Defenses (DEF) to Start in Week 12 (2025): Best Fantasy Football Streaming Options

Shaun Albin analyzes which defenses (DEF) to sit or start in Week 12 (2025) of the NFL season, and provides his best fantasy football streaming options.

Week 12 sees four more teams on byes.  This removes startable units like the Broncos and Chargers defenses from rosters for the week.

Since most owners won’t carry multiple defenses, a savvy veteran may snag one of them during their bye week.  Meanwhile, there are several defenses, such as the Texans and Colts, that face elite offenses, which limit their value.

This week offers another opportunity to snag a reliable defense like that of the Bears or Jaguars.  Meanwhile, the Raiders and Falcons face such poor offenses that they could decide a close matchup this week if deployed.

Best D/ST Streaming Options For Week 12

Las Vegas Raiders vs. Cleveland Browns

The Raiders’ defense has been tough to trust for most of the 2025 season; however, they could be in line for another favorable Week 12 matchup.  They’ll face the Cleveland Browns and rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel.

Gabriel has posted just a 1-4 record this season, completing just 58.6% of his passes on the year.  While Gabriel has shown poise with a shining 1.1% interception rate, he has also struggled to get the ball out in time, resulting in sacks on 8.9% of drop-backs.

The Browns have averaged just 18 points in games started by Gabriel, and have struggled to move the ball despite eclipsing 100 yards rushing in three of the five matchups.  Expect to see another vanilla script for the Browns offense, giving the Raiders a prime opportunity to make plays on defense.

The Raiders limited the Broncos’ offense to just 220 yards in Week 10, dropping their average to 334.6 on the season.  This standout performance shows the defense may be turning the corner, but a Week 11 test with the Cowboys could be a better barometer.

Kyu Blu Kelly intercepts the deep ball

LVvsDEN on Prime Video
Also streaming on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/wQ1tu8IA8e

— NFL (@NFL) November 7, 2025

Either way, this Browns offense is not capable of extending drives and capitalizing on mistakes, which points to a top-10 finish for the silver and black defense in Week 12.

Jacksonville Jaguars at Arizona Cardinals

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ defense has truly flashed a Jekyll and Hyde season to this point.  Through their first five games, they averaged 10.6 fantasy points.  During that time, they forced 14 turnovers and managed seven sacks.

Over the next three weeks, they forced just one turnover and registered only three sacks.  They did manage to face a pair of strong offenses in the Rams and Seahawks, which would have explained most of the issues.  However, their three-point performance against the Raiders drew major concern.

Fortunately, they appear to be back on track after posting double-digit points in another matchup with their divisional rival Houston Texans.  Now, they’ll see an Arizona Cardinals offense in Week 12 that has gone all in on Jacoby Brissett this season.

GO OFF Parker Washington. 72-YARD PUNT RETURN TD.

JAXvsHOU on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/RbNFIsttEc

— NFL (@NFL) November 9, 2025

Brissett is just 1-3 as the team’s starter, and has managed just a 60.9% completion rate, down from Kyler Murray’s 68.3 mark.  The 33-year-old quarterback has limited mistakes with just one interception on 156 attempts, but his 10.34% sack rate and inability to win games point to bigger issues.

The Jaguars’ balanced offensive attack should continue to operate in the short to intermediate passing game, while leaning heavily on Travis Etienne on the ground.  If their offense can extend possessions and keep Brissett off the field for long stretches, the defense should remain fresh and ready to pressure the quarterback into mistakes.

Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints

If you’ve read my previous articles, you’d know how little I think of the New Orleans Saints offense.  They’re averaging just 15.5 points per game, while scoring on just 30.4% of drives.

Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough did pick up his first NFL win in Week 10, but the team still managed just 17 points.  Meanwhile, the Falcons are coming off back-to-back weeks where their defense has managed 10 fantasy points.

The Falcons have used their aggression defensively, tallying 13 sacks and four turnovers over their last two games.  This style of defense points to a rough matchup for a rookie quarterback starting his third game.

The Falcons’ defense is rostered in just 13% of leagues, which is up 2% from last week.  This is likely the last chance to pick them up, as their upcoming matchups with the Saints and Jets will put them near the top of the waiver wire.

The Falcons own the league's top-ranked pass defense, allowing just 162.3 yards per game through the air.  If they can limit the Saints’ rushing attack, they will dictate the tempo of the game.

This Falcons team steps into a rare matchup where they’re better than their opponent, and could set up a low-scoring slugfest that plays well into the hands of their defense.

Chicago Bears vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

This is another week where my fourth streaming option is really my backup option if I can’t land one of the other three.  The Bears’ defense certainly offers flashes of dominance.  They’ve posted seven or more points in six matchups this season.

Meanwhile, the Bears, as a team, are peaking heading into the second half of the season.  Head coach Ben Johnson has led the team to wins in six of their last seven games and has the defense rolling with multiple sacks in each of their previous five games.

The Bears’ defense continues to lead the league with a 20.4% turnover rate, and they’re facing a Steelers offense that has turned the ball over seven times in their last four games.  After starting the year hot, Aaron Rodgers has struggled with losses in three of his last four games.

The combination of the Bears’ surging play and the Steelers’ return to earth suggests a big day for Chicago as defensive linemen Montez Sweat and Gervon Dexter Sr. are unleashed on the 42-year-old quarterback.

If the Bears can set the tone with their defense, they could turn in a strong effort in Week 12.

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