X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Week 12 Defense (DEF) Streamers and Starts - 2019 Fantasy Tiers, Rankings

Bill Dubiel breaks down all 2019 fantasy football Week 12 defenses (DEF) -- draft targets, streamers, sits/starts, and D/ST waiver wire pickups to add. His Week 12 rankings and tiers for all of the NFL defenses.

Almost out of time to make that last push for the playoffs--no time like the present to squeak out a win because you picked the right defense.

Below are RotoBaller's Week 12 defense tiers and rankings, or which defenses to stream, start and target off the waiver wire for Week 12 of the NFL and fantasy football season. In case you missed it, this is our seventh year now writing this weekly column.

Our weekly tiered defense rankings are a guide to making waiver wire pickups to improve your lineups, and to decide which defenses to start, sit, target, avoid or stream for Week 12. Starting the right defense every week can be a difference-maker.

Editor's Note: Access RotoBaller’s trusted fantasy football rankings for PPR, Standard, Dynasty, Super Flex, and Best Ball formats. Get tiered cheat sheets, expert analysis, and player outlooks to dominate your draft from every angle.

Below we have broken out our defense rankings into tiers with analysis on each matchup. Some of these Week 12 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 12 pickup or add. Good luck in Week 12 RotoBallers!

 

Week 12 Defenses To Start & Stream: Tiers & Rankings

Typically the top three tiers will be DSTs you should target, with Tier 4 being options in deep leagues and Tier 5 being desperation plays or good defenses in horrendous matchups.

Returning for this year: Confidence Ratings - since every league's DST scoring is different, projections don't always make a ton of sense. The confidence rating is a guideline for how much more I like one team over another instead of a straight point projection. A zero means "do not start," then the confidence rises from there. I take a lot of factors into account here--opponent injuries, home field advantage, weather, etc. We've got four weeks of data to work with now, so we're going to be able to be a bit more precise basing our ratings on hard numbers.

On bye this week: Minnesota Vikings, Los Angeles Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs, Arizona Cardinals

 

Tier 1 Defenses

Rank Tier DST Opponent Confidence Rating
1 1 Pittsburgh Steelers Defense @ CIN 13.2
2 1 Buffalo Bills Defense vs. DEN 12.65
3 1 New Orleans Saints Defense vs. CAR 12.1

The Steelers swung and missed against the Browns on Thursday, but it's hard to take a Thursday game into account when projecting for the future--they're always kinda wonky. This week we have a top-three fantasy scoring DST going up against a bottom-five offense that's still starting Ryan Finley, who is averaging 141 passing yards a game and has a sexy 1:4 TD-turnover ratio through two starts.

Brandon Allen has played capably since taking over for Joe Flacco, but the Denver offense as a whole is still just 25th in the NFL in total yards per game. An underwhelming receiving corps comprised almost entirely of terrific Courtland Sutton play handicaps the upside of this offense, and they're find tough sledding against the Bills at home in Orchard Park. The Broncos have allowed the ninth-most sacks (32) in the NFL while the Bills pass rush has stepped up recently with 13 sacks across their last three games.

 

Tier 2 Defenses

Rank Tier DST Opponent Confidence Rating
4 2 Baltimore Ravens Defense @ LAR 11.5
5 2 Jacksonville Jaguars Defense @ TEN 11
6 2 San Francisco 49ers Defense vs. GB 10.5
7 2 Chicago Bears Defense vs. NYG 9.85
8 2 Cleveland Browns Defense vs. MIA 9.2
9 2 New England Patriots Defense vs. DAL 8.35

The Jaguars feasted on the Marcus Mariota-led Titans in Week 3, racking up nine sacks while holding the Tennessee offense to just seven points. They may not find as much success against Ryan Tannehill and the rest of the surging Titans, who have won three of their last four games while averaging over 26 points scored per game. Tannehill's 8:4 TD-INT ratio isn't groundbreaking, but between his ability to push the ball down the field and a rejuvenated Derrick Henry running wild, the Titans should be able to keep the Jags on their heels a bit. Don't get it twisted though--this is still the 26th-best offense in football right now, even if they are weighed down by Mariota's awful start to the season. The Jags are firmly in starting territory and have upside, but if there's one trap game for a top DST this week, this is my pick.

Many referred to the Ravens as the "first real test" for the Patriots defense, and sure enough they melted under the blazing heat of God Mode Lamar Jackson. The Pats bounced back nicely in Week 11, holding the Philly offense to just 10 points while tallying five sacks and a fumble recovery. This week's matchup will present an interesting measuring stick--did they simply run into Lamar Jackson on the wrong day, or can they really not hang with elite offenses like Baltimore or Dallas? Dak Prescott is riding an unbelievable stretch right now, and it'll be up to the Patriots to figure out how to contain him if they're going to hold onto their claim as an elite fantasy DST, and not merely a good team with a laughable schedule.

 

Middle and Lower Tier Defenses

Tier 3 Defenses

Rank Tier DST Opponent Confidence Rating
10 3 Atlanta Falcons Defense vs. TB 7.9
11 3 New York Jets Defense vs. OAK 7.2
12 3 Houston Texans Defense vs. IND 6.45
13 3 Detroit Lions Defense @ WAS 6.15
14 3 Tennessee Titans Defense vs. JAC 5.55
15 3 Oakland Raiders Defense @ NYJ 5.1

Just when you thought the Falcons defense might be the worst in the NFL...they turn around and post two dominant performances. In Week 10 they beat up on Drew Brees and the Saints offensive line, notching six sacks and holding the powerful Saints offense to just nine total points. They followed that up with a beatdown of the Carolina Panthers, adding another five sacks while picking off Kyle Allen four times--and even added a special teams touchdown. I'm still wary of their LONG track record of being torn up by middling and elite offenses (averaging over 26 points allowed per game), but given they have a date with pick machine Jameis Winston up next, they deserve a spot in my top 10. They should be widely available as well, making them a terrific streaming option in Week 12.

The Raiders present a similar opportunity this week. They've been gashed all season by the pass (262.2 passing yards per game) but over their last two games they've put up ten total sacks and five total turnovers. Granted, those two games were against Philip Rivers, who is literally disintegrating in front of our eyes, and a Ryan Finley-led Bengals offense. There is some optimism here given the overall futility of the Jets offensive line (third-most sacks allowed with 41), but with Sam Darnold averaging a 65% completion rate and and 6:2 passing touchdown ratio over his last four games I am playing it safe. The Raiders are a streamable option this week, but temper your expectations.

 

Tier 4 Defenses

Rank Tier DST Opponent Confidence Rating
16 4 Washington Redskins Defense vs. DET 4.65
17 4 Indianapolis Colts Defense @ HOU 4.2
18 4 Denver Broncos Defense @ BUF 3.75
19 4 New York Giants Defense @ CHI 3.1

The Colts DST has been modestly productive over their last three games, posting five turnovers and averaging just over 16 points allowed per game, but those stats came against the Steelers, Dolphins and Jaguars. They'll truly be tested by Deshaun Watson and the Texans this week, but I'm interested to see how that offense bounces back after getting absolutely thrashed by the Ravens in Week 11. They managed just a single touchdown in garbage time, and yielded seven total sacks. This is a Thursday night game, which typically feature some outlying performances on both sides of the ball, and with the return of Will Fuller a possibility, I'm probably skipping on the Colts DST.

The Giants DST has been brutal for fantasy purposes all season, but there is the possibility that they'll be usable this week given that Matt Nagy has once again committed to Mitch Trubisky as the starter--assuming his hip injury clears up in time. The Bears offense simply struggles under Trubisky--they're 30th in total yards per game--which gives some optimism for the Giants defense. I expect this to be a low-scoring affair, but I'd be much more optimistic if the Giants hadn't yielded 25 or more points in each of their last six games. If you are desperate, and I mean DESPERATE, you can consider the Giants in Week 12.

 

Tier 5 Defenses

Rank Tier DST Opponent Confidence Rating
20 5 Philadelphia Eagles Defense vs. SEA 2.65
21 5 Dallas Cowboys Defense @ NE 2.2
22 5 Los Angeles Rams Defense vs. BAL 2.15
23 5 Carolina Panthers Defense @ NO 1.7
24 5 Green Bay Packers Defense @ SF 1.2

More Fantasy Football 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.




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

KaVontae Turpin

Arrested on Two Charges
Cole Ragans

to Begin Throwing on Monday
Theo Johnson

Prioritizing his Health this Offseason
Andrés Giménez

Andres Gimenez Hits 10-Day Injured List
Jermaine Burton

Continues to Show Growth
NHL

Hendrix Lapierre Signs One-Year Deal with Capitals
Carson Hocevar

Should DFS Players Consider Carson Hocevar for Chicago Lineups?
Tye Kartye

Kraken Re-Sign Tye Kartye for Two Years
Ross Chastain

May be A Decent DFS Option for Chicago Lineups
Dmitri Voronkov

Signs Two-Year, $8.35 Million Extension with Blue Jackets
Ryan Preece

Should DFS Players Roster Ryan Preece at Chicago?
Austin Dillon

Is Too Great of A Risk to Add to Chicago Lineups
Zane Smith

Is A Value Play Worth Rostering At Chicago
Austin Hill

is A Favorable Value Option for Chicago DFS Lineups
Ty Dillon

Is Ty Dillon A Decent Driver to Add For NASCAR DFS At Chicago?
William Byron

Qualifying Crash Makes William Byron a Likely DFS Must-Have
Alex Bowman

Should Finish Well, but Probably Costs Too Much for Serious DFS Consideration
Joey Logano

Has Been Relatively Mediocre on Road Courses Lately
Ryan Blaney

Doesn't Really Fit Neatly into Optimal DFS Lineups
Austin Cindric

Remains an Overrated Road Racer
Brad Keselowski

Likely to Brush Past Chicago Street Course to Focus on Daytona
NASCAR

John H. Nemechek One of the Best Underdog Options After Strong Runs at Mexico City and Last Year
Cole Custer

Strong Mexico City Run and Xfinity Series Chicago Win Make Him a Solid DFS Option
Erik Jones

Likely Not Good Enough on Road Courses for DFS Consideration Despite Poor Qualifying Result
Noah Gragson

May Be Better Than Other Cheap DFS Options
Riley Herbst

Despite Decent Mexico City Run, Don't Expect Riley Herbst to Contend at Chicago
Cody Ware

Is a Road Course Veteran, but It's Rarely Helped Him in NASCAR
Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen Is The Heavy Favorite to Win at Chicago Street Course
Christopher Bell

Should Be Strong Despite Practice Struggles at Chicago Street Course
Cam Ward

"Not Expecting" to be handed Starting Job
Chase Claypool

Eager to Get Back on the Field
Wyatt Langford

Activated, Playing on Saturday
Jay Huff

on the Move to Indiana
Cam Whitmore

Wizards Acquire Cam Whitmore from the Rockets
LaJohntay Wester

Stands out on Special Teams
Clarke Schmidt

Likely to Undergo Tommy John Surgery
Nolan Arenado

Scratched from Saturday's Lineup
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Starting on Saturday
Corbin Carroll

Activated from 10-Day Injured List
Cincinnati Bengals

Shemar Stewart, Bengals Continue Contract Talks, No Progress Made
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Potential Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade may not Happen Until "August, September"
Ha-Seong Kim

Removed Early During Season Debut
ARI

Christian Fischer Retires From NHL at 28
NHL

Spencer Martin Moves to Russia
WAS

Anthony Beauvillier Re-Signs With Capitals for Two Years
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Sitting Out With Foot Issue
Isaiah Neyor

Impresses at Minicamp
Houston Rockets

Jock Landale Waived by Rockets
Bo Bichette

Back in Blue Jays Lineup
Jonas Valančiūnas

Jonas Valanciunas Considering Returning to Europe
Miles Sanders

Works With Starters During Mandatory Minicamp
Jabari Walker

Signs Two-Way Deal With Sixers
Chimere Dike

Titans Could Move Chimere Dike Inside
Keandre Lambert-Smith

KeAndre Lambert-Smith not Guaranteed Roster Spot
Anthony Bradford

Working Hard to Win Back Starting Job
Byron Young

Still Improving?
Cody Simon

Jonathan Gannon has Been Impressed With Cody Simon
SirVocea Dennis

has Impressive Offseason
Trevor Penning

Could Still Have a Role in New Orleans
Jonathan Kuminga

Warriors Decline Recent Offer for Jonathan Kuminga
Orlando Magic

Moritz Wagner, Magic Agree to One-Year Deal
Clarke Schmidt

Placed on Injured List
José Soriano

Jose Soriano Throws Gem Against Braves
Robbie Ray

Earns Ninth Win in Complete Game
T.J. Watt

Likely to Reset the Edge-Rush Market
George Springer

Blasts Two Homers, Drives in Four
James Wood

Goes Yard in Five-Hit Night
Bradley Beal

Suns Discussing Potential Buyout
Los Angeles Lakers

Jaxson Hayes Staying with the Lakers
NBA

Damian Lillard "Open" to Signing With a Team This Offseason
Max Muncy

Out at Least Six Weeks
Clarke Schmidt

Leaves Start with Forearm Tightness
Colson Montgomery

Promoted to the Major Leagues
Pittsburgh Steelers

Omar Khan, Steelers Agree to Three-Year Contract
Max Muncy

Goes on Injured List With Knee Bruise
Max Muncy

Out of Thursday's Lineup
James Wood

Joining Home Run Derby
SJ

Sharks Claim Nick Leddy Off Waivers
SJ

Sharks Sign Dmitry Orlov to Two-Year, $13 Million Contract
CAR

Nikolaj Ehlers Joins Hurricanes on Six-Year Contract
Chau Smith-Wade

Having Stellar Offseason
Ace Bailey

Inks Rookie Contract With Jazz
Divine Deablo

Could be the Quarterback of the Defense
Isaiah Rodgers

a Likely Starter for the Vikings
Boston Celtics

Josh Minott Inks Deal With Celtics
Sandro Mamukelashvili

Heading to Toronto
Jared McCain

Not on 76ers Summer League Roster
Dylan Harper

Unavailable for California Classic
COL

Brent Burns Inks One-Year Deal with Avalanche
STL

Blues Land Pius Suter on Two-Year Deal
Morgan Frost

Agrees to Two-Year Extension with Flames
WPG

Gustav Nyquist Moves to Winnipeg
Cody Glass

Devils Re-Sign Cody Glass to Two-Year Deal
PIT

Anthony Mantha Joins Penguins
Cleveland Cavaliers

Larry Nance Jr. Headed Back to Cavaliers
Eric Gordon

Remaining with 76ers
Los Angeles Lakers

Deandre Ayton Joining Lakers
Emil Heineman

Signs Two-Year Deal with Islanders
Simon Holmstrom

Re-Signs with Islanders for Two Years
UTA

Nate Schmidt Signs Three-Year Deal with Mammoth
UTA

Brandon Tanev Moves to Utah on Three-Year Contract
NJ

Evgenii Dadonov Joins Devils on One-Year Deal
BUF

Sabres Snap Up Alex Lyon on Two-Year Contract
Dallas Mavericks

Dante Exum Returning to Dallas
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Has Surgery to Repair a Turf Toe Injury
Bud Cauley

in Great Form Ahead of John Deere Classic
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

a Player to Avoid at John Deere Classic
Jake Knapp

Riding Momentum Ahead of John Deere Classic
PGA

Sungjae Im Looking for Consistency at John Deere Classic
Ryan Gerard

a Solid Option at John Deere Classic
Rickie Fowler

Looking to Rebound at John Deere Classic
Cameron Champ

a Volatile Option at John Deere Classic
Jackson Suber

Staying Below 70 is Key to Success for Jackson Suber
Kevin Roy

Playing Better Heading into John Deere Classic
Justin Lower

Hoping for Something Positive in Illinois
Ben Kohles

a Long Shot at John Deere Classic
Stephan Jaeger

Attempts to Stop Roller-Coaster Ride
Beau Hossler

Needs a Challenge in Illinois
Harry Higgs

Has Potential at John Deere Classic
Nick Dunlap

Keeps Plugging Through Tough 2025 Season
Kevin Yu

a Near Must-Play at TPC Deere Run
PGA

J.T. Poston Returns to John Deere Classic Looking for Another High Finish
Thriston Lawrence

a Decent Fit For John Deere Classic
Tom Kim

Not Finding Much to be Happy About Ahead of John Deere Classic
Si Woo Kim

is a Prohibitive Fade at John Deere Classic
Ben Griffin

is the Appropriate Favorite at TPC Deere Run
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF