Top Fantasy Football Playoffs D/ST Rankings (Weeks 17, 18) - Defense Streamers and Starts (2025)

December 23, 2025

Joey's best fantasy football playoffs defense streamers and D/ST rankings for Weeks 17, 18 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 17 and 18 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. 

If you are one of the few fantasy managers who play into Week 18, we have you covered at RotoBaller. We will go through the best defensive streaming options for both Week 17 and Week 18 of the fantasy football season.

So, let's look at the best defensive targets for the final two rounds of the fantasy football playoffs (Weeks 17, 18). If you want our D/ST fantasy football rankings, be sure to check that out. So, let's dive in and look at the best defensive streamers and starts for Week 17 and beyond.

D/ST Strength of Schedule: Weeks 17-18 

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 17 and some defenses to pick up for other Week 18 fantasy football championships. Rostering two defenses at this point in the season is 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 17
• “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 17 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 17 defense streamers and tiered rankings article to see the full list:

Detroit Lions D/ST (Week 17 Target)

• Week 17 Opponent: Minnesota Vikings
• ESPN Rostership: 59.9%
• Over-Under: 44.5 points
• Opponent’s Implied Total Points: 19.5

The Detroit Lions are one of the best D/ST streaming options of the week. Although this defense has allowed at least 27 points in five straight games, this group should have its way in Week 17. With J.J. McCarthy not expected to start due to a hand injury, the Vikings will be forced to start Max Brosmer on Thursday. In his one start earlier this year, Brosmer threw four interceptions and was sacked four times.

Aidan coming thru with the sack 😤 pic.twitter.com/RXmm9MJZd9

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) December 21, 2025

As a result, fantasy managers can trust this Detroit D/ST in all formats this week. The Lions have totaled 41 sacks through 16 weeks (tied for the sixth-most), and the Vikings have struggled to protect the quarterback this season. Minnesota's offensive line has given up 51 sacks. That's enough reason to start this defense in all formats.

Fantasy managers can only use this defense for Week 17, though, as the Lions will play the Bears in Week 18.

New Orleans Saints D/ST (Week 17 Target)

• Week 17 Opponent: Tennessee Titans
• ESPN Rostership: 56.9%
• Over-Under: 40.5 points
• Opponent’s Implied Total Points: 19.5

The New Orleans Saints are coming off their best defensive game of the season in Week 16. They totaled a season-high eight sacks, forced two turnovers, and held the New York Jets to only six points. Following that performance, fantasy managers should look to start this New Orleans D/ST again in a Week 17 matchup against the Tennessee Titans.

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again 🤣

Isaiah Stalbird with his first career sack!

📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/DSM7lHMBGZ

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) November 23, 2025

While Cam Ward has looked better under center in recent weeks, this Saints defense will still be a top-10 play. The Titans' offensive line has allowed 51 sacks (tied for the third-most) in the NFL, and this Tennessee offense still ranks 30th in points per game. So, this New Orleans D/ST is a solid start in some leagues.

This defense could also be used again in Week 18 against the Falcons -- depending on this unit's performance this week. However, the Saints D/ST will be a lower-end option against an Atlanta offense that doesn't allow many sacks and has been clicking over the past two games.

Los Angeles Chargers D/ST (Week 17 Target)

• Week 17 Opponent: Houston Texans
• ESPN Rostership: 35.9%
• Over-Under: 39.5
• Opponent’s Implied Total Points: 19

The Los Angeles Chargers have been one of the best defenses in the NFL over the past few weeks. They have held the Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, and Dallas Cowboys to under 20 points in three straight games and have allowed just one team to score above 20 points (Jacksonville Jaguars) since Week 8. As a result, this Chargers' D/ST is a strong streaming option in Week 17 against the Texans.

Houston's offense has been very hit-or-miss this season, and the offensive line ranks 31st in pass block win rate. Given that the Chargers have totaled at least three sacks in five of their last eight games, this Los Angeles D/ST could be in for a strong fantasy game in Week 17. The Texans have scored 20 points or fewer in three of the past six weeks.

Unfortunately, the Chargers D/ST can only be used in Week 17. With the AFC West still up for grabs, the Broncos and Chargers will likely play a meaningful Week 18 contest.

Green Bay Packers D/ST (Week 17 and Week 18 Target)

• Week 17 Opponent: Baltimore Ravens
• Week 18 Opponent: Minnesota Vikings
• ESPN Rostership: 49.2%
• Over-Under: 40.5 points
• Opponent’s Implied Total Points: 19

The Green Bay Packers have the potential to be a top defensive streaming option in each of the final two weeks of the season. They will play the Baltimore Ravens without possibly Lamar Jackson (back) in Week 17 and could face a Brosmer-led Vikings offense in Week 18. That makes this D/ST one of the few options to start in both of the final two weeks.

Now, whether fantasy managers can start this Packers defense this week will depend on whether Jackson actually plays. If he does, this D/ST should likely be avoided in most cases. However, if Jackson can't go and Tyler Huntley gets the start, this Green Bay D/ST becomes a sneaky play in all formats. Although Huntley looked solid in his only start this season, fantasy managers can trust this defense.

Caleb Williams PICKED OFF BY KEISEAN NIXON! pic.twitter.com/KlOz0gv1rT

— NFL (@NFL) December 8, 2025

In Week 18, the Packers' D/ST will be one of the best plays of the week. With McCarthy having a hairline fracture in his hand, there's a good chance that Brosmer starts again next week. That would be a smash start against an undrafted rookie quarterback and a Minnesota offensive line that has allowed 51 sacks this season.

Las Vegas Raiders D/ST (Week 18 Target)

• Week 18 Opponent: Kansas City Chiefs
• ESPN Rostership: 10.9%
• Over-Under: N/A
• Opponent’s Implied Total Points: N/A

The Las Vegas Raiders' defense is not very good. This unit has allowed at least 30 points in three of the past six weeks and has totaled one or fewer sacks in six of its last nine games. The Raiders also rank in the bottom half of the league in pass rush win rate. However, fantasy managers can roll with this D/ST in a fantastic matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 18.

With Patrick Mahomes and Gardner Minshew both out for the season, the Chiefs will turn to Chris Oladokun in the final two weeks of the season. In relief of Minshew last week, Oladokun threw for 111 yards while being sacked four times in a little over two quarters. Therefore, this Raiders defense has some appeal in Week 18.

Fool’s Gold D/ST Streamers

New York Giants D/ST at Las Vegas Raiders

• Week 17 Opponent: Las Vegas Raiders
• ESPN Rostership: 9.1%

Some fantasy managers could be looking to start this Giants D/ST in Week 18. The Raiders rank dead last in points per game, 31st in sacks allowed per game, and Geno Smith ranks tied for last in interceptions thrown. Nevertheless, this New York defense is a risky fantasy play even against this struggling Las Vegas offense.

Starting bad defenses against bad offenses in fantasy doesn't usually work for the bad defenses. The Giants have been one of the worst defenses in the NFL this season, allowing at least 29 points in six of their last nine games. Although this group has tallied multiple sacks in five straight games, starting a defense that has given up the fifth-most points is a trap.

D/ST Streamers for Week 18 (Recruit Streamers)

If you have Week 17 already figured out, let's look ahead at some defensive options that you could start in Week 18:

• Jacksonville Jaguars (61.7% rostership) - Week 18 Opponent: Tennessee Titans
• Green Bay Packers (49.8% rostership) - Week 18 opponent: Minnesota Vikings
• Cleveland Browns (52.7% rostership) - Week 18 Opponent: Cincinnati Bengals (if Bengals decide to sit Joe Burrow)

D/ST Streaming Action Plan: Next Two 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 over the next two weeks. 

Option 1: 

• Week 17: Stream the Lions versus the Vikings
• Week 18: Stream the Packers versus the Vikings

Option 2: 

• Week 17: Stream the Saints versus the Titans
• Week 18: Stream the Raiders versus the Chiefs

Option 3: 

• Week 17: Stream the Chargers versus the Texans
• Week 18: Stream the Packers versus the Vikings

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