The Defensive Line – Week 13 D/ST Streaming

Four teams that you should consider streaming as your fantasy football defense in Week 13.

Michael James
Streaming Defenses A Year Ago

Welcome to week 13!  Hope your holiday weekend was full of good food.  Last week, our picks came through in solid style, with the Chiefs, Dolphins, and Panthers taking care of business and getting us double-digit points!  The only team that didn’t fare so well was the Colts, and we listed them last as it was a riskier pick.  So now we move on to this week where the pickings aren’t nearly as bountiful as last week, but we’ll see what we can find down in the lower end of the waiver wire.  Especially since I was ready to recommend the Commanders, but they are owned in just enough leagues to not make the cut.  As always, we’re looking for teams rostered around 50% or lower rostered.

Please note that there is a good chance better teams are out there in your league than these four, but we cannot assume they’re out there for every league. Stay active and monitor the league home page, there is also a chance someone will drop a defense after the waivers clear for this week as well.

 

Green Bay Packers

Opponent: @ Chicago Bears

ESPN % Rostered: 45%

Yahoo % Rostered: 38%

 

The first injury outlooks for teams usually come the day after this article is submitted, but with the bye week after this game, it is a realistic possibility that the Bears decide to sit Justin Fields so that he gets additional rest to heal his separated shoulder with partial ligament tears.  It also could be a sign as even the general manager is giving us updates, as a nod to the franchise outlook could be at play here as well.  On top of that, the Bears just lost Darnell Mooney for the remainder of the season to add to their ever-growing list of season-ending injuries they seem to be piling up lately.  So let’s take advantage of this.  Before last week’s shootout in Philadelphia, this Packers team had been on an interception streak, registering at least one interception in each of their previous 5 games for 7 total in that span.  They have 7 sacks in their last three games going against a Bears team that gives up the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing defenses this season.  They are allowing on average 3.5 sacks and 1.25 turnovers per game this season.  Also, Aaron Rodgers still owns the bears.  Someone should look into that conflict of interest at some point.

 

 

Minnesota Vikings

Opponent: vs. New York Jets

ESPN % Rostered: 27%

Yahoo % Rostered: 38%

 

The Vikings are averaging 8.25 fantasy points per game since their first bye week in week 7, and they had another bye in week 11!  No wonder they’ve been able to keep their players healthy.   Oh, you are going to make me count week 11.  Well if you don’t count it, the numbers fit my narrative a whole lot better.  Okay but seriously since their actual bye week, the Vikings have produced 10, 6, 15, and 9 fantasy points in 4 out of their 5 games.  They just got obliterated by the Cowboys for one of those five weeks.  I do not consider the Jets to be on par offensively with Dallas.  They beat a depleted Bears team at home, but now they’re traveling to Minneapolis and facing 1 pm Kirk Cousins who can secure an AFC East sweep with a win this weekend.  The Jets have been sacked 7 times in their last three games.  Minnesota has 12 sacks in their five games since the bye week as well as 8 turnovers and 2 defensive touchdowns in that same five-game span.

 

 

Seattle Seahawks

Opponent: @ Los Angeles Rams

ESPN % Rostered: 11%

Yahoo % Rostered: 21%

 

Now we’re getting into teams with some trepidation that makes you hesitant to run with.  The Seahawks have been a roller coaster defensively.  Their last two games have them averaging 2.5 fantasy points, but in the four games previous to that they averaged just over 11 fantasy points per game.  But they have a good matchup this week facing a Rams team that is discussing punting on the current season as talks of shutting down Matthew Stafford for the rest of the season are now heating up around the organization according to beat writers and insiders.  The Rams are giving up the most fantasy points in the NFL this season to their opponent’s defenses.  They’ve given up 10 sacks and 4 turnovers in their last three games heading into this divisional matchup.

 

Cleveland Browns

Opponent: @ Houston Texans

ESPN % Rostered: 9%

Yahoo % Rostered: 10%

 

When in doubt, look to see if it’s worth starting the team facing the Texans.  The Browns have a lot of talent individually on defense but have not seemed to be able to put together a cohesive team effort as a unit this season.  Usually, that means coaching issues, but either way, they’re facing a Texans team that has surrendered 17 (!) sacks in their last four games to go along with giving up 2 defensive touchdowns in that span.  They have thrown at least one interception in each game since their bye week, counting 9 total over those six weeks.  The switch to Kyle Allen does not seem to have made a difference for opponents.  Defenses going against Houston since their bye week are averaging 12 fantasy points.  So do you trust an untrustworthy defense going into a juicy matchup?  Will the Browns blow out Houston in Deshaun Watson‘s return to football?

 

These teams did not meet the consideration threshold for the main highlight section, but you should check to see if they’re available in your league:

Baltimore Ravens – ESPN: 74% Y!: 91%
Washington Commanders – ESPN: 51% Y!: 52%
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – ESPN: 62% Y!: 68%

 

Hit me up with some feedback @MikeoftheFF on Twitter

 

 

Photos by Zach Bolinger & Stephen Lew/Icon Sportswire | Design by Michael Packard (@designsbypack on Twitter @ IG)

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