Ranking Top Defenses to Stream for Season’s Remainder
As fantasy football playoff season approaches, maximizing defensive performance becomes critical. Fantasy managers need to optimize their team defense/special teams (D/ST) choices for the latter part of the season. Notably, performance can fluctuate significantly. Analysis of seasons from 2022 to 2024 shows that only 40% of top-10 D/STs in the initial twelve weeks maintained their standings over the final six weeks. This volatility emphasizes the importance of strategic D/ST selection.
Top Defenses to Stream for the Season’s Remainder
With the playoff race intensifying, fantasy managers should consider the following defenses that promise advantageous matchups:
- Cleveland Browns: Averaged 7.5 additional fantasy points for streaming D/STs.
- New Orleans Saints: Boosted scores by 6.9 points.
- Las Vegas Raiders: Contributed 4.7 points.
- Minnesota Vikings: Provided an average of 4.6 points.
- Arizona Cardinals: Offered 4.3 points.
- Carolina Panthers: Resulted in 3.6 points.
- Los Angeles Chargers: Added 2.7 points.
- Pittsburgh Steelers: Contributed 2.2 points.
- Washington Commanders: Brought in 1.6 points.
- Cincinnati Bengals: Finished with 1.3 points.
Defenses to Avoid
Conversely, several defenses have negatively impacted fantasy scores:
- Los Angeles Rams: Subtracted an average of 7.0 points from their opponents’ scores.
- Seattle Seahawks: Reduced scores by 2.6 points.
- New York Giants: Lowered scores by 2.4 points.
- Buffalo Bills: Decreased points by 2.2.
- San Francisco 49ers: Subtracted 1.9 points.
- Detroit Lions: Lessened scores by 1.9 points.
- Dallas Cowboys: Trimmed 1.6 points.
- Baltimore Ravens: Also reduced scores by 1.5 points.
- Green Bay Packers: Subtracted 1.5 points.
- Denver Broncos: Decreased fantasy points by 1.4.
Recommended Matchups for Upcoming Weeks
In preparation for the playoffs, here are several key matchups to maximize D/ST potential:
Week 13 D/ST Recommendations
- Buffalo Bills: Favorable matchup against Pittsburgh with Aaron Rodgers potentially sidelined.
- Los Angeles Chargers: Scored well in previous encounters, particularly against Las Vegas.
- Miami Dolphins: Consistently scoring above seven points despite tough matches.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Match against the Cardinals looks promising.
Week 14 D/ST Recommendations
- Vikings: Favorable matchups expected for upcoming games.
- Bucs: Previous high score against New Orleans strengthens this recommendation.
- Commanders: Solid performance expected against Minnesota.
Utilizing these insights into top defenses to stream for the season’s remainder can greatly enhance fantasy football playoff prospects. Prioritizing matchups and current performance metrics will ultimately lead to better decisions in lineup selections.
