Streaming Defenses: Picking a Week 12 Defense

This article is part of our Streaming Defenses series.

Buccaneers

Another week for the Colts without QB Andrew Luck, as they'll once again be relying on Matt Hasselbeck to guide the offense. So far the offense has averaged two touchdowns a game with him at the helm, which isn't so hot. Hasselbeck has a 6.56 YPA, which has come in a small sample size, but for reference that's close to what Colin Kaepernick and Nick Foles average. What's worse is WR T.Y. Hilton has been pretty quiet in his last three games, slumping so low to as getting only four targets in his last game. The remaining pass catchers of Donte Moncrief, Coby Fleener, and Andre Johnson don't strike much fear into the opposing secondary either, especially the latter two who don't create much separation on their own. The Bucs are ranked tied for 15th in YPA (6.8), so this should be a fairly even matchup.

On the ground, the Bucs are ranked tied for fourth in YPC (3.7) and shouldn't have much trouble slowing Frank Gore (3.9 YPC) and Ahmad Bradshaw (2.9 YPC). The team as a whole has one rushing TD over it's last five games, a trend that should benefit the Bucs. What's more, the Bucs have given up an average of 21.2 points over their last five games, which isn't that bad, especially when they've pasted the Cowboys and Eagles in back-to-back weeks. Vegas has this over/under set at 46.5 with the Colts favored by 3, which puts this at about a 25-22 game. Facing the Colts on the road, the Bucs defense/special teams has an ownership of 9.6 percent at ESPN and 9 percent at Yahoo.

Giants

QB Kirk Cousins has thrown exactly one TD in eight of the Redskins 10 games this season, while also averaging one interception a game. He ranks 24th in YPA (6.85) and after four seasons in the NFL still leaves much to be desired. The Giants have been brutal against the pass, ranking 28th in YPA (7.6), so this should be a friendly matchup for Cousins and company and yet it's tough to expect them to take advantage when the passing game has shown so little life this season. WR DeSean Jackson appears healthy and with Pierre Garcon and TE Jordan Reed should present some matchup problems, but this is also a divisional game and the Giants are coming off a bye.

The Redskins backfield has been a glaring problem for much of the season and especially lately with just one rushing TD in the last four games and that was from Cousins. The Giants are ranked tied for 18th in YPC (4.2) and should be able to win this matchup, particularly coming off a bye, which allowed them some rest. I'm not too thrilled to be suggesting owners take the Giants in this spot, but a Redskins team 20th in points per game (22.1) isn't the worst matchup either. Vegas has this over/under set at 46.5 with the Giants favored by 2.5, which puts this at about a 25-22 game. Facing the Redskins on the road, the Giants defense/special teams has an ownership of 15.6 percent at ESPN and 22 percent at Yahoo.

Steelers

Russell Wilson is the most sacked QB this season (35) and the Steelers are coming off a bye, two factors that should help their defense produce for owners this week. Moreover, they rank tied for seventh in YPC (3.8) and against upstart RB Thomas Rawls, should be ready for the rookie, who just got done steamrolling the 49ers. RB Marshawn Lynch is dealing with an abdominal injury and won't suit up, though at this point perhaps Rawls is the better back anyhow. If the Steelers can slow down Thomas and Wilson on the ground, this game should be within reach for them defensively, as the WR/TE corps is inconsistent to say the least.

Wilson is fifth in YPA (8.06) and will take shots down field, but his offensive line and scrambling also leave him open to sacks. TE Jimmy Graham hasn't scored in over two months and has only one game over 83 yards, which shouldn't worry Steelers backers, despite his great talent. WRs Doug Baldwin, Jermaine Kearse, and Tyler Lockett can all stretch the field, but none have done it consistently. The biggest fear here is that a Seahawks team at home will really show up, but again the Steelers are coming off a bye, which should hopefully negative some of that advantage. Vegas has this over/under set at 45.5 with the Seahawks favored by 4, which puts this at about a 25-21 game. Facing the Seahawks on the road, the Steelers defense/special teams has an ownership of 37.9 percent at ESPN and 36 percent at Yahoo.

Falcons

RB Adrian Peterson leads the league in rushing (1,006 yards) and this week gets a Falcons defense ranked third in YPC (3.6) that hasn't allowed a rushing TD in four weeks, which should make for an interesting matchup, as the Vikings offense runs through Peterson. In victories he's averaging 121.3 ypg and in defeats only 52.3 ypg. The run defense has been one of the bright spots for a Falcons team that has lost four of its last five games and is slipping out of the playoff race because of the offense. Defensively in those five games they've allowed an average of 19 points a game, which is pretty strong.

QB Teddy Bridgewater ranks 29th in TD passes (eight) and is tied for fourth in sacks (30), so the Falcons should find success against him and the Vikings passing game too. WR Stephon Diggs has been a pleasant surprise but is still navigating his way though his rookie season and hasn't scored a TD or gone over 66 yards in his last three games. Mike Wallace, while a nice deep threat, has one TD on the season and TE Kyle Rudolph has one game over 53 yards receiving, not exactly the most productive or consistent secondary options. The Falcons rank 14th in YPA (6.7) and considering how Bridgewater was abused last week by the Packers should give some hope to a Falcons pass rush that normally doesn't sack anyone. Vegas has this over/under set at 46 with the Falcons favored by 2, which puts this at about a 24-2 game. Facing the Vikings at home, the Falcons defense/special teams has an ownership of 42.8 percent at ESPN and 29 percent at Yahoo.

Colts

Can the Colts stop the run? That's a question they'll have to answer early in this game, as they rank tied for 13th in YPC (4.0), as they face RB Doug Martin, who is averaging 5.0 YPC and just gashed the Eagles on the road for 235 yards. Despite this, he hasn't scored a rushing TD in five straight weeks or in eight of the 10 Bucs games this season. An uneven team this season, the Bucs are winners of three of their last four and yet Martin has only had one big game in that stretch, his most recent.

QB Jameis Winston is part of that lack of consistency as ranks ninth in YPA (7.66) and yet ranks 22nd in passer rating (86.5) as he's had to deal with multiple injuries to his WR/TE corps. Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson are healthy now and will be focal points of the Colts secondary, especially CB Vontae Davis, who is dealing with a hamstring injury. The Colts are ranked 22nd in YPA (7.2) and will need to hope that Winston shows his rookie meddle on the road. An ugly game is the best hope here with the Colts. Vegas has this over/under set at 46.5 with the Colts favored by 3, which puts this at about a 25-22 game. Facing the Bucs at home, the Colts defense/special teams has an ownership of 5.4 percent at ESPN and 16 percent at Yahoo.

Here are my rankings for this week, the next four weeks, and the remainder of the season: