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The fantasy football playoffs are finally here. If you need a defense for Week 15, Week 16, and/or Week 17, you have come to the right place. This article will give fantasy managers the best defenses to play over the next three weeks. Targeting certain defenses could be the difference in a championship or a first-round exit.
Defenses could make or break your fantasy season. So, lining up your defenses over the next three games might be mandatory in the final weeks. It might be time to drop those backup tight ends, your RB5, or WR6 on your roster for an extra defense. The likelihood you start those low-end bench pieces is probably slim. That means grabbing an extra defense could be a key strategy.
This article will list several solid defensive options in Week 15 and also list several defenses to pick up and play in Week 16 and Week 17. So, let's dive in and see which defenses you can start in the biggest fantasy weeks of the season.
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DST Strength of Schedule: Weeks 15-17
When looking at which fantasy defenses to start in the playoffs, a lot has to be taken into account. But the most important might be who the starting quarterback is. With starting quarterbacks going down each and every week, more and more backup signal-callers are taking over. Most of them happen to be young or a rookie in the league.
On top of that, knowing which offenses give up the most sacks is another key stat to know. The Giants (76), Jets (61), Commanders (59), Panthers (54), and Titans (50) have given up the most sacks this year. Targeting the Giants, Jets, Commanders, and Panthers offenses has been a great recipe for success.
I am going to keep the same process for determining which D/ST to pick up in the fantasy playoffs. Only defenses that are rostered in less than 50% of ESPN leagues will be listed below.
Fantasy Playoffs D/ST Streamers
Denver Broncos D/ST (Week 16 & 17 Target)
- Week 16 Opponent: New England Patriots (28th)
- Week 17 Opponent: Los Angeles Chargers (18th)
- ESPN Rostership: 14.7%
- Over-Under: 34.5 points
- Opponent’s Implied Total Points: 13.75
If you want to pick up a defense for the final two weeks of the season, my number one go-to target is the Denver Broncos. They will face a slumping New England offense in the second round of the fantasy playoffs, and then take on Easton Stick in the fantasy football championship in Week 17.
Opposing defenses are averaging 10.7 fantasy points per game against the Patriots offense this season. That makes the Broncos D/ST a great option in Week 16. They can also be used again in the fantasy championship (if you make it that far). The Raiders D/ST just totaled 26 fantasy points last week behind a two-touchdown, five-takeaway day against this Stick-led offense.
On top of that, the Broncos' defense has improved in recent weeks, making them an even more desirable option in the final two games. Excluding last week's rough performance against the Detroit Lions, the Denver D/ST averaged 11.7 fantasy points from Week 8 to Week 14. They should be in for a nice couple of fantasy days to end the year.
Houston Texans D/ST (Week 16 & 17 Target)
- Week 16 Opponent: Cleveland Browns (27th)
- Week 17 Opponent: Tennessee Titans (25th)
- ESPN Rostership: 36%
- Over-Under: 40.5 points
- Opponent’s Implied Total Points: 21.5
If you want a defense for the next two weeks, the Houston Texans could be another great option. They are one of the few teams with two solid matchups in the final two weeks of the season and are still available in 64% of ESPN leagues. This is a unit that has come on in recent weeks and can be started in fantasy in Week 16.
As great as Joe Flacco has been for the Browns over the past three games, turnovers remain a problem for the 38-year-old veteran. Flacco has turned over the ball six times since Week 13, which included throwing three interceptions last week against the Chicago Bears. He was also sacked four times in Week 15.
Then, in Week 17, the Texans will face the Titans again in a rematch. Just last week, Houston's defense sacked Will Levis seven times while allowing just 10 points to that offense. This defense under DeMeco Ryans has really improved, and as a result, they have totaled at least three sacks in five of the past six games. They are a great start over the next two weeks.
Indianapolis Colts D/ST (Week 16 & 17 Streamer)
- Week 16 Opponent: Atlanta Falcons
- Week 17 Opponent: Las Vegas Raiders
- ESPN Rostership: 37.3%
This Colts' defense does not get enough love, especially with how they have played over the past couple of weeks. Over the last six games, they are averaging 15.2 fantasy points per game. During that span, they have finished with double-digit fantasy points in five of those contests. They should not still be available in almost 63% of ESPN leagues.
Last week, they held the Steelers to just 13 points with three takeaways and four sacks. The Colts' defense continues to play at an elite level, and that shows in their fantasy ranking, as they have currently scored the fifth-most fantasy points this year. They are also a unit that could started and played over the final two weeks of the season.
Indianapolis will face Taylor Heinicke in Week 16 and Aidan O'Connell in Week 17. That quarterback play should keep the Colts' D/ST in start territory throughout those two weeks. They have also totaled at least four sacks and two takeaways in five of the last six contests.
Green Bay Packers D/ST (Week 16 Target)
- Week 16 Opponent: Carolina Panthers (30th)
- ESPN Rostership: 45.4%%
- Over-Under: 36.5 points
- Opponent’s Implied Total Points: 16
The Green Bay Packers defense has not been solid over the past couple of weeks. They scored just seven fantasy points combined in Week 14 and Week 15 against the New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It was honestly a disappointment what they did when they faced the Giants' offense two weeks ago, allowing 24 points and totaling zero sacks.
But they will bounce back in a big way in Week 16 against the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers have failed to score more than 10 points in four of the past five games. They have also only scored more than 15 points just once since Week 6, which occurred in Week 13 when they scored 18 against the Buccaneers.
So, it'd be pretty surprising to see them score a lot on Sunday. On the other hand, the Packers have totaled at least three sacks in three of the last four games and now face a Panthers' offensive line that has given up the fourth-most sacks in 2023. Green Bay's defense is a safe play in Week 16.
Los Angeles Rams D/ST (Week 17 Target)
- Week 17 Opponent: New York Giants (32nd)
- ESPN Rostership: 40%
- Over-Under: N/A
- Opponent’s Implied Total Points: N/A
The Los Angeles Rams were a great target in the first round of the fantasy playoffs against the Washington Commanders. While they weren't overly impressive in that matchup, they had a nice floor and finished with six fantasy points. They aren't a solid option in Week 16 against the New Orleans Saints. But that unit is a must-start in the fantasy football championship when they head to New York to take on the Giants
Opposing fantasy defenses have feasted on the Giants offense this year, averaging 12.9 fantasy points per game. A large part of that is due to New York's poor offensive line. Over the past six games, Tommy Devito has been sacked 35 times -- which averages out to 5.8 sacks per game.
While the Rams haven't been the best at getting to the quarterback this season, they have totaled at least two sacks in eight of the last nine games. With Aaron Donald facing this offensive line, Los Angeles' defense should be in for a nice fantasy day. They are a great stash for Week 17.
Jacksonville Jaguars D/ST (Week 17 Streamer)
- Week 17 Opponent: Carolina Panthers
- ESPN Rostership: 35.3%
If you want to really look ahead to the fantasy championship, the Jaguars have a great Week 17 matchup against the Carolina Panthers. It's been a tough couple of weeks for this defense after the Bengals put up a 34 spot in Week 13, and the Browns scored 31 points in Week 14.
But they are still a defense to pick up for the championship. They have totaled at least two sacks in six of the past seven games and seven of the past nine contests. On the other hand, the Panthers have allowed the fourth-most sacks this year (54). Jacksonville isn't likely start-worthy in Week 16 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, they have one of the best matchups in the fantasy football championship in Week 17.
Other Options For Week 16 and Week 17:
Here are some other fantasy defenses that I like over the next two weeks. Again, these defenses are rostered in under 50% of ESPN leagues
- Philadelphia Eagles (52.3% rostership)- Week 16 opponent: 32nd-ranked Giants (wanted to include them here)
- Cincinnati Bengals (16% rostership)- Week 16 opponent: 15th-ranked Steelers
- Chicago Bears (9.9% rostership)- Week 16 opponent: 22nd-ranked Cardinals, Week 17 Opponent: 21st-ranked Falcons
Fool’s Gold Streamers (Must-Sit)
Washington Commanders D/ST @ New York Jets
- Week 16 Opponent: New York Jets (31st)
- ESPN Rostership: 15.1%
My mantra this season has been to target offenses like the Jets and Giants all year. Both units struggle to move the football and take plenty of sacks. But the Washington Commanders' defense might actually have a hard time stopping the Jets' offense in Week 16. Since Week 10, Washington has allowed 32 points per game. During that five-game span, they also have just two takeaways and 13 sacks (nine of which came in one contest).
This defense is not in a great place right now, and I really think the Jets move the ball on Sunday. It doesn't matter whether Zach Wilson (concussion) or Trevor Siemian starts in Week 16, the Commanders might not have enough playmakers on defense to stop Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall. Washington is a risky play this weekend.
DST Streaming Action Plan
Planning out your fantasy D/ST might require some work, but it might be necessary to win a fantasy football championship. Here are some different plans to line up your defensive streams over the next two weeks in the fantasy playoffs.
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- Pickup and play the Broncos in Week 16 and Week 17
- Pickup and play the Broncos in Week 16 and the Rams in Week 17
- Pickup the Packers in Week 16 and then the Rams/Jaguars in Week 17
- Pickup and play the Texans in Week 16 and Week 17
- Pickup the red-hot Colts and stick with them through the playoffs
Rest of Season DST Rankings: Strength of Schedule
This chart below is a nice tool to use for the fantasy football playoffs, which was created by my colleague Scott Rinear and can be found in his article Week 15 D/ST streamers and rankings:
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