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Week 11 Defense (DEF) Streamers and Starts: 2017 Fantasy Tiers, Rankings

Bill breaks down all 2017 fantasy football Week 11 defenses (DEF) -- targets, streamers, sits/starts, and waiver wire pickups to add. His Week 11 rankings and tiers for all of the NFL defenses.

With the playoff push in full swing, streaming knowledge is essential now more than ever! Below are RotoBaller's Week 11 defense tiers and rankings, or which defenses to stream and start for Week 11 of the NFL and fantasy football season. Our tiered defense rankings are your guide to drafting defenses, making waiver wire pickups/adds to improve your lineups, and to decide which defenses to start, sit, target, avoid or stream for Week 11.

Starting the right defense every week can be a difference-maker, so we have broken out our defense rankings into tiers with analysis on each matchup. Some of these Week 11 defenses have good matchups and are not widely owned, representing fantasy scoring opportunities if they are available on your league's waiver wire for a Week 11 pickup or add.

I've been trying out a new format lately, touching briefly on each team that I have ranked instead of picking just a few to analyze in depth. Let me know what you think on Twitter (@Roto_Dubs). Good luck in Week 11 RotoBallers!

Editor's Note: Find sleeper picks, undervalued ADPs, and draft targets to help you dominate your fantasy football drafts. Try our free who to draft tool for personalized recommendations.

 

Week 11 Defenses To Start & Stream: Tiers & Rankings

Teams on bye: Carolina Panthers, New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts, San Francisco 49ers

 

Tier 1 Defenses (The "Duh" DSTs)

1. Jacksonville Jaguars (@ CLE)

2. Baltimore Ravens (@ GB)

The Ravens defense is fresh off a bye and now gets the opportunity to feast on Brett Hundley--that is, if he is healthy enough to play come Sunday. Hundley suffered a hamstring injury during Week 10's action, and while it's way too early to lean one way or another, should Hundley miss time the Ravens would get to see Joe Callahan in his first NFL game experience. Even if he does suit up, it's unlikely that Hundley is at 100%, so the no matter what the Ravens should have a sky-high floor for Week 11.

3. Detroit Lions (@ CHI)

Mitchell Trubisky is coming off his best start in the NFL, in which he posted 297 yards, one touchdown and no turnovers against the Packers. That still only brings him to a 3:4 TD-turnover ratio through five NFL starts, which indicates the upside for the Lions DST that is tied for second in the NFL in takeaways. Fire them up with confidence once again in Week 11.

 
 
Tier 2 Defenses (Rock-Solid Starts)

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. TEN)

The Steelers lost Joe Haden for the foreseeable future thanks to a broken fibula in Week 11. While that definitely takes a toll on the defense's ability to make big plays in the secondary, they got Stephon Tuitt back in Week 10, which should help their front seven bring more pressure. Marcus Mariota hasn't been the top-10 quarterback many drafted him to be, and that won't change against the Steelers #2-ranked pass defense, especially with them at home.

5. Los Angeles Rams (@ MIN)

Case Keenum is playing like a man on fire in an effort to hold off Teddy Bridgewater, but this is just a nightmare matchup for him that can't be ignored. The Vikings offensive line has been excellent, but the Rams come into the game tied for fifth in the NFL in sacks. This DST is coming off of five straight games with 11 or more fantasy points (ESPN scoring) and is showing no signs of slowing down. Fire them up again with confidence.

6. Philadelphia Eagles (@ DAL)

The Eagles DST has been excellent in the last five games, with eight interceptions, 13 sacks and just 16.2 average points allowed. The Cowboys offense isn't crippled with Ezekiel Elliott on suspension--it's not quite the same as losing Dak Prescott--but they are most certainly not as scary without him. Prescott is careful with the ball, but again the floor is very high given the fact that the Cowboys should struggle to put a ton of points on the board.

7. New Orleans Saints (vs. WAS)

The Saints DST thrashed the Bills (IN Buffalo) and posted their fifth double-digit performance in their last seven games. They're tied for 10th in the NFL in sacks, seventh in interceptions, fifth in forced fumbles, fifth in scoring defense, and ninth in total defense. This is a rock-solid unit, plain and simple, and the Redskins offense isn't prolific enough to scare me off them. Add in the fact that Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara still look unstoppable, and I don't think the Saints defense will even be on the field often enough to give up 20 points.

8. Arizona Cardinals (@ HOU)

The Cardinals DST is still below average in almost every counting statistic, but Bill O'Brien has already committed to Tom Savage as the starter for Week 11. I shouldn't need to elaborate any further than that--stream against Savage. Stream against Savage like your life depends on it.

9. Seattle Seahawks (vs. ATL)

The loss of Richard Sherman is obviously a difference-maker, even though the Seahawks do have some talent waiting in the wings and recently resigned Byron Maxwell who knows that system inside and out. On the other side of the ball, the Falcons look like they'll be without Devonta Freeman, and while Tevin Coleman has plenty of potential in the feature back role it's not the same as having two capable, fresh backs every series. You're not likely to find better options on the waiver wire at this point though, and there should still be a solid seven-point floor unless Matt Ryan and Julio Jones magically erupt. I'm not betting on it even with Sherman out.

10. Cincinnati Bengals (@ DEN)

The Bengals DST has been disappointing since their Week 6 bye, but this should be exactly the matchup they need to get back on track. It really doesn't matter which schmuck the Broncos trot out there at QB, you can feel good about any DST playing against them at this point.

11. Green Bay Packers (vs. BAL)

The Packers DST has been disappointing for a majority of the season, but in a matchup against the 30th-ranked offense in football they've got enough upside to warrant streaming. Alex Collins is the biggest threat in the Baltimore offense these days, but I'd be more concerned about the Green Bay offense's inability to keep the defense on the bench.

 
 
Tier 3 Defenses (Decent Streamers)

12. Los Angeles Chargers (vs. BUF)

The Bills are reeling coming off two straight losses, the most recent of which was a drubbing at home at the hands of the Saints. They'll now have to travel to the West Coast to take on a Chargers DST that has really turned things around in the last month or so. They're averaging 3.4 sacks and 1.8 turnovers in their last five games, and should be able to get to Tyrod Taylor at least three times and force another turnover.

13. Kansas City Chiefs (@ NYG)

The Giants organization is in shambles currently, and the offense is following suit. As I write this they are 27th in total offense, and even the shoddy season-long performance of the Kansas City DST is enough to make me regret streaming against them.

14. Denver Broncos (vs. CIN)

The Broncos are a top DST in name only these days. They're 18th in sacks, 25th in interceptions, and 25th (!) in points against. With that said, they are ninth in passing defense, and this is Andy Dalton that we're dealing with. They are just barely still stream-worthy in 12-team leagues, and only in strong matchups like this.

 
 
Tier 4 Defenses (Deep Streamers)

15. Houston Texans (vs. ARI)
16. New England Patriots (@ OAK)
17. Buffalo Bills (@ LAC)
18. Miami Dolphins (vs. TB)
19. Chicago Bears (vs. DET)
20. Minnesota Vikings (vs. LAR)
21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@ MIA)

 
Tier 5 Defenses (Desperation Plays)

22. Dallas Cowboys (vs. PHI)
23. Tennessee Titans (@ PIT)
24. Cleveland Browns (vs. JAX)

 

More Waiver Wire Pickups and Analysis


Check out all of RotoBaller's fantasy football rankings. Staff rankings are updated regularly for all positions and include standard formats, PPR scoring, tiered rankings and dynasty leagues.




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Amon-Ra St. Brown

to Suit Up on Christmas Day
Rome Odunze

"Increasing Unlikely to Play" in Week 17
Chris Rodriguez Jr.

Carries Questionable Tag on Thursday
David Montgomery

Expected to Play on Christmas Day
Seth Curry

to Remain Sidelined on Christmas Day
Jae'Sean Tate

Questionable Thursday
Dwight Powell

Likely to Return on Christmas
Jaylin Williams

Misses Fifth Straight Game
Ousmane Dieng

Unavailable on Christmas Day
Guerschon Yabusele

Questionable for Christmas Action
Miles McBride

Remains Out on Christmas
Cameron Johnson

to Miss Time With Bone Bruise in Right Knee
Jaxson Hayes

Considered Questionable for Christmas Matchup
Rui Hachimura

Likely to Return Thursday
Dorian Finney-Smith

Could Make Season Debut on Christmas Day
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Uncertain for Christmas Day
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Listed as Questionable for Christmas Game
Al Horford

on Track to Return Thursday
Jaden McDaniels

Iffy for Christmas Day
Brandon Williams

Expected to Play on Christmas Day
P.J. Washington

at Risk of Missing Second Straight Game
Klay Thompson

Likely to Play on Christmas Day
Max Christie

Probable for Christmas Day
Ajay Mitchell

Out on Christmas Day
Chet Holmgren

Available on Christmas Day
David Montgomery

Questionable to Play With Illness
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Questionable, Expected to Play on Thursday
Rashee Rice

Chiefs Place Rashee Rice on Injured Reserve
T.J. Hockenson

Ruled Out for Week 17
Pete Fairbanks

Marlins Agree on One-Year Deal
Josh Johnson

to Start at QB on Thursday Against Dallas
Brooks Koepka

Leaving LIV Golf
Davante Adams

Could Sit Out Final Two Regular-Season Games
Brock Bowers

Placed on Injured Reserve Due to Lingering Knee Injury
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Expected to Play on Christmas Day Against the Vikings
Connor McDavid

Finishes Battle of Alberta With Five Assists
Karel Vejmelka

Battling Upper-Body Injury
Alexandre Texier

Suffers Upper-Body Injury Against Bruins
Alexander Nikishin

Dealing With Apparent Ankle Injury
Denver Barkey

Exits Early Tuesday
Travis Sanheim

Pulled by Concussion Spotter Tuesday
Ryan O'Hearn

Pirates Agree on Two-Year Deal
DK Metcalf

has Two-Game Suspension Upheld
Philip Rivers

to Remain the Starter in Week 17
George Kittle

Dealing With Mid-to-Low Ankle Sprain
Viktor Arvidsson

a Game-Time Decision Tuesday
Ryan Leonard

Available Tuesday
Tom Wilson

in Danger of Missing First Game of the Season
Phillip Danault

Makes Second Canadiens Debut Tuesday
Collin Graf

Available Against Golden Knights
Jack Eichel

Misses Fourth Straight Game
Vince Dunn

Won't Play Tuesday
Deshaun Watson

Will Not be Activated Off PUP List, 2025 Season is Over
J.J. McCarthy

Ruled Out for Week 17
Rome Odunze

Expected to Return This Season
Christian McCaffrey

Another Monster Game for Christian McCaffrey in Week 16
Brock Purdy

Throws for Five Touchdowns in Week 16
TreVeyon Henderson

in Concussion Protocol, Week 17 Status Unclear
CFB

Jeff Brohm, Eli Drinkwitz "Names of Interest" for Michigan Head Coach
Timothy Liljegren

to Miss Second Straight Game Tuesday
Will Smith

Out Week-to-Week
Jaccob Slavin

Placed on Injured Reserve, Out Week-to-Week
Seth Jarvis

Considered Week-to-Week
Darren Raddysh

Totals Three Points in Monday's Win
Mason Marchment

Scores Twice Monday
Vince Dunn

Injured in Monday's Win
Ilya Sorokin

to Miss Tuesday's Game
CFB

Byrum Brown Entering Transfer Portal
CFB

Bobby Petrino Joining Bill Belichick as North Carolina's Offensive Coordinator
Willson Contreras

Shipped to the Red Sox
Brandon Lowe

Pirates Acquire Brandon Lowe in Three-Team Trade
Shane Baz

Orioles Acquire Shane Baz From the Rays

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