your threshold, “quality” defensive performances. Fortunately, one of those came against the Bears back in Week 2.

Of course, this is a very different Bears offense with a much improved Justin Fields. However, Fields didn’t play in Week 12 due to a separated left shoulder. He probably can play if the team really wants him to, but in a lost season, they have no incentive to risk his long-term health. Accordingly, I expect Fields to sit again this week, especially with the Bears’ bye week looming in Week 14.

That means the Packers will get the honor of facing Trevor Siemian. To be fair, Siemian wasn’t a complete disaster against the Jets’ elite defense. He only threw one interception and took just two sacks. At the same time, the Bears only scored 10 points.

At the very least, the Packers should have a high floor in this one, as the Bears are unlikely to score much. Tack on a couple of sacks and a turnover or two, and we have a passable defensive streamer.

Week 13 Fantasy Defense Rankings

The rankings below are from Senior Fantasy Analyst Tommy Garrett. If you want to ask Tommy or any of our fantasy analysts about defense rankings or streamers for Week 13, then be sure to sign up for the PFN Discord server, where you will have unlimited access to the team throughout the season.

The table is best viewed in landscape on mobile devices and can be sorted using the filters above the table.