Defenses (DEF) to Start in Week 11 (2025): Best Fantasy Football Streaming Options

Shaun Albin analyzes which defenses (DEF) to sit or start in Week 11 (2025) of the NFL season, and provides his best fantasy football streaming options.

Heading into Week 11, we see several starting defenses likely to take a step back, setting up streaming options.

The Chiefs face a tough test in Denver, while the Jaguars host Justin Herbert and the Chargers. Meanwhile, the Lions and Eagles' stout defenses face off against their even stronger offenses. With so many strong defenses on the ropes for this week, where can we turn for fantasy production?

The Ravens defense could continue to rebuild trust, while the Bears can capitalize on J.J. McCarthy’s growing pains. Even the Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons' struggling defensive units could be in line for a surprise showing.

Best D/ST Streaming Options For Week 11

Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns

If you’re following this article weekly, like you should be, you would already know how I feel about the Baltimore Ravens as an emerging defense for the second half of the season. Also, please refer to their 15-point performance in Week 9 as further proof.

This Ravens defense has drawn unfair ire this season after starting the year with the Bills, Chiefs, and Lions offenses in three of the first four weeks. This team has faced a brutal start to the season, but its schedule is beginning to lighten.

Last week against the Miami Dolphins, they managed two sacks and forced three turnovers. Players like Roquan Smith, Marlon Humphrey, and Malaki Starks have been relatively quiet so far, but should continue to shine as the season moves forward.

First career INT for rookie Malaki Starks 🐦‍⬛

BALvsMIA on Prime Video
Also streaming on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/K9j1i5QYZy

— NFL (@NFL) October 31, 2025

In Week 11, the Ravens will see a Cleveland Browns offense that has surrendered the fifth-most points to fantasy defenses and already gave the Ravens another 15-point outing in Week 2. The Browns turned to rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel in Week 5, but their new signal-caller holds just a 26.8 QBR and has been sacked 11 times.

The Ravens defense has even more help in the return of quarterback Lamar Jackson, who can extend drives and give the defense much-needed rest. The Ravens defense is still rostered in just 46% of Yahoo! leagues, making this one of your last chances to snag it. The team faces favorable matchups in four of its next five games, meaning you can set it and forget it for the next month.

Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings

The Chicago Bears are another defense facing a divisional rival this weekend. With J.J. McCarthy at the helm for the Vikings in Week 1, the Bears posted an 11-point outing. You can expect to see more of the same, as the Bears continue to round into form under first-year head coach Ben Johnson.

The Bears defense remains first in turnover percentage, earning takeaways on 21.8% of defensive possessions. Meanwhile, the Vikings are giving the ball away at a 13.6% clip, which is the seventh highest in the league. These two rankings suggest a big day for fantasy owners who opt to roll the dice with the Bears.

The Bears defense operates with discipline and capitalizes on mistakes regularly. Defensive back Kevin Byard III and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds are tied atop the leaderboard with four interceptions. Cornerback Nahshon Wright has added three more, leaving quarterbacks flustered every week.

TREMAINE. EDMUNDS.

📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/LUMxYJPbMh

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) November 2, 2025

With defensive linemen Montez Sweat and Gervon Dexter Sr. applying pressure, the Bears should be viewed as one of the most improved defenses in the league.

McCarthy threw another interception in his first game back against the Lions, his fourth in three games. With McCarthy’s struggles early on, you can fully expect the Bears to generate pressure early and often, leading to multiple miscues for the Vikings signal-caller.

Dallas Cowboys at Las Vegas Raiders

Week 11 will finally answer the age-old question of what happens when a stoppable force meets a movable object. The Raiders' 29^th-ranked offense squares off against the Cowboys’ 31^st-ranked defense, but don’t expect fireworks to ensue.

The Raiders offense has been an undeniable failure this season. Even with tight end Brock Bowers back last week, Geno Smith managed to find another open Jaguars defensive back. This most recent blunder means Smith has been intercepted in six of his eight starts this season, while throwing a league-high 11 picks.

On the other side are the Dallas Cowboys, who managed to snap the Cardinals' five-game skid last week, while surrendering 27 points to (checks notes) Jacoby Brissett. The Cowboys allowed Brissett’s highest single-game passer rating since 2023, when he was with the Commanders.

Despite the Week 9 loss, Dallas did manage 13 points, largely due to special teams. The defense did provide five sacks for the second time this season, and it just acquired defensive tackle Quinnen Williams at the deadline to bolster the pass rush.

Make no mistake, I’m not here to endorse the Cowboys defense as a rising unit. This Make-A-Wish fund defense will continue to hand out touchdowns like Snickers bars on Halloween. However, this particular matchup is as good as it gets for streaming options heading into next week.

The Cowboys are rostered in just 16% of leagues at this moment, and will be an improvement over middle-of-the-pack units ahead of this week. This is definitely a one-week pickup, as their schedule becomes brutal with matchups against the Eagles, Chiefs, and Lions coming up.

Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers

With the first three options as strong Week 11 plays, we now take a step back as we look at a waiver wire picked bare for defensive help. The Vikings face an emerging Bears offense. Also, the Commanders have struggled all season and will likely face an uphill battle with the Dolphins.

This leaves us looking at the Falcons to put up a respectable day against Rico Dowdle and the Carolina Panthers. What should give us hope in this Falcons defense?

The Falcons are fresh off a 10-point performance against an emerging New England Patriots team that now finds itself in first place behind quarterback Drake Maye. Despite a one-point loss, the Falcons managed to sack Maye six times and force a pair of turnovers.

As good as the Panthers have looked this season, they are just two weeks removed from a lashing at the hands of Josh Allen and the Bills offense.

Michael Penix Jr. was back in the lineup for the Falcons last week and managed another strong stat line. With Penix distributing the ball to his many playmakers, they could realistically battle the Panthers in the time of possession game and keep their defense fresh to limit Dowdle in the second half.

The Panthers thrashed Atlanta in Week 3, delivering a 30-0 beatdown that head coach Raheem Morris is ready to respond to.  The Falcons blitz at a league-high rate of 40.9%, and will look to pressure Bryce Young early and often. Look for a statement game from the Falcons as they claw their way to a top-10 fantasy performance.

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