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Fantasy managers who have made it to championship weekend surely have loaded and talented rosters. Picking the correct defense for Week 17 is the final piece of the puzzle.
Play it wrong and managers can be left with a zero (or worse) in their lineup. Utilize the waiver wire and find the matchup that benefits defenses. There are a handful of poor offenses across the NFL.
Below, we'll dive into the best DST streamers and starts for Week 17. The top-tier defenses that are widely owned, like San Francisco, Dallas, Kansas City, Baltimore, Cleveland, and Miami, will not appear in this article.
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Best Week 17 Defense Streamers for Fantasy Playoffs
1. Denver Broncos vs. Los Angeles Chargers
If you're reading this before Week 16, seeing the Denver Broncos top the list after getting picked apart by the Detroit Lions can be unsettling. If you're reading this after Week 16, the Broncos hopefully rebounded against the lowly New England offense and confidence in the unit has returned.
Despite not forcing any fumbles or interceptions against Detroit, the Broncos still have 24 takeaways in 2023, just behind league leaders San Francisco and Jacksonville. Los Angeles committed five giveaways against Las Vegas in Week 15. Against this same Denver defense the week prior, the Chargers scored seven points and turned it over twice. Easton Stick is turnover prone and the Chargers offense is tanking. It's a matchup worth exploiting.
2. Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots
Just outside of the elite defense category sits the Buffalo Bills. There's a good chance that they aren't available in most leagues. If they are, it's time to jump back on the bandwagon. Not only do they get the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 16, but they follow that up by hosting the Patriots.
New England averages under two touchdowns and 1.6 giveaways per game. They scored 17 points in Week 15 but 10 of those came off of Kansas City interceptions. Bailey Zappe had to drive the ball a total of 30 yards to earn those points. The offense is improved with Zappe at the helm but still nothing to worry about. Buffalo at home will handle an offense that lacks explosive playmakers.
3. Las Vegas Raiders at Indianapolis Colts
A strong defense matched up against a backup quarterback is usually an elite combination. Gardner Minshew, however, is not your typical backup quarterback. He's leading the Colts to the ninth-most points per game (23.6) as essentially the starting quarterback for the season with rookie Anthony Richardson on injured reserve. Minshew is also likely getting his star wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. back. Running back Jonathan Taylor has already returned to the lineup.
The Raiders, under interim coach Antonio Pierce, have allowed just 15.2 points per game since he took over. That's the third-fewest in the NFL. His unit also has back-to-back games with two defensive touchdowns. They were a tremendous play on paper in Week 15. Managers likely let them go ahead of their Week 16 matchup in Kansas City, but they showed out then too.
Minshew has played the majority of 14 games this season. He has a total of 14 turnovers. Fantasy managers may be able to count on at least one turnover from the gunslinger, but the Colts could also put up points on the scoreboard.
4. Los Angeles Rams at New York Giants
The Los Angeles Rams DST has only tallied double-digit fantasy points once (standard scoring) this season. That came in Week 6 against Joshua Dobbs and the Arizona Cardinals.
The Giants' offense has been equally mediocre, which makes the Rams a good play in Week 17. They're averaging just 14.3 points per game. Veteran Tyrod Taylor will get the start on Sunday. He doesn't take as many sacks or turn the ball over as much as Tommy Devito, but he also hasn't lit up the scoreboard when he's been under center.
The Rams will be a reliable option in Week 17, especially in leagues that reward points for forcing three-and-outs.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Carolina Panthers
The Jaguars have been less-than-stellar on the defensive side of the ball in recent weeks, but get a late Christmas present when they host the Carolina Panthers. Bryce Young leads the Panthers to just over 14 points per game and the rookie quarterback succumbs to the second-most sacks. Josh Allen (not that one) and Travon Walker will put pressure on Young and force him into mistakes.
There's no real threat to worry about on that side of the football. Their best offensive player is Chuba Hubbard, who was a backup running back to begin the season. Even in their victory over Atlanta, they failed to find the end zone. There's little reason to worry about this offense putting up points against Jacksonville.
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