With the regular season over for most fantasy leagues, attention turns to the playoffs, and every move matters more than ever. For many, defense is an overlooked position, and the idea of targeting the right defense each week is more effort than it’s worth. However, even when rostering a top defense, identifying the best weekly matchups can be a huge advantage.
The difference between the top-ranked and 12th-ranked defenses each week is almost always more than 10 points, and regularly more than 15 or 20. That’s like having an extra WR2 or WR3 in your lineup each week. With that in mind, here are some of the best defenses to pick up for the fantasy playoffs, both overall and for each week.
Top Three Fantasy Defenses for the Fantasy Playoffs
If you’d prefer to add a defense now, and not have to worry about swapping them out each week, here are three defenses you should be able to depend on from Weeks 15-17.
All defenses are currently rostered in fewer than 50% of Yahoo leagues, unless otherwise stated.
Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. NYJ, at DEN, at IND)
The Jaguars defense ranks fourth on the season, averaging 8.3 fantasy points per game through 14 weeks. They have recorded four top-nine fantasy finishes in their last five games, demonstrating excellent recent form.​
Jacksonville faces favorable matchups throughout the playoffs. The Jets may be forced to start undrafted rookie Brady Cook the rest of the way due to injuries to Tyrod Taylor and other quarterbacks. Cook appeared overwhelmed against Miami on Sunday, which bodes well for a Jaguars defense that ranks sixth in EPA per play allowed over the past two months.
New England Patriots (vs. BUF, at BAL, at NYJ)
The Patriots defense ranks sixth on the season and is only available due to their Week 14 bye. While a Week 15 matchup with Buffalo looks daunting, Mike Vrabel’s unit tallied three turnovers in Buffalo during Week 5 and finished as the seventh-ranked defense that week.​
New England has recorded eight top-12 fantasy finishes in 13 games this season. They get a particularly favorable Week 17 matchup against Tyrod Taylor and the Jets. The last three defenses to face New York have recorded top-10 fantasy finishes, with two finishing in the top five.
Miami Dolphins (at PIT, vs. CIN, vs. TB)
The Dolphins head into Week 15 in red-hot form. Miami has recorded four consecutive top-seven fantasy weeks and tallied 10 defensive turnovers in their last four games, with at least two in each contest.​
They face two vulnerable AFC North offenses in the next two weeks. The Bengals have turned the ball over nine times in their previous five games, including two Joe Burrow interceptions against Buffalo on Sunday. Miami has conceded more than 17 points just once in its last six games.
Top Defenses to Stash for Week 16
If you have a Week 15 bye or a defense that faces a tough matchup in Week 16 (Seattle Seahawks vs. LAR), you may want to stash one of the following defenses.
Miami Dolphins (vs. CIN)
As mentioned above, the Dolphins are a team in form, tallying 10 defensive turnovers in their last four games, with at least 2 in each. The Cincinnati Bengals can obviously put up points, but their miserable defense will continue to put pressure on them to be aggressive.
Miami has conceded more than 17 points just once in its last six games, while the Bengals’ offense has turned the ball over nine times in its previous five games. That includes two interceptions from Joe Burrow against the Bills on Sunday.
Buffalo Bills (at CLE)
The Bills defense is 52% rostered on Yahoo but warrants mention for their spectacular Week 16 matchup. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski announced that Shedeur Sanders will start for the remainder of the season.​
Sanders is growing into his role but remains a far more aggressive quarterback than Dillon Gabriel, leading Cleveland to commit two offensive turnovers in each of their last three games. The Bills defense has recorded multiple takeaways in four of their last five games.​
San Francisco 49ers (at IND)
The 49ers defense strung together three top-12 fantasy finishes before their Week 12 bye. Their Week 16 opponents are facing a quarterback crisis after Daniel Jones suffered a torn Achilles tendon on Sunday.​
Anthony Richardson is also out with a long-term injury, and rookie backup Riley Leonard is now week-to-week with a knee injury. The 49ers have won three straight while the Colts have lost three straight.​
Top Defenses to Stash for Week 17
If you’re set for the next two weeks, but want the best chances of success in championship week, here are two defenses to have on your roster.
Jacksonville Jaguars (at IND)
The Jaguars get a potentially dream matchup against the quarterback-depleted Colts in Week 17. Jacksonville’s excellent form combined with Indianapolis’ offensive uncertainty makes them an ideal stash for championship week.​
New England Patriots (at NYJ)
The Patriots face Tyrod Taylor and the Jets in Week 17. While Taylor has improved New York’s offense, the last three defenses to face the Jets have recorded top-10 fantasy finishes. Garrett Wilson is eligible to return from IR, but he’s unlikely to play again this season. Don’t shy away from trusting the sixth-ranked fantasy defense.​
Defenses to Stream in Week 15
Alternatively, if you want to focus on the week ahead, there are three defenses on waivers that should be able to help you out.
Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. NYJ)
The reasons for backing the Jaguars’ defense and for targeting the Jets’ offense have been mentioned above. This one is a no-brainer, especially with the added value in Week 17.
San Francisco 49ers (vs. TEN)
The Tennessee Titans are the 31st-ranked offense in PFSN’s Offense Impact metric this season, but that hasn’t always translated into fantasy gold for opposing defenses. However, the 49ers are a defense in form and should be able to make things happen against sub-par opposition.
Miami Dolphins (at PIT)
Pittsburgh has totaled nine offensive turnovers in five non-divisional matchups since their Week 5 bye. The Dolphins defense is coming off four straight top-eight fantasy finishes with multiple turnovers in each game.​
Meta description: Best fantasy football defenses for playoffs 2025. Top stashes include Jaguars, Patriots, Dolphins for Weeks 15-17 championship run.
