Top Fantasy Football D/ST Rankings (Weeks 12, 13, 14, 15) - Defense Streamers and Starts (2025)

Joey's best fantasy football defense streamers and D/ST rankings for Weeks 12, 13, 14, 15 in 2025. NFL team defense streamers and starts based on strength of schedule.

Welcome, RotoBallers, to our fantasy football D/ST streamers and starts for Weeks 12, 13, 14, and 15 of the 2025 season. Each week, we will go through the best defensive streaming options that fantasy managers should pick up for the next four weeks. 

In this article, we will go through the defenses to pick up ahead of Week 12. This article will also cover a few defenses fantasy managers should be adding for the fantasy football playoffs (Week 15 through Week 17).

So, let's look at several defensive targets for the next four weeks (Weeks 12, 13, 14, 15). If you want our D/ST fantasy football draft rankings, be sure to check that out. So, let's dive in and look at the best defensive streamers and starts for Week 12 and beyond.

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D/ST Strength of Schedule: Weeks 12-15

This weekly series will focus on defenses fantasy managers should consider picking up for the coming weeks. We will look at defenses fantasy managers should pick up for one week, and some defenses to pick up for the next four weeks. Sometimes, rostering two defenses isn't the worst strategy with the fantasy football playoffs right around the corner.

So, we will break down the best defensive streamers into a few categories (Temporary, Part-Time, Recruit, and Fool's Gold) in this article below. You can see the description of each of those streamer types down below:

• “Temporary” Streamer: D/ST with a good matchup in Week 12
• “Part-Time” Streamer: D/ST with multiple nice matchups in a row
• “Recruit” Streamer: D/ST with an easy upcoming schedule that you pick up earlier to stash on your bench
• “Fool’s Gold” Streamer: D/ST that on paper looks like a good option, but should be avoided 

Week 12 D/ST Streamers

Since this is a streamer D/ST article, we will only look at defenses that are rostered in under 60% of ESPN leagues. There are other fantastic D/ST matchups as well for this week, so check out our Week 12 defense streamers and tiered rankings article to see the full list:

Atlanta Falcons D/ST (Part-Time Streamer)

• Week 12 Opponent: New Orleans Saints
• Week 13 Opponent: New York Jets
• ESPN Rostership: 42.5%
• Over-Under: 40.5 points
• Opponent’s Implied Total Points: 18

The Atlanta Falcons continue to pressure the quarterback at a high level. They rank top-10 in both pressure rate and pass rush win rate and have totaled 18 sacks over the last three games. As a result, this D/ST is a solid part-time streamer for the next two weeks. Atlanta will play the New Orleans Saints in Week 12 and the New York Jets in Week 13.

Falcons first-round rookies combine for the sack fumble & recovery!

ATLvsNE on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/DxpmHCS3of

— NFL (@NFL) November 2, 2025

The Saints rank 32nd in pass block win rate, and the offense has scored under 18 points in both of Tyler Shough's starts this season. That's enough reason to start the Falcons' defense in most formats this week. Atlanta has totaled at least six sacks and forced two turnovers in two of the past three contests.

As for the Jets, that's another favorable matchup for the Falcons. New York's offensive line ranks 31st in terms of sacks allowed per game (3.6), and it ranks 28th in pass block win rate. Considering Atlanta's defense has been racking up the sacks in recent weeks, this D/ST should be in for a big game in Week 13.

Cleveland Browns D/ST (Part-Time Streamer)

• Week 12 Opponent: Las Vegas Raiders
• ESPN Rostership: 40.8%
• Over-Under: 37.5 points
• Opponent’s Implied Total Points: 20.5

It's surprising that the Browns D/ST is not rostered in more leagues heading into Week 12, especially given its upcoming schedule. Cleveland has fantastic matchups against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 12 and the Tennessee Titans in Week 14. In both of those matchups, this defense will be a top-3 play.

The Browns rank tied for fourth in total sacks this season (32) and have totaled at least three sacks in eight of their 10 games. Last week, this Cleveland pass rush brought down Lamar Jackson five times. With the No. 1 pass rush win rate in the league through 11 weeks, this unit will be a must-start against a Raiders offensive line that has allowed 10 sacks over the last two weeks.

Then, fantasy managers can use this Cleveland D/ST again in Week 14. The Titans rank dead last in sacks allowed (41), sacks allowed per game (4.1), and points scored per game (14.3). So, the Browns are a must-roster defense at this point in the season.

San Francisco 49ers D/ST (Part-Time Streamer)

• Week 12 Opponent: Carolina Panthers
• Week 13 Opponent: Cleveland Browns
• Week 15 Opponent: Tennessee Titans
• ESPN Rostership: 42.4
• Over-Under: 43.5 points
• Opponent’s Implied Total Points: 17.5

The 49ers' defense has the best fantasy schedule over the next month. This group will play the Carolina Panthers (Week 12), Cleveland Browns (Week 13), and Tennessee Titans (Week 15) in three of the next four weeks. With a Week 14 bye smack-dab in between the Browns and Titans matchups, fantasy managers should be looking to pick up this D/ST in most formats.

Although the 49ers haven't necessarily played well on the defensive side of the ball since Fred Warner and Nick Bosa went down, it's hard not to roll with them in these three matchups. San Francisco's D/ST will come in as a top-12 option in each of these three matchups.

The Panthers' offensive line just allowed a season-high five sacks last week, and the Carolina offense has scored 17 points or fewer in four of the past five games. The Browns rank 27th in pass block win rate, and the Titans have allowed the most sacks through the first 11 weeks of the season. For that reason, the 49ers' defense is a great part-time streaming option.

Fool’s Gold D/ST Streamers

Pittsburgh Steelers D/ST at Chicago Bears

• Week 12 Opponent: Chicago Bears
• ESPN Rostership: 67.1%

Some fantasy managers might be looking to start the Steelers' defense this week. This unit has played better as of late and is coming off a two-touchdown defensive performance against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 11. With 11 sacks since Week 9, this Steelers' D/ST could be viewed as a viable option by some managers against the Chicago Bears.

However, it's best to start another defense this week. The Bears currently rank second in pass block win rate, and Caleb Williams has only been sacked six times since Week 7. Even though the Steelers have played well in recent weeks, there are a handful of better defenses to start instead of them in Week 12.

Playoff D/ST Targets

Philadelphia Eagles D/ST

• Week 15 Opponent: Las Vegas Raiders
• Week 16 Opponent: Washington Commanders
• ESPN Rostership: 51.6%

If you have already locked up a playoff spot, stashing the Eagles D/ST isn't a bad idea. This defense has been on a heater since the bye, holding both the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions to under 10 points. With five sacks and three turnovers in those two games, Philadelphia's defense is primed for some big fantasy games in the playoffs.

That's because the Eagles will play the Raiders in Week 15 and the Washington Commanders in Week 16. Geno Smith ranks tied for the league lead in interceptions (13), and the offensive line is allowing 3.1 sacks per game this season. As for Commanders, if Jayden Daniels (elbow) is still out, Philadelphia's D/ST will be a strong play against a Marcus Mariota-led offense.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers D/ST

• Week 15 Opponent: Atlanta Falcons
• Week 16 Opponent: Carolina Panthers
• ESPN Rostership: 22.8%

Like the Eagles, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have two great matchups in the first two rounds of the fantasy football playoffs. They will play the Atlanta Falcons in Week 15 and the Carolina Panthers in Week 16. Considering the Buccaneers rank fifth in pass rush win rate, this defense has a ton of potential in these two matchups.

Kirk Cousins will likely be Atlanta's starter in this game, with Michael Penix Jr. (knee) probably out for the season. In Cousins' one start this year, the Falcons scored just 10 points against the Dolphins. Fantasy managers can then potentially use this Tampa Bay defense in Week 16 against a Panthers offense that has scored 17 points or fewer in four of the past five games.

Chicago Bears D/ST

• Week 15 Opponent: Cleveland Browns
• ESPN Rostership: 21.6%

The Chicago Bears D/ST is a fantastic target for the first round of the fantasy playoffs. No defense has forced more turnovers than the Bears this season, and this defensive line should be able to generate some pressure against the Browns in this game. Given that Cleveland has scored 20 points or fewer in five of Dillon Gabriel's six starts, this Chicago defense will be a top-5 play in Week 15.

.@KevinByard comes up with our third takeaway of the day 🔥

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/TvN6tebxN1

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) October 19, 2025

Kansas City Chiefs D/ST

• Week 16 Opponent: Tennessee Titans
• ESPN Rostership: 28.3%

If you are planning out your defenses for the fantasy playoffs, the Chiefs are the best option to stash for Week 16. Kansas City will go up against a Titans offense that ranks dead last in several categories, including sacks allowed per game (4.1). With the Chiefs ranking fourth in points allowed per game, they will be a must-start defensive option in the second round of the fantasy playoffs.

D/ST Streamers for Week 13 (Recruit Streamers)

If you have Week 12 already figured out, let's look ahead at some defensive options that you could start in Week 13:

• Los Angeles Rams (59.7% rostership) - Week 13 Opponent: Carolina Panthers
• Indianapolis Colts (50.3% rostership) - Week 13 opponent: Houston Texans
• Jacksonville Jaguars (7.8% rostership) - Week 13 opponent: Tennessee Titans

D/ST Streaming Action Plan: Next Four Weeks

Planning out your fantasy D/ST might require some work, but it might be necessary to target the best matchups every single week. Here is how I would line up my defensive streams across the first four weeks.

• Week 12: Stream the Browns versus the Raiders
• Week 13: Stream the Jaguars versus the Titans
• Week 14: Stream the Browns versus the Titans
• Week 15: Stream the Eagles versus the Raiders

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