Congratulations on making it this far. We have two weeks left to play fantasy football in the 2025 season. Not all of us will make it to next week. But if you do, it’s important to be prepared. Here are some fantasy defenses managers should look to stash now so you’re not scrambling to add one when waivers run in Week 17.
Top Fantasy Defenses To Stash: New England Patriots (at NYJ)
The New England Patriots don’t exactly have this incredible defense. But that’s not what this is about. It’s about the opponent.
It’s impossible to predict what head coach Aaron Glenn will do because his decisions are completely devoid of all logic and reason. All we can do is assume the most rational thing, which is continuing to start Brady Cook. There is absolutely no reason for Tyrod Taylor or Justin Fields to start another game in a lost season. We know what they are and that is not the answer.
Cook isn’t a complete disaster, but he’s obviously a very favorable matchup. He’s thrown three interceptions in his two appearances with just one touchdown pass, while taking nine sacks. The Jets allow the eighth-most fantasy points per game to defenses.
New Orleans Saints (at TEN)
It was quite unfortunate for anyone who streamed the San Francisco 49ers against the Tennessee Titans in Week 15. The Titans weren’t competitive, but Cam Ward didn’t turn it over and they managed 24 points. That’s bad news for a defense.
Nevertheless, the Titans are still one of the best matchups you can ask for. They’ve allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game to defenses.
Meanwhile, the New Orleans Saints haven’t been that bad defensively. They held the Panthers and Buccaneers to 17 and 20 points, respectively, and recorded a turnover in five consecutive games. You can certainly do worse.
New York Giants (at LV)
This is the riskiest of all the stash options that are readily available. The New York Giants are a bad defense. They’ve only forced nine turnovers on the season and are typically at just 2-3 sacks per game, at best. But, they get the Las Vegas Raiders.
It’s too soon to tell whether it will be Geno Smith or Kenny Pickett under center. Does it really matter, though?
The problem with the Raiders is less their quarterbacks and more their porous offensive line that has to be considered one of the worst in NFL history.
Smith has taken a league leading 49 sacks this season. In his first start of the year, Pickett took another five himself last week. The two have combined to throw 15 interceptions on the year.
There’s a very real chance the Giants are a better matchup for the Raiders offense than the Raiders offense is for the Giants defense. But when you’re scraping the bottom of the barrel to start someone, you are better off with a bad defense against a bad offense than a solid defense against a good offense.
