Streaming Defenses Week 11: D/ST Picks for Fantasy Football This Week

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Note: These recommendations are limited to team defenses that are rostered on less than 60 percent of teams on Yahoo or 80 percent on NFFC. Any references to fantasy points are based on Yahoo standard scoring, which doesn't include yards allowed.

Top Streaming Options for Week 11

1. New England Patriots (vs. NYJ)

• 58% Yahoo, 96% NFFC
• Team implied total: 28.0     Opponent implied total: 15.5
• Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 12: 7th (at CIN),  Week 13: 10th (vs. NYG)

The Patriots barely meet the ownership requirement for this article, but they may actually be available in some competitive leagues, where people like me dropped them ahead of a road trip to Tampa Bay. The Patriots finished with just two sacks and no turnovers, but they played well in real life, forcing six punts in a road matchup against a good QB. Up next is an A+ spot, facing the Jets in Foxborough on three days' rest, with no Garrett Wilson (knee). Don't hesitate to use FAAB or waiver priority on New England's defense if you're battling for a playoff spot.

2. Baltimore Ravens (at CLE)

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• 56% Yahoo, 90% NFFC
• Team implied total: 24.0     Opponent implied total: 16.5
• Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 12: 2nd (vs. NYJ),  Week 13: 9th (vs. CIN)

Baltimore, like New England, barely meets the ownership requirements for this article, at slightly below 60% on Yahoo. Jump on it if you have the opportunity. The Ravens have allowed just 41 points in three games since a Week 7 bye, so they shouldn't have much trouble taking care of the Browns and Jets over the next two weeks. This is a situation where significant FAAB is warranted if you've still got it left and are battling for a playoff spot.

3. Atlanta Falcons (vs. CAR)

• 12% Yahoo, 52% NFFC
• Team implied total: 22.5     Opponent implied total: 19.0
• Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 12: 6th (at NO),  Week 13: 11th (vs. NYJ)

The Panthers predictably turned back into pumpkins, though a week or two earlier than most expected, including myself. Everything sets up for a revenge game, both for fantasy managers who used Carolina's D/ST and for a Falcons team that somehow lost 30-0 at Carolina back in Week 3. The Falcons have otherwise been mediocre more so than bad, beating the Bills in Week 6 and nearly taking down the Colts and Patriots the past two weeks. Carolina and Atlanta have arguably been the two most inconsistent teams in the NFL this year, but that's not necessarily a bad thing when you see how often D/STs score double-digit fantasy points against Bryce Young (four times in nine starts this year). 

This is yet another situation where FAAB may be warranted, as the Falcons have road games against the Saints and Jets after this Sunday's home date with Carolina. The Falcons will probably blow one of those games, but the other two could still provide big fantasy scores that more than make up the difference.

4. Green Bay Packers (at NYG)

• 56% Yahoo, 82% NFFC
• Team implied total: 25.5     Opponent implied total: 18.0
• Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 12: 5th (vs. MIN),  Week 13: 25th (at DET)

This is yet another defense that you might be surprised to find on waivers in some leagues. The Packers were universally rostered not too long ago, but their strong work limiting points (7th) and yardage (5th) hasn't translated to takeaways (six, 29th), and a lot of fantasy managers cut Green Bay after the Week 9 disappointment against Carolina (with a matchup against the reigning champs on deck). Better days should be ahead, at least in the near future, after the Packers held Philadelphia to 10 points on Monday. Green Bay's next two matchups likely will be against sack-prone Russell Wilson and mistake-prone J.J. McCarthy, which makes the Packers D/ST a wise add wherever available.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. CIN)

• 58% Yahoo, 87% NFFC
• Team implied total: 27.5     Opponent implied total: 22.0
• Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 12: 17th (at CHI),  Week 13: 23rd (vs. BUF)

The Steelers figure to give up some yards and points this week, but they also have a great opportunity for sacks and interceptions, which is what ultimately matters in most fantasy leagues. Joe Flacco has thrown just two picks with the Bengals, but both were in his most recent game, and he tossed six INTs in just four appearances for Cleveland earlier this season (after throwing 15 INTs in 11 starts in 2023-24). Just keep in mind that the Steelers D/ST should be dropped a couple spots in the rankings for formats that factor in yardage allowed (like ESPN standard) or put an unusually large emphasis on point prevention.

Week 11 Rankings

Tier 1: NE, BAL, HOU

Tier 2: ATL, GB

Tier 3: PIT, LAC, KC, MIN, CHI

1. Patriots (vs. NYJ) 
2. Ravens (at CLE)
3. Texans (at TEN) 
4. Falcons (vs. CAR) 
5. Packers (at NYG)
6. Steelers (vs. CIN)   
7. Chargers (at JAX)
8. Chiefs (at DEN)
9. Vikings (vs. CHI)
10. Bears (at MIN) 
11. Bills (vs. TB) 
12. Rams (vs. SEA)
13. 49ers (at ARZ)
14. Cardinals (vs. SF) 
15. Seahawks (at LAR)
16. Eagles (vs. DET)  
17. Cowboys (at LV) 
18. Lions (at PHI)
19. Dolphins (vs. WAS)
20. Jaguars (vs. LAC)

Looking Ahead to Week 12

1. Seahawks (at TEN)
2. Ravens (vs. NYJ)
3. Lions (vs. NYG)
4. 49ers (vs. CAR)
5. Packers (vs. MIN)
6. Falcons (at NO)
7. Patriots (at CIN)
8. Raiders (vs. CLE)
9. Browns (at LV)
10. Rams (vs. TB)
11. Cardinals (vs. JAX)
12. Bills (at HOU)
13. Chiefs (vs. IND)
14. Jaguars (at ARZ)
15. Texans (vs. BUF) 
16. Eagles (at DAL)
17. Steelers (at CHI)
18. Bears (vs. PIT)
19. Saints (vs. ATL)
20. Vikings (at GB)

Rest-of-Season Rankings

Rest-of-season rankings for team defenses aren't helpful in the first place, and at this point in the season they would entirely depend on the individual league/team/situation even if they were helpful. If we're 5-5 and battling for a playoff spot, we might put Baltimore and New England at the top due to strong recent form and elite upcoming matchups. On the other hand, a 9-1 team might prefer Houston or Tampa Bay on account of juicy matchups in Weeks 15-17. 

Anyway, here's my guesstimate of balancing all that, keeping in mind that most fantasy teams aren't in good enough position to justify a suboptimal lineup choice because that defense has a good matchup a month from now.

1. Philadelphia Eagles 
2. New England Patriots 
3. Baltimore Ravens 
4. Denver Broncos 
5. Kansas City Chiefs    
6. Seattle Seahawks 
7. Houston Texans  
8. Los Angeles Rams  
9. Green Bay Packers    
10. New Orleans Saints
11. Buffalo Bills    
12. Detroit Lions 
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 
14. Pittsburgh Steelers   
15. Cleveland Browns 
16. Los Angeles Chargers 
17. Miami Dolphins 
18. Minnesota Vikings  
19. Indianapolis Colts  
20. Jacksonville Jaguars