👉 TAP TO SAVE 30% WITH CODE NEW
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
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

Week 16 Playoff Defense (DEF) Streamers and Starts - 2019 Fantasy Tiers, Rankings

Joey Bosa - IDP Rankings, Draft Sleepers, Fantasy Football DST Rankings, Defense Streamers

Bill Dubiel breaks down all 2019 fantasy football Week 16 defenses (DEF) -- draft targets, streamers, sits/starts, and D/ST waiver wire pickups to add. His Week 16 rankings and tiers for all of the NFL defenses.

Okay, this is it. If you're still alive, you can't afford to miss out at ANY position, including DST. In fact, ESPECIALLY DST. If you've made the championship, you've likely got a pretty good set of skill players, so DST is that one last magic cog that could be the difference between a title belt or ultimate defeat.

Below are RotoBaller's Week 16 playoff defense tiers and rankings, or which defenses to stream, start and target off the waiver wire for Week 16 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 16. Starting the right defense every week can be a difference-maker. Below we have broken out our defense rankings into tiers with analysis on each matchup. Some of these Week 16 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 16 pickup or add. Good luck in Week 16 RotoBallers!

Featured Promo: Looking for some more fantasy football action? Adopt a dynasty orphan team over at FFPC. Sign up today and get $25 off any FFPC league. Sign Up Now!

 

Week 16 Defenses To Start & Stream: Tiers & Rankings

My rankings are pretty pure this week. Many of the top defenses have solid matchups, and their ranking reflects that. If you're still somehow streaming in the championship matchup, my top streamers are below:

Rank DST Week 16 Opponent
1 Denver Broncos Defense vs. DET
2 Atlanta Falcons Defense vs. JAC
3 Los Angeles Chargers Defense @ OAK
4 Indianapolis Colts Defense vs. CAR
5 Kansas City Chiefs Defense @ CHI
6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defense vs. HOU
7 Washington Redskins Defense vs. NYG
8 Houston Texans Defense @ TB
9 Detroit Lions Defense @ DEN
10 Miami Dolphins Defense vs. CIN

 

Tier 1 Defenses

Rank Tier DST Week 16 Opponent
1 1 New England Patriots Defense vs. BUF
2 1 Pittsburgh Steelers Defense @ NYJ
3 1 New York Jets Defense vs. PIT
4 1 Denver Broncos Defense vs. DET

 

Tier 2 Defenses

Rank Tier DST Week 16 Opponent
5 2 San Francisco 49ers Defense vs. LAR
6 2 Atlanta Falcons Defense vs. JAC
7 2 Buffalo Bills Defense @ NE
8 2 Seattle Seahawks Defense vs. ARI
9 2 Baltimore Ravens Defense @ CLE

 

Middle and Lower Tier Defenses

Tier 3 Defenses

Rank Tier DST Week 16 Opponent
10 3 Los Angeles Chargers Defense @ OAK
11 3 Indianapolis Colts Defense vs. CAR
12 3 Kansas City Chiefs Defense @ CHI
13 3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defense vs. HOU
14 3 Philadelphia Eagles Defense vs. DAL

 

Tier 4 Defenses

Rank Tier DST Week 16 Opponent
15 4 Dallas Cowboys Defense @ PHI
16 4 Los Angeles Rams Defense @ SF
17 4 Washington Redskins Defense vs. NYG
18 4 New Orleans Saints Defense @ TEN
19 4 Houston Texans Defense @ TB
20 4 Detroit Lions Defense @ DEN
21 4 Jacksonville Jaguars Defense @ ATL
22 4 Miami Dolphins Defense vs. CIN

 

Tier 5 Defenses

Rank Tier DST Week 16 Opponent
23 5 Green Bay Packers Defense @ MIN
24 5 Oakland Raiders Defense @LAC
25 5 Minnesota Vikings Defense vs. GB
26 5 New York Giants Defense @ WAS
27 5 Cincinnati Bengals Defense @ MIA
28 5 Carolina Panthers Defense @ IND

More Fantasy Football Analysis


Check out RotoBaller's famous fantasy football draft sleepers and waiver wire pickups list, updated regularly!


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
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Stephen Curry

Ruled Out Against Lakers on Thursday
Quinton Byfield

Cleared to Play Thursday
Thomas Chabot

Makes Surprise Return Thursday
Jaylen Brown

Out Thursday
Luke Hughes

to Miss Rest of Season
Stuart Skinner

Faces Devils Thursday
Joel Embiid

Undergoes Surgery for Appendicitis
Nazem Kadri

to "Miss Some Games" With Finger Injury
Seth Jones

to Miss Rest of Season Due to Broken Foot
Corbin Carroll

Dealing With Hip Injury, Not Expected to Miss Much Time
NFL

Jordyn Tyson to Hold Individual Workout on April 17
Brent Rooker

Exits Early on Thursday Due to Apparent Injury
NFL

No New Injury Issues for Francis Mauigoa
Travis Hunter

to be "Limited Participant" During Offseason Workouts
Carolina Panthers

Denzel Boston Visiting With Panthers on Thursday
Mark Andrews

Ready for More Opportunities in 2026
Tyrone Tracy Jr.

Part of a Muddled Giants Backfield Heading into 2026
Chimere Dike

Fantasy Value Potentially Limited by What He Offers in Return Game
Chase Brown

an Important Name to Monitor on Day 1 of the NFL Draft
Bijan Robinson

Could Just Be Entering His Prime
Jameson Williams

Consistency the Key to a True Jameson Williams Breakout
Jarace Walker

May Exit Pacers Lineup Again Thursday
Aaron Nesmith

Out for Sixth Consecutive Game
T.J. McConnell

Andrew Nembhard, T.J. McConnell Unavailable Thursday
Dru Smith

Iffy for Thursday
Norman Powell

Questionable Thursday
Sam Hauser

Could Miss Thursday's Game
Neemias Queta

Uncertain for Thursday
Zach Benson

Scores Twice in Comeback Victory
Logan Thompson

Shuts Out the Leafs
Zach Eflin

Undergoes Successful Elbow Surgery, Will Miss Remainder of 2026
Derrick White

Listed as Questionable for Thursday
Tre Johnson

Iffy for Thursday
Jaylen Brown

Iffy to Face Knicks
Bilal Coulibaly

Questionable Against Bulls
Gui Santos

Could Miss Another Game Thursday
Alexandre Sarr

Out Again Thursday
Al Horford

to Remain Out Thursday
Caleb Martin

Remains Sidelined Wednesday
Kristaps Porzingis

Unavailable Against Lakers
Klay Thompson

Ruled Out Wednesday
Stephen Curry

Questionable for Thursday Night
J.K. Dobbins

Broncos Prioritized Re-Signing J.K. Dobbins
NFL

Francis Mauigoa to Undergo Additional Imaging on a Back Issue
Kaleb McGary

Retires After Seven Years in the NFL
Jawaan Taylor

Signs with the Falcons
Andrei Kuzmenko

to Be Re-Evaluated in 7-8 Days
Mason Appleton

Won't Play Thursday
Tony DeAngelo

Expected to Return Thursday
John Klingberg

Rejoins Sharks Lineup Wednesday
Alex Lyon

Dealing With Lower-Body Injury
Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Back in Action Wednesday
Alex Ovechkin

Won't Decide Future Until Offseason
Cole Ragans

"Should be Good" for Next Start
Reynaldo López

Reynaldo Lopez Handed Seven-Game Suspension
Jorge Soler

Suspended Seven Games, Will Appeal
NFL

NFL Scouts See Plenty of Upside With Drew Allar
NFL

Ty Simpson to Fall into Second Round in NFL Draft?
Cleveland Browns

Todd Monken "Fired Up" About Quarterback Competition
Cleveland Browns

KC Concepcion Visiting With the Browns
Cole Ragans

Diagnosed With Thumb Contusion
Houston Texans

Texans Pick Up Will Anderson's Fifth-Year Option
C.J. Stroud

Texans Exercise C.J. Stroud's Fifth-Year Option
Cole Ragans

Leaves Early on Wednesday After Being Hit in the Hand
Jacob deGrom

Expects to Make his Next Start
Konnor Griffin

Pirates Sign Konnor Griffin to Nine-Year Extension
Parker Washington

Undervalued Despite League-Winning Finish in 2025
Justus Annunen

Ends Predators' 120-Game Streak Without a Shutout
Trevor Zegras

Leads Flyers to Victory Tuesday
Kevin Bahl

Sustains Lower-Body Injury Against Stars
Michael Rasmussen

Likely to Miss Rest of Regular Season
Dmitry Kulikov

Done for the Season After Breaking Finger
Jalen Chatfield

Exits Early With Lower-Body Injury
Tyrrell Hatton

a Steady Option at The Masters
Justin Thomas

a High-Risk, High-Reward Option at The Masters
PGA

Sungjae Im a Volatile Option at the Masters
Nicolai Hojgaard

Carrying Momentum Into The Masters
Si Woo Kim

in Strong Form Heading to The Masters
Chris Gotterup

Ready to Make His Masters Debut
Patrick Reed

Brings Momentum to The Masters
Jon Rahm

Looks Poised for His Second Green Jacket
Jacob deGrom

Doesn't Have Structural Damage in his Knee
J.T. Realmuto

Leaves Game on Tuesday Due to Bruised Right Foot
Cody Ponce

to Have Knee Surgery, Expected to Miss Six Months
Alejandro Kirk

Facing Six-Week Absence
Jacob deGrom

to Undergo MRI on Tuesday
Mike Trout

Back in the Lineup on Tuesday
Hunter Brown

Diagnosed with Grade 2 Shoulder Strain
Adam Scott

Form Points to Him Competing at Masters
Jordan Spieth

Finding Consistency Heading to Masters
Hideki Matsuyama

Trending In Right Direction For Masters
Cade Horton

to Undergo Season-Ending Elbow Surgery
Tommy Fleetwood

a Contender if his Putter Cooperates at The Masters
Jacob deGrom

Pitches Through Knee Issue on Monday
Dalton Rushing

Smacks Two Homers in Rout of Blue Jays
Max Scherzer

Dealing With Forearm Tendinitis, Expected to Make his Next Start
Collin Morikawa

Vegas has Lost Confidence in Collin Morikawa Ahead of Masters Tournament
Ludvig Aberg

One of the Top Plays For This Week's Masters Tournament
Rory McIlroy

Set to Defend his Long-Awaited Masters Victory
Bryson DeChambeau

Looks to Finally Claim a Green Jacket
Patrick Cantlay

Needs Plenty to Go Right at Augusta
Harris English

Playing Solid Golf Heading to Masters
Sam Burns

Bouncing Back Nicely After Slow Start to 2026 Season
Corey Conners

Quietly Putting Together A Strong 2026 Season
Russell Henley

Looks to Bounce Back At Masters
Chris Duncan

Suffers Second-Round Submission Loss
Renato Moicano

Gets Back In The Win Column
Tabatha Ricci

Gets Outgrappled
Virna Jandiroba

Bounces Back
Brendson Ribeiro

Suffers First-Round Submission Loss
Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev

Earns First-Round Submission Win
Rafael Estevam

Suffers His First Loss
Ethyn Ewing

Dominates At UFC Vegas 115
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF