X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

D/ST Strength of Schedule: Best Fantasy Football Defense Streamers and Matchups (Weeks 16-17)

Chiefs Defense - Fantasy Football D/ST Streamers, Team Defense Rankings, IDP Waiver Wire

Scott's 2024 DST fantasy football strength of schedules for Weeks 16-17, and the best fantasy football DST matchups for the rest of season. Target these D/STs.

It's officially fantasy football crunch time as we wrap up the fantasy regular season over the next two weeks. Those fortunate enough to make the playoffs must continue to grind out decisions, especially when it comes to team defenses. In the article below, I will present the strength of schedule (SOS) for the fantasy Defense/Special Teams (DST) position for Weeks 13-17.

A couple weeks ago I wrote an initial version of this article -- fantasy Defense/Special Teams (DST) article for Weeks 11-17, looking at fantasy schedule strength with an eye toward the rest of the season and fantasy playoffs. This article will follow the same format with updated opponent strength data, for Weeks 13-17.

Based on my adjusted fantasy points allowed process, I will look at the rest of the season and fantasy playoff schedules for the DST position, pointing out the most favorable schedules in those time frames, and providing a DST streaming strategy through the end of the season. As the saying goes, "The best defense is a good fantasy DST" (or maybe that's just me?), so let's get into it.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

DST Pressure Rate

While this metric is not factored into my adjusted fantasy points allowed process, pressure rate is a useful statistic to factor into the strategy of choosing a DST. A defense’s rate is calculated using the following equation:

(QB Hurries + QB Knockdowns + QB Sacks) divided by QB Dropbacks

Other than sacks, the frequency with which a defense pressures the opposing QB does not directly equate to fantasy points. But pressure on the QB that does not end in a sack can increase the chances of the QB making a poor throw, fumbling, or simply not moving the ball toward a scoring opportunity for the offense.

The following chart shows each DST and their season-long pressure rate. I also calculated the average pressure rate allowed by each team’s remaining opponents. Looking at the data from this angle is a useful piece of the strategy beyond just adjusted fantasy points allowed.

A higher pressure rate combined with a higher average pressure rate allowed by a DST’s opponents lends to good opportunities for sacks and turnovers.

The following is another useful data set showing multiple team defense-level statistics that are relevant to how fantasy DSTs score points. The table shows the following for each defense:

  • DST fantasy points per game
  • Interception rate (interceptions per QB dropback)
  • Pressure rate
  • Sack rate (sacks per QB dropback)
  • Turnover rate (percentage of drives ending in a turnover)

All data in this team defense portion of the article is from Pro Football Reference.

 

DST Rest-of-Season Fantasy Strength of Schedule

I generated tables showing each team’s rest of season (ROS) schedule (Week 13-17) with each weekly opponent color-coded based on that opponent’s rank (1-32) versus the fantasy DST position. Lower number ranks with a red color indicate more difficult fantasy matchups.

A higher number ranks with a green color represent more favorable matchups. I update these each week. Also known as schedule “heat maps,” the ROS schedule for DSTs is included at the end of the article.

This schedule heat map is provided in two formats. One shows each team’s opponents’ team abbreviation. The other shows the actual numbered rank (1-32) of each opponent.

Also included are each team’s ROS and fantasy playoffs (Week 15-17) SOS score (average of opponent ranks in those time frames).

As a teaser, the following teams have the top 10 most favorable DST schedules for Weeks 13-17. Included in parentheses is the current rostership percentage for each team (calculated as the average rostership across the ESPN, Sleeper, and Yahoo Fantasy platforms).

Also included are the number of “Plus Matchups” for each team (opponents ranked 20th or worse versus DSTs):

  1. Buccaneers (55.1%)
    • Plus Matchups: Four
  2. Jaguars (5.5%)
    • Plus Matchups: Four
  3. Colts (20.6%)
    • Plus Matchups: Three (and a bye)
  4. Bengals (16.5%)
    • Plus Matchups: Three
  5. Commanders (63.4%)
    • Plus Matchups: Two (and a bye)
  6. Chiefs (88.3%)
    • Plus Matchups: Two
  7. Falcons (6.7%)
    • Plus Matchups: Three
  8. Cardinals (17%)
    • Plus Matchups: Four
  9. Broncos (85.7%)
    • Plus Matchups: One (and a bye)
  10. Ravens (62%)
    • Plus Matchups: One (and a bye)

 

DST Fantasy Strength of Schedule Time Frames

This late in the season, there are only two relevant time frames. I define each as follows:

  • Rest of Season (ROS): Weeks 13-17
  • Fantasy Playoffs: Weeks 15-17

In this article, I will be looking at each time frame and the teams with the Top 10 most favorable fantasy matchups for DSTs during those spans according to my adjusted fantasy points allowed ranks.

 

DST Strength of Schedule: Rest of Season

The following chart shows DST’s schedule for the rest of the season (Weeks 13-17). The chart is sorted by the SOS score in the right-hand column from highest (easier) to lowest (harder).

The current average rostership percentage (across ESPN, Sleeper, and Yahoo Fantasy platforms) is also included for each team. Many managers are streaming the position by this time, and the reality of what teams are and might be available is important context.

The Buccaneers have the highest rest-of-season SOS Score, which translates to the most favorable schedule for DSTs in Weeks 13-17. Their bye is behind them, and they get two matchups with the 24th-ranked Panthers, including Week 13 and during championship week.

The issue with Tampa Bay is that their favorable schedule is well known, and their rostership has crept above the 50% threshold (55.1% averaged across the three platforms). If they are available, Tampa Bay is a solid streaming option for the next two weeks against the Panthers and Raiders (the most favorable DST matchup)

Next up are the Jaguars, with a “just okay” matchup in Week 13 versus the 18th-ranked Texans. But after that, they face the Titans (28th), Jets (23rd), Raiders (32nd), and the Titans again during championship week. Jacksonville is widely available with a rostership of only 5.5%, but there is a reason for that.

Even with the favorable schedule, the Jaguars DST, with their second-lowest pressure rate of 17.3% and sixth-lowest 3.8 fantasy points per game, is a highly risky streaming option at this crucial stage of the season.

The third-most favorable DST schedule belongs to the Colts, a DST that is also readily available with a rostership of only 20.6%. The Colts have a good matchup in Week 13 versus the Patriots (26th), but that is followed by a bye in Week 14 and a trip to Denver in the first round of the fantasy playoffs.

The Broncos are a slightly negative matchup (14th) and have the sixth-lowest pressure rate allowed (18.2%).

The Bengals have the fourth most favorable ROS schedule, but you will want to leave them alone in Week 13 versus the ninth-ranked Steelers. After that, the Bengals have three consecutive plus matchups against the Cowboys (31st), Titans (28th), and Browns (29th and the second-highest pressure rate allowed).

However, the Bengals are only advisable because of the favorable schedule. They rank 21st in pressure rate and 26th in fantasy points per game.

The Commanders check in with the fifth most favorable ROS schedule, starting immediately in Week 13 versus the 28th-ranked Titans. They do have a Week 14 bye and face the Eagles and Falcons in Weeks 16 and 17.

I would only consider them for Week 13 and Week 15 versus the Saints (25th), but their juicy matchup with Tennessee in Week 13 is no secret, as their rostership climbed to 63.4% after this week’s waivers.

The sixth through 10th-most favorable DST schedules in Weeks 13-17 are listed below:

  • Sixth: Chiefs; 88.3% rostership; 27% pressure rate (third highest)
    • Week 13: Raiders (32nd)
    • Week 14: Chargers (20th)
    • Week 15: Browns (29th)
    • Week 16: Texans (18th)
    • Week 17: Steelers (ninth)
  • Seventh: Falcons; 6.7%% rostership; 17.6% pressure rate (30th)
    • Week 13: Chargers (20th)
    • Week 14: Vikings (22nd)
    • Week 15: Raiders (32nd)
    • Week 16: Giants (30th)
    • Week 17: Commanders (third)
  • Eighth: Cardinals; 17% rostership; 19.1% pressure rate (25th)
    • Week 13: Vikings (22nd)
    • Week 14: Seahawks (21st)
    • Week 15: Patriots (26th)
    • Week 16: Panthers (24th)
    • Week 17: Rams (eighth)
  • Ninth: Broncos; 85.7% rostership; 25.8% pressure rate (ninth)
    • Week 13: Browns (29th)
    • Week 14: BYE
    • Week 15: Colts (16th)
    • Week 16: Chargers (20th)
    • Week 17: Bengals (12th)
  • 10th: Ravens; 62% rostership; 21.5% pressure rate (19th)
    • Week 13: Eagles (19th)
    • Week 14: BYE
    • Week 15: Giants (30th)
    • Week 16: Steelers (ninth)
    • Week 17: Texans (18th)

 

DST Strength of Schedule: Fantasy Playoffs

The following chart shows each DST’s schedule for the Fantasy Playoffs (Week 15-17).

 

DST Streaming Road Map (Weeks 13-17)

Rather than go through the same process of looking at the top 10 most favorable playoff schedules, it is more useful to look ahead, based on the data presented in this article, and develop what I am calling a “DST Streaming Road Map” for the rest of the season.

Five of the DSTs in the top 10 fantasy playoff schedule pool have a rostership above 50% (Buccaneers, Commanders, Chiefs, Broncos, and Ravens). The rest qualify as streamers so we can put together a road map of DSTs to aim for each week, from now through the fantasy playoffs.

For each week, I will provide my top streaming option (Option 1), and a secondary option (Option 2):

Week 13:

  • Option 1: Cowboys (50.8% rostership; third-most favorable matchup versus the Giants). Yes, I am slightly breaking the rules here with a rostership above 50%, but with a healthy Micah Parsons, the Cowboys are my top streaming choice in Week 13.
  • Option 2: Seahawks (18.3% rostership; 10th-most favorable matchup versus the Jets). I am surprised Seattle’s defense has such a lower rostership after what they did to the Cardinals in Week 12.

Week 14:

  • Option 1: Dolphins (47.8% rostership; 10th-most favorable matchup versus the Jets)
  • Option 2: Saints (22.5% rostership; third-most favorable matchup versus the Giants)

Week 15:

  • Option 1: Cardinals (17% rostership; seventh-most favorable matchup versus the Patriots)
  • Option 2: Bengals (16.5% rostership; fifth-most favorable matchup versus the Titans)

Week 16:

  • Option 1: Bills (53.5% rostership; seventh-most favorable matchup versus the Patriots). Yes, the Bills are above a 50% rostership right now, but in Week 16 they will be coming off of a game at Detroit, the toughest DST matchup. The Bills are a good stash if you have space as their schedule Weeks 13-15 is brutal (SF, LAR, and DET).
  • Option 2: Packers (40.1% rostership; eighth-most favorable matchup versus the Saints, at a likely frigid Lambeau Field)

Week 17:

  • Option 1: Dolphins (47.8% rostership; fourth-most favorable matchup versus the Browns). Miami’s rostership will likely be lower by Week 17 as they will be coming off games versus the Texans and 49ers in Weeks 15 and 16.
  • Option 2: Eagles (66.7%% rostership; second-most favorable matchup versus the Cowboys). This is another scenario where the Eagles will likely be below 50% by Week 17, with games against the Steelers and Commanders in Weeks 15 and 16.

 

Thank you so much for reading! I love diving deep into the fantasy strength of schedule with the hope that I can help you make the best decisions possible in the maze of fantasy football decisions. I will be compiling data every week all season long and updating the fantasy strength of the schedule each week.

I am always available to help out. If you have any questions about this article or general questions about fantasy football, reach out to me on X or Bluesky Social (@MunderDifflinFF on both).



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!

More Fantasy Football Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Joe Burrow

Bengals Not Closing the Door on Joe Burrow Returning This Year
CFB

LaNorris Sellers to Play Against Missouri?
Kyle Tucker

Progress has "Plateaued"
Isaac Paredes

has "Outside Chance" to Return This Weekend
CFB

Kaidon Salter Expected To Start for Colorado on Saturday
Willson Contreras

Goes on 10-Day Injured List, Done for Season
Justin Fields

Ruled Out for Week 3 Due to Concussion
Jayden Reed

Out Indefinitely After Foot and Shoulder Surgery
Washington Commanders

Preston Smith Signs With Commanders
Trey Jemison III

Joins Knicks on Two-Way Contract
Kevin McCullar Jr.

Signs New Two-Way Deal With Knicks
Matt Ryan

Returns to Knicks on Exhibit 10 Contract
New York Knicks

Alex Len Signs Exhibit 9 Deal With Knicks
Nickeil Alexander-Walker

Expected to Take on Larger Offensive Role With Hawks
Thomas Sorber

Undergoes Surgery
Dominic Canzone

Has Five-Hit, Three-Homer Game Tuesday
Cal Raleigh

Sets Single-Season Home Run Record for a Switch-Hitter
Jayden Reed

Undergoes Clavicle and Foot Surgeries, Out for Foreseeable Future
Bo Bichette

to Miss Rest of Regular Season
Zach Neto

Placed on 10-Day Injured List With Hand Injury
Yordan Alvarez

Out on Tuesday, Dealing With "Significant" Ankle Sprain
Aaron Jones Sr.

Vikings Place Aaron Jones Sr. on Injured Reserve With Hamstring Injury
CFB

Diego Pavia Refutes Report of Seeking Seventh Collegiate Season
Christian Kirk

Expected to Return in Week 3
CFB

Diego Pavia Seeking Another Year of Eligibility
Tarik Skubal

on Track to Start Thursday
CFB

Kevorian Barnes Questionable Against SMU
Bo Bichette

has Short-Term Knee Injury, Could Return for Postseason
Tosan Evbuomwan

Joins Knicks
NBA

Kai Jones Links Up With EuroLeague Team
Bismack Biyombo

Returns to Spurs
Bones Hyland

Rejoins Timberwolves
Kobe Bufkin

Moves to Brooklyn
Trey Yesavage

Sets Franchise Strikeout Record On Monday
Yordan Alvarez

To Receive MRI For Sprained Left Ankle On Tuesday
Willson Contreras

Exits Early Monday With Right-Biceps Tightness
Yordan Alvarez

Exits With Ankle Sprain
Brock Bowers

Officially Active on Monday Night
Jauan Jennings

Day-to-Day With Ankle Injury
Logan O'Hoppe

Activated Off Seven-Day Injured List
CBJ

Denton Mateychuk Dealing With Groin Issue
Bo Horvat

Fine for Training Camp
Kirby Dach

on Track to Be Ready for Opening Night
Jose Altuve

Returns Against Rangers
J.J. McCarthy

Expected to Miss 2-4 Weeks With High-Ankle Sprain
J.J. McCarthy

Likely Out for Week 3 With High-Ankle Sprain
Jean Silva

Gets Finished For The First Time In His Career
Aaron Jones Sr.

Unlikely to Play in Week 3 Due to Hamstring Injury
Diego Lopes

Returns To The Win Column
Jayden Daniels

' Week 3 Status in Doubt
Rob Font

Outclassed In The Noche UFC 3 Co-Main Event
David Martinez

Wins His Second UFC Fight
Jared Gordon

Suffers Brutal TKO Loss At Noche UFC 3
Rafa Garcia

Wins Back-To-Back Fights
Brian Thomas Jr.

Dealing with Wrist Injury
Dustin Stoltzfus

Drops A Decision At Noche UFC 3
Kelvin Gastelum

Gets Back In The Win Column
Diego Ferreira

Suffers Second-Round TKO
Alexander Hernandez

Extends His Win Streak With A Brutal TKO
Quang Le

Suffers First-Round Knockout
Santiago Luna

Shines In His UFC Debut
Christopher Bell

Earns his First Bristol Cup Series Victory
Alex Bowman

Falls Short of Advancing Through Cup Series Playoffs
Chase Briscoe

Collects his Third Top-10 Finish at Bristol
Ryan Blaney

Strong Top-Five Bristol Performance Advances him to the Playoffs
Corey Heim

Earns his First Career Cup Series Top-10 Finish at Bristol
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Leads Greece to Bronze Medal
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Drops 28 Points in EuroBasket Finals
CFB

Indiana's Lee Beebe Jr. Out for Season with Knee Injury
Dennis Schröder

Dennis Schroder Named EuroBasket MVP
Bryce Eldridge

Giants to Promote Bryce Eldridge
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Progressing in Recovery
Jonathan Kuminga

Receives New Offer From Warriors
Kenneth Walker III

Bounces Back with Big Week 2 Performance
Bijan Robinson

Rushes for 143 Yards in Week 2
Justin Fields

Currently in Concussion Protocol
Cincinnati Bengals

Bengals Calling Around to Available Free-Agent Quarterbacks
Joe Burrow

to Undergo Surgery, Out at Least Three Months
Emil Heineman

Aiming to Take the "Next Step" This Season
Braeden Cootes

Good to Go for Camp
Ivan Fedotov

Blue Jackets Acquire Ivan Fedotov From Flyers
Aaron Jones Sr.

Injures Hamstring During Sunday Night Football
Darren Waller

Not Expected to Play in Week 3
Garrett Crochet

Punches Out 12 in Win
Cole Ragans

to Return on Wednesday
George Kirby

Strikes Out 14 in Win
Carlos Estévez

Carlos Estevez Exits with Back Tightness
Quentin Grimes

Still Not Close to a New Contract Agreement
Joel Embiid

"Looking Slender, Spry and in Positive Spirits"
Ty Gibbs

Has Arguably his Best Career Drive, but Only Finishes 10th
Chase Elliott

Despite Crashing Out at Bristol, Chase Elliott Advances to Round of 12
Austin Dillon

Misses Round of 12 After Extremely Mediocre Bristol Run
Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen Fails to Advance to Round of 12
Josh Berry

Finishes Last in All Three Round of 16 Races to Fail to Advance
CFB

Ryan Williams Explodes In Return To Field
CFB

Drew Allar Plays Mediocre Game In Blowout Win
CFB

LaNorris Sellers Exits Game In Blowout Loss
CFB

DJ Lagway Tosses Five Interceptions In Loss
CFB

Garrett Nussmeier Plays Game Manager in Saturday's Win
CFB

CJ Carr Remains Poised In Narrow Loss
CFB

John Mateer Leads Oklahoma In Rout
CFB

Arch Manning Struggles Against UTEP
CFB

Jeremiah Smith Impresses In Win
CFB

Sam Leavitt Shines As Arizona State Rebounds From Week 2 Loss
Ivan Demidov

Turning Heads in Rookie Camp
NHL

Calvin de Haan Signs With Swedish Team
Samuel Girard

Skates With Non-Contact Jersey
Mackenzie Blackwood

Dealing With Injury Ahead of Training Camp
Spencer Knight

Signs Three-Year Extension With Blackhawks
Chris Buescher

May have Another Solid Run at Bristol
Corey Perry

Out 6-8 Weeks Following Surgery
Kyle Busch

Should DFS Managers Roster Kyle Busch at Bristol?
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

Is Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Too Risky to Consider Rostering at Bristol?
Michael McDowell

Could be A Solid Value Option For Bristol DFS Lineups
Chase Elliott

Probably Won't Factor in for Bristol Win
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Not as Strong at Bristol as Other Short Tracks
Alex Bowman

Needs to Win to Make Round of 12
Ross Chastain

has Never Led at Bristol but Has Been Pretty Consistent
Austin Dillon

Richmond Speed Unlikely to Carry Over to Bristol
Josh Berry

Might Run Well at Bristol, but Almost Certainly Won't Win to Advance
Justin Haley

Bristol One of Justin Haley's Few Recent Bright Spots
CFB

Austin Simmons Listed As Game-Time Decision Against Arkansas
CFB

Nico Iamaleava Struggles In Fourth Straight Loss
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Dealing With a "Tweak"
BUF

Alexandar Georgiev Joins Sabres on One-Year Deal
Corey Perry

Injured During Pre-Camp Skate
CFB

Antonio Williams Out Against Georgia Tech
CFB

CJ Bailey Flashes Again in Win Over Wake Forest
CFB

Jaxson Moi a Game-Time Decision for Tennessee on Saturday
Jean Silva

A Favorite At Noche UFC 3
Diego Lopes

Set For Noche UFC 3 Main Event
Rob Font

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
David Martinez

Set For Noche UFC 3 Co-Main Event
Rafa Garcia

An Underdog At Noche UFC 3
Jared Gordon

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Dustin Stoltzfus

Looks To Return To The Win Column
Kelvin Gastelum

In Dire Need Of Victory
Diego Ferreira

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Malcolm Brogdon

Heading to Knicks on One-Year Deal
Landry Shamet

Staying with the Knicks
Adam Lowry

Aims for Early-Season Return
P.J. Washington

Officially Signs Contract Extension

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP