Defenses (DEF) to Start in Week 13 (2025): Best Fantasy Football Streaming Options

Shaun Albin analyzes which defenses (DEF) to sit or start in Week 13 (2025) of the NFL season, and provides his best fantasy football streaming options.

Week 13 is here, and the fantasy playoffs are quickly approaching. Teams are jockeying for playoff positioning, and bye weeks are nearly finished.  Now is the time to build out your roster with an eye toward the future.

For teams on the bubble, strong Week 13 matchups like the Jaguars against the Titans are vital. For those who have secured a playoff spot, a defense like the Bucs could be a perfect addition to lock in a deep playoff run.

This week, we break down those teams as well as the Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts defenses, and the impact they should have as the regular season winds down. It is very important to operate every week with an eye on future matchups.

Best D/ST Streaming Options For Week 13

Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans

The Jacksonville Jaguars are coming off a dominant defensive performance against the high-powered Los Angeles Chargers.  They held Justin Herbert’s offense to just 135 total yards and a pair of field goals.

The Jags' defense has posted back-to-back double-digit fantasy scores, and will now face the Tennessee Titans, who have allowed the most points in the league to fantasy defenses this season.  They've allowed double-digit points in five games this year, and allow an average of 11.4 per week.

AÍ NÃO, HERBERT! Antonio Johnson intercepta o QB e a bola é dos Jaguars!

📺: #LACvsJAX ao vivo, em português, no NFL Game Pass pic.twitter.com/c8zYmraXwl

— NFL Brasil (@NFLBrasil) November 16, 2025

The Titans’ league-worst 14.3 points per game, along with their 13.1% turnover rate, play right into the hands of Jacksonville’s defense.  Meanwhile, the Jaguars are third in the league with a 15.9% turnover rate.

The Jaguars have performed as a top-10 fantasy defense this season, but are still somehow rostered in just 21% of leagues. This defense has outperformed the Patriots and Texans units that have become highly regarded in fantasy circles this season.

Rookie quarterback Cam Ward has struggled throughout the season, posting just six touchdowns while throwing just as many interceptions.  The Titans haven't yet scored more than 22 points in a game, and is about to face a stretch of games against the Seahawks, Jaguars, Browns, 49ers, and Chiefs.

Ward has struggled with accuracy this season, leading to bottom-5 rankings on target rate (70.5%) and bad throw rate (21.5%). These struggles play right into the hands of an aggressive Jaguars defense.

The Titans have produced dismal results this season, and their struggles will likely continue. Until they can shore up their offensive line, which has allowed a league-high 41 sacks, Ward will struggle to sustain scoring drives.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Arizona Cardinals

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense is coming off back-to-back difficult outings where they’ve scored just four points in two games. After their upcoming Rams matchup, the schedule lightens.

The Bucs face a Cardinals offense that has allowed the fourth-highest point totals for fantasy defenses this season. Due to their struggles, head coach Jonathan Gannon turned to Jacoby Brissett, with little to show for it.

Bucs rookie NB Jacob Parrish quick triggers vs BUF...

Playing slot/nickel as a rookie is so tough. Love seeing a young player trust his eyes and hit it. pic.twitter.com/JcGodjqmnD

— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) November 17, 2025

Brissett has won just one of the five games he’s started, while throwing three interceptions and taking 18 sacks. Tampa Bay’s 31.1% blitz rate should set them up to feast on a line that has struggled to protect its quarterback.

Meanwhile, the Cardinals' offense is lacking weapons to stretch the offense. Marvin Harrison Jr.'s 54.8% catch rate is abysmal, and the team's revolving door of injured running backs has increased their struggles.

Linebackers YaYa Diaby and Anthony Nelson continue to lead the defense with a combined seven sacks this year, while playmakers like cornerback Jamel Dean take advantage in the secondary.

When playing teams that rank in the top 10 in fantasy points allowed to defenses, the Bucs have scored 14 and 26 points this season. Four of their next five matchups are against such teams. Not only is this defense in a great spot this week, but it could be the perfect defense to run with during the fantasy playoffs.

Miami Dolphins vs. New Orleans Saints

The Miami Dolphins are another team with a strong matchup this week. They face a New Orleans Saints offense that has scored fewer than 20 points in each of its last five games. In those five games, they’ve turned the ball over a whopping 12 times.

The Dolphins have posted back-to-back strong performances against the Bills and Commanders, giving them much-needed momentum heading into the final stretch of the season.

Jack Jones came up with a clutch interception in overtime 🔒@progressive pic.twitter.com/K3ZxXzMhjw

— NFL (@NFL) November 18, 2025

With matchups against the Saints and New York Jets coming up, the Dolphins are another defense that can be trusted for multiple weeks.

Linebackers Bradley Chubb and Tyrel Dodson continue to wreak havoc on quarterbacks, combining for 12 sacks. Meanwhile, Jordyn Brooks leads the league with 71 solo tackles and has been instrumental in turning this defense around.

Saints’ rookie quarterback Tyler Shough has largely struggled in his three starts this season, throwing a pair of interceptions with five sacks taken, though he did flash upside in the win over Carolina. With few options in the passing game, look for the Dolphins to roll coverage toward star wide receiver Chris Olave and force Juwan Johnson to beat them.

Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans

The Indianapolis Colts are back from their bye week and are still somehow rostered in just 32% of leagues. Meanwhile, they’re set to face a Houston Texans team that has relied on its own defense to keep a flailing offense in games.

The Texans have managed just 19 offensive touchdowns through 10 games, relying on kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn to attempt 25 field goals already this season.

Meanwhile, the Colts have worn down opponents and held onto the ball, thanks to a dominant running game powered by Jonathan Taylor. They also rank fifth in the league with a 13.9% turnover rate, demonstrating their ability to regain possession quickly.

Seven different Colts defenders have recorded an interception this season, while 12 players have at least one sack. Defensive end Laiatu Latu leads the way with five sacks on the season.

The Colts’ schedule doesn’t really ease up down the stretch, but with their track record this season, they should remain a top-notch unit down the road. They’ve forced at least one turnover in every game this season, and remain one of the best units in football.

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