Top Fantasy Football Playoffs D/ST Rankings (Weeks 15, 16, 17) - Defense Streamers and Starts (2025)

Joey's best fantasy football playoffs defense streamers and D/ST rankings for Weeks 15, 16, 17 in 2025. NFL team defense streamers and starts based on strength of schedule.

Welcome, RotoBallers, to our fantasy football playoffs D/ST streamers and starts for Weeks 15, 16, and 17 of the 2025 season. Each week, we will go through the best defensive streaming options that fantasy managers should pick up for the coming weeks. 

With the fantasy football playoffs finally here, this article will highlight the best defenses to pick up for the next three weeks. Whether you need a D/ST for the first round of the playoffs (Week 15) or need a D/ST for the fantasy football championship (Week 17), RotoBaller has you covered.

So, let's look at the best defensive targets for the fantasy football playoffs (Weeks 15, 16, 17). 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 15 and beyond.

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D/ST Strength of Schedule: Weeks 15-17

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 Week 15, and some defenses to pick up for the final two weeks of the fantasy football playoffs. Rostering two or three defenses at this point in the season might be a smart strategy.

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 15
• “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 15 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 15 defense streamers and tiered rankings article to see the full list:

Philadelphia Eagles D/ST (Part-Time Streamer)

• Week 15 Opponent: Las Vegas Raiders
• Week 16 Opponent: Washington Commanders
• ESPN Rostership: 59.6%
• Over-Under: 40.5
• Opponent’s Implied Total Points: 13

The Philadelphia Eagles are one of the best defenses to stream for the first two rounds of the fantasy football playoffs. They will play the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 15 and the Washington Commanders in Week 16. For a defense that is coming off a seven-sack, three-turnover game against the Los Angeles Chargers last week, this Eagles' D/ST should be picked up in every format.

Jordan Davis picks up the @Eagles 7th sack of the night

PHIvsLAC on ESPN/ABC
Stream on @NFLPlus and ESPN App pic.twitter.com/iI1M3igGJ1

— NFL (@NFL) December 9, 2025

Philadelphia's defense will be a top-3 play against the Raiders this week. Las Vegas has the lowest projected team total of the week (13 points), and no offensive line has allowed more sacks than this unit (50) through 14 weeks. Considering Geno Smith/Kenny Pickett have been sacked 29 times over the last five games, the Eagles' D/ST is a fantastic play.

Fantasy managers can then potentially start this unit again in Week 16. Jayden Daniels is dealing with an elbow issue, and Marcus Mariota could start for the Commanders next week. That would make this Philadelphia defense a must-start option in all formats. The Eagles have totaled multiple sacks in nine of their last 10 games and currently rank eighth in pressure rate on the year.

Jacksonville Jaguars D/ST (Part-Time Streamer)

• Week 15 Opponent: New York Jets
• Week 17 Opponent: Indianapolis Colts
• ESPN Rostership: 41.4%
• Over-Under: 40 points
• Opponent’s Implied Total Points: 15.5

The Jacksonville Jaguars have been one of the better fantasy defenses this year. They have scored the fifth-most points at the position and have scored at least eight fantasy points in five straight games. Now, this defense will face the New York Jets in Week 15 and the Indianapolis Colts in Week 17. These are two fantastic matchups for a proven unit that will face two offenses with uncertainties at the QB position.

Justin Fields was inactive last week due to a knee injury, and Tyrod Taylor left last week's game early with a groin injury. That means Brady Cook -- who completed just 46% of his passes to go with two interceptions last week -- could make his first career start. Whichever QB starts for the Jets this week, though, won't matter. This New York offensive line has allowed 47 sacks (tied for the third-most) this season.

.@gnewsii with his first INT as a Jag today 😤

RT to #ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/XKzpr7mIUF

— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) December 7, 2025

Fantasy managers can also use this Jacksonville D/ST in the fantasy football championship. With Daniel Jones (Achilles) out for the season, the Colts could turn to Riley Leonard/Brett Rypien/Philip Rivers in Week 17. That should be all the reason to start this Jaguars defense in the final week of fantasy season. This group will be a top-5 play against the Colts.

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

• Week 15 Opponent: Tennessee Titans
• Week 16 Opponent: Indianapolis Colts
• ESPN Rostership: 22.7%
• Over-Under: 44.5 points
• Opponent’s Implied Total Points: 16

The San Francisco 49ers' defense has gone from temporary streamer to part-time streamer with the latest season-ending injury to Jones. Fantasy managers can now use this D/ST in each of the first two rounds of the fantasy football playoffs. The 49ers will play the Tennessee Titans in Week 15 and the Colts in Week 16. Both of those matchups work in San Francisco's favor.

Although the 49ers rank near the bottom of the league in pressure rate, this unit has played better in recent weeks. Therefore, this D/ST will be a solid option this week against the Titans. Tennessee ranks 31st in sacks allowed (49), 32nd in yards per game, and 31st in points scored per game this season. Cam Ward has also been sacked at least three times in seven of his last eight starts.

Then, San Francisco's defense will be a top play again in Week 16. The Colts could be starting the 44-year-old Rivers at this point, and the Colts' offensive line hasn't been as dominant in recent weeks. Indianapolis currently ranks 25th in pass block win rate through 14 weeks. So, take a chance on this 49ers' D/ST in your fantasy leagues.

New Orleans Saints D/ST (Part-Time Streamer)

• Week 15 Opponent: Carolina Panthers
• Week 16 Opponent: New York Jets
• Week 17 Opponent: Tennessee Titans
• ESPN Rostership: 4.8%
• Over-Under: 38.5 points
• Opponent’s Implied Total Points: 18.5

The New Orleans Saints' defense has the best schedule throughout the fantasy football playoffs. This unit will play the Carolina Panthers in Week 15, the New York Jets in Week 16, and the Tennessee Titans in Week 17. All three of those offenses rank bottom 10 in both yards per game and points scored per game this season.

Therefore, this Saints' D/ST has the potential to be used in all three weeks of the fantasy football playoffs. New Orleans' defense just scored 12 fantasy points against the Panthers back in Week 10. The Jets have allowed 47 sacks through 14 weeks (tied for the third-most in the NFL), and the Titans currently have the worst offense in the NFL.

While these matchups are great, this Saints defense will have a very low fantasy floor. New Orleans ranks 31st in pass rush win rate and 25th in pressure rate this season. For that reason, New Orleans will be a lower-end D/ST option this week against the Panthers. This group will be a better fantasy option in Week 16 and Week 17, but it's hard to trust a defense that isn't very talented.

Chicago Bears D/ST (Temporary Streamer)

• Week 15 Opponent: Cleveland Browns
• ESPN Rostership: 14.4%
• Over-Under: 39.5 points
• Opponent’s Implied Total Points: 15.5

If you are only looking for a defense for the first round of the fantasy football playoffs, the Chicago Bears' D/ST is one of the best streaming options at the position. Chicago currently leads the league in takeaways (27) through 14 weeks, and Shedeur Sanders has thrown an interception in three of his four appearances this season.

C.J. Gardner-Johnson INT!

CHIvsGB on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/FLTCBTnHGG

— NFL (@NFL) December 7, 2025

Although Sanders is coming off a career performance in Week 14, fantasy managers should still roll with this Chicago defense in most formats. The Browns rank 20th in pass block win rate, and the low temperature at kickoff could make this game a defensive battle. So, the Bears' D/ST will be a top-7 play this week.

Dallas Cowboys (Temporary Streamer)

• Week 15 Opponent: Minnesota Vikings
• ESPN Rostership: 12%
• Over-Under: 45.5 points
• Opponent’s Implied Total Points: 20

The Dallas Cowboys are another defense that fantasy managers can look at for Week 15. The Cowboys have played better defensively since acquiring Quinnen Williams, and this D/ST is a solid option in most leagues this week. Dallas has tallied at least three sacks in four of its last seven games, while also ranking third in pressure rate on the season.

That high-pressure rate could play a major factor against a Vikings offensive line that has given up 47 sacks this year (tied for the third-most in the NFL). Even though J.J. McCarthy is coming off his best game as a pro last week against the Commanders, Dallas' 44.7% pressure rate could rattle him throughout the game. As a result, the Cowboys' D/ST is a top streaming option for Week 15.

Fool’s Gold D/ST Streamers

New York Giants D/ST vs. Washington Commanders

• Week 15 Opponent: Washington Commanders
• ESPN Rostership: 5.8%

It remains to be seen if Daniels (elbow) will play in Week 15. He left last week's game early due to an elbow injury, the same elbow injury that caused him to miss three games from Week 10 to Week 13. If Daniels can't go, some fantasy managers could be looking to start this New York Giants defense in Week 15 against a Mariota-led offense.

However, it's best to avoid this New York defense altogether. The Giants have allowed over 30 points in five of their last seven games, and this secondary hasn't been able to stop many offenses this year. There is just too much risk in starting this D/ST in the first round of the fantasy football playoffs. Mariota has also only been sacked three times in his last two starts.

D/ST Streamers for Week 16 (Recruit Streamers)

If you have Week 15 already figured out, let's look ahead at some defensive options that you could start in Week 16:

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (48.6% rostership) - Week 16 opponent: Carolina Panthers
• Buffalo Bills (45.1% rostership) - Week 16 Opponent: Cleveland Browns
• Kansas City Chiefs (23.8% rostership) - Week 16 opponent: Tennessee Titans

D/ST Streaming Action Plan: Next Three 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 in the fantasy football playoffs. 

• Week 15: Stream the Eagles versus the Raiders
• Week 16: Stream the Bills versus the Browns
• Week 17: Stream the Steelers versus the Browns

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