Week 11 Defense (DEF) Streamers and Starts - 2024 Fantasy Tiers, Rankings

November 17, 2024

Joey Pollizze analyzes all 2024 fantasy football Week 11 defenses (DEF) -- streamers, sits/starts, and D/ST waiver wire pickups to add. His Week 11 rankings and tiers for all of the NFL defenses.

Welcome back, RotoBallers, to our Week 11 fantasy football defense streamers and D/ST rankings for the 2024 fantasy football season. Every week, I'll go through the best and worst fantasy defenses. There are four more teams on bye this week (Cardinals, Panthers, Giants, and Buccaneers), so I'll be ranking defenses from No. 1 to No. 28. 

There's a lot that needs to be taken into account when ranking fantasy defenses each week. Who the defense is playing against is probably the most important thing to look at. However, defensive pressure rate, defensive sacks, and takeaways are also just as important to consider when choosing which defense to start.

So, here are defenses fantasy managers should be starting in Week 11. Below, you will find our tiered fantasy football D/ST rankings. Good luck RotoBallers!

Tier 1 Defenses – Fantasy Football Rankings for Week 11

1. Minnesota Vikings D/ST at TEN

MIN favored by 6.5, Total ~39.5

The Vikings defense will come in as the No. 1 option in Week 11 against the Titans. Minnesota has totaled at least three sacks in four of the past five games while scoring double-digit fantasy points in seven of nine contests this season. Now, this defense gets a Titans offense that ranks toward the bottom of the league in several categories.

MOOOOOOOOOOOOOVIE@cambeezy_

📺: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/M22E4eU8aC

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) November 10, 2024

Tennessee has given up the seventh-most sacks (28) through 10 weeks, and quarterback Will Levis has been sacked 15 times over his last three full games played. Given that Minnesota also ranks first in takeaways (20) and the Titans rank tied for third in giveaways (17), this Vikings defense should be in for a strong fantasy day.

2. Detroit Lions D/ST vs. JAX

DET favored by 12.5, Total ~47.5

All signs point to Mac Jones making another start in Week 11, so the Lions will be a strong play this upcoming weekend. This unit has totaled at least four sacks in three of the past five games, and adding Za'Darius Smith, who was inactive last week, to this defense will only increase the team's 28% pressure rate moving forward. Smith has totaled 27 pressures this season.

So, fantasy managers should be starting this Lions defense with confidence in Week 11. They have forced 18 turnovers across nine games (tied for the fourth-most), and Jones is coming off a game in which he threw two interceptions and was sacked three times.

3. Houston Texans D/ST at DAL

HOU favored by 6.5, Total ~42.5

After watching the Cowboys offense last week, it's safe to say that the Texans defense will be a top-3 play in Week 11. Houston currently ranks toward the top of the league in pressure rate (34.9%) and just forced Jared Goff to throw five interceptions last week. This unit has also totaled at least three sacks in three of the past five games.

As a result, this is a great matchup for them against a struggling Cowboys offense with a backup quarterback. Dallas only threw for 66 yards last week, and the offensive line has allowed at least three sacks in six of nine games this season, including in each of the past two weeks.

4. Green Bay Packers D/ST at CHI

GB favored by 6.5, Total ~41.5

The Packers have been a solid defensive option this season, thanks to their high turnover rate. Green Bay currently ranks tied for second in takeaways (19) through the first 10 weeks. Fantasy managers would like to see this unit total more sacks, as they have only gotten to the quarterback six times across the last four games while ranking 29th in pass-rush win rate (31%). 

However, the Packers are a strong defensive option in Week 11 against the Bears. Caleb Williams was just sacked nine times last week, and Chicago's offensive line has given up the second-most sacks (43) this season. Even though Green Bay has struggled to sack the quarterback in recent weeks, this is a great opportunity for them to have a big sack day.

5. Miami Dolphins D/ST vs. LV

MIA favored by 6.5, Total ~45.5

The Dolphins have surely had their struggles on the defensive end this season. They have totaled one sack or less in five of the past six games and currently rank 18th in pass-rush win rate (41%). However, Miami's defense should be in for a strong fantasy day against a Raiders offense that has scored 20 points or fewer in five of the past six contests.

Given that opposing defenses are averaging 10.1 fantasy points against this Las Vegas offense this year, the Dolphins will come in as a top-5 play in Week 11. The Raiders have turned over the ball a league-leading 19 times while giving up 30 sacks (tied for the fifth-most in the NFL) through 10 weeks. Start this Miami defense this weekend.

6. Los Angeles Rams D/ST at NE

LAR favored by 5.5, Total ~43.5

The Patriots have no doubt looked better on offense since Drake Maye has taken over. But this offense still has plenty of problems all around. For starters, they have scored less than 20 points in three of the past four weeks. New England's offensive line has also given up the fourth-most sacks (32) this season.

That makes the Rams defense a potential solid play in Week 11. Los Angeles ranks top-10 in pressure rate (35.4%) and ninth in sack percentage (8.48%) through 10 weeks. This is also a defense that just totaled seven sacks back in Week 9. Make sure to pick up this defense and start them this week.

7. New Orleans Saints D/ST vs. CLE

NO favored by 2.5, Total ~43.5

The Saints defense played a solid game last week. They held the Falcons to 17 points while totaling three sacks and forcing one turnover. Now, this unit will go up against a Browns offense that ranks 31st in yards per game (274.4). As a result, New Orleans is a solid play in most leagues in Week 11.

Jameis Winston will start for Cleveland again this week, and the veteran quarterback has been sacked eight times in his two starts this season. Winston also just threw three interceptions in his last game in Week 9. Given that the Browns have also allowed the most sacks (43), the Saints defense will have a higher fantasy floor this upcoming weekend.

Tier 2 Defenses – Fantasy Football Rankings for Week 11

8. New York Jets D/ST vs. IND

NYJ favored by 3.5, Total ~43.5

The Jets defense was probably the toughest one to rank on this list because this unit has really struggled in recent weeks. Aside from their strong performance in Week 9, New York has not played well in four of the past five games. Last week, New York allowed 31 points and only totaled one sack in a blowout loss.

However, expect better results for the Jets defense in Week 11 against the Colts. Anthony Richardson will draw the start this week, and the young quarterback has thrown seven interceptions in five full games this season. With Indianapolis also ranking 29th in pass-block win rate (51%) and the Jets ranking top-10 in pressure rate (35.4%), this unit is a strong start in most formats this weekend.

9. San Francisco 49ers D/ST vs. SEA

SF favored by 6.5, Total ~49.5

While this might seem like a bad matchup for the 49ers, this defense actually has some potential in Week 11. Opposing defenses are averaging 8.2 fantasy points against this Seattle offense this year, and Geno Smith has been sacked 28 times through 10 weeks (tied for the seventh-most in the NFL). Smith has also thrown six interceptions across the last four games.

So, the 49ers will be a top-10 play in Week 11. This unit has totaled multiple sacks in three straight games while forcing two interceptions in three of the past four contests. San Francisco also ranks in the top half of the league in pressure rate, and Nick Bosa totaled 14 pressures against the Seahawks earlier this year.

10. Denver Broncos D/ST vs. ATL

DEN favored by 1.5, Total ~43.5

The Broncos defense will be a riskier play this week, but they do have top-10 potential at home against the Falcons. Denver has totaled the second-most sacks (35) this season and got to Patrick Mahomes four times in last week's loss. This defense has now totaled at least three sacks in five of the past seven games.

With a 55% pass-rush win rate (first in the NFL) and a 37.2% pressure rate through the first 10 weeks, it's hard to sit a defense that has been so dominant this season. The Falcons have also allowed at least two sacks in four straight games and currently rank 17th in pass-block win rate (59%). Denver could be a solid start in Week 11.

Tier 3 Defenses – Fantasy Football Rankings for Week 11

11. Cleveland Browns D/ST at NO

NO favored by 2.5, Total ~43.5

The Saints offense played well last week, which included Derek Carr not throwing an interception or getting sacked in the contest. However, look for the Browns defense to cause more disruption in Week 11. Cleveland has totaled at least three sacks in three straight games and currently ranks sixth in pass-rush win rate (47%) this season.

Now, this defense will go up against a Saints offense that lacks a ton of weapons on the outside. Rashid Shaheed (knee), Chris Olave (concussion), and Bub Means (ankle) will all be out again in Week 11, so Cleveland's defense has some sneaky potential in this game. New Orleans also ranks 31st in pass-block win rate (49%).

12. Indianapolis Colts D/ST at NYJ

NYJ favored by 3.5, Total ~43.5

The Jets offense is all out of sorts right now. They are averaging only 15.7 points per game across the last seven weeks, and Aaron Rodgers has been sacked 18 times during that span. As a result, the Colts defense is a sneaky play in Week 11.

Kenny Moore jumps the route to pick it off!

📺: #BUFvsIND on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/LWgAXQySD4

— NFL (@NFL) November 10, 2024

Indianapolis has totaled multiple sacks in four straight games while forcing eight turnovers since Week 7. The Colts don't pressure the quarterback at a high level, so they are a riskier option this weekend. But given that the Jets rank 21st in pass-block win rate (57%) and the offense seems to be out of sync, this defense is a solid play in 12-plus team leagues.

13. Chicago Bears D/ST vs. GB

GB favored by 2.5, Total ~41.5

The Bears defense has done its job this season. This unit ranks seventh in points allowed per game (18.6), tied for 14th in sacks (24), fifth in pass-rush win rate (47%), and top-8 in pressure rate (36.6%). So, Chicago can still be a potential play in 14-plus team leagues this weekend.

Even though Jordan Love has only been sacked three times over the past four games, Love has struggled with interceptions this year. He has thrown an interception in all seven of his games this season and currently ranks tied for first in interceptions thrown (10) through 10 weeks. The Bears could continue to be a defensive option for fantasy managers in Week 11.

Tier 4 Defenses – Fantasy Football Rankings for Week 11

Most of the defenses in Tier 4 should only be started in deeper formats. If all 13 defenses aren't available from the first three tiers, then the Titans and Ravens are your next best choices.

The Titans are allowing the fewest yards per game (273.4), and opposing defenses are averaging 7.9 fantasy points against the Vikings offense this year. Sam Darnold has also thrown 10 interceptions through the first 10 weeks, including three last week against the Jaguars. As for the Ravens, they are allowing 25.3 points per game but have totaled at least three sacks in eight of 10 games this season.

The other three defenses on this list are all riskier options. The Bills will play against a Chiefs offense that is averaging 25.4 points over the last five weeks, the Chargers will play a Bengals offense that has scored at least 30 points in five of the last eight games, and the Steelers will face a Ravens offense that ranks first in the NFL.

Tier 5 and 6 Defenses – Fantasy Football Rankings for Week 11

For the most part, fantasy managers should not be targeting any defenses from these two tiers. Most of these defenses are way too risky to start this weekend and should be avoided in most cases. 18 other defenses are better plays in Week 11.

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