Streaming Defenses Week 12: D/ST Picks for Fantasy Football This Week

Playoff Grid

Teams in bold/colors are projected to rank in the Top 10 for at least two of the three playoff weeks.

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 12

1. Las Vegas Raiders (vs. CLE)

• 5% Yahoo, 4% NFFC
• Team implied total: 20.5    Opponent implied total: 17.0
• Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 13: 30th (at LAC),  Week 14: 

Despite their hideous Monday night performance, the Raiders are 3.5-point favorites for Week 12, in anticipation of a home matchup with QB Shedeur Sanders. Fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel (hamstring) was already the worst starting quarterback in the league, arguably, but Sanders somehow took it to another level when he filled in against Baltimore on Sunday, completing just four of 16 passes while generally looking overwhelmed. It didn't help that both of Cleveland's starting offensive tackles left the game early with injuries — a potential problem for Week 12 as well.

Note: I have Detroit ranked one spot ahead of Las Vegas, but the Lions don't quite meet the ownership requirements to be listed in this article. I'm mentioning it because the Lions D/ST is likely available in some highly competitive leagues, including one of my own where people have been streaming aggressively (and thus discarding solid defenses when they have tough matchups).

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2. New Orleans Saints (vs. ATL)

• 2% Yahoo, 11% NFFC
• Team implied total: 20.0     Opponent implied total: 18.5
• Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 13: 18th (at MIA),  Week 14: 26th (at TB)

Nobody expected the Saints to be favored in this game, but that's how it shakes out with QB Michael Penix (knee) out for the season and WR Drake London (knee) likely out for at least Week 12. As poorly as QB Kirk Cousins played last year, he actually looks far worse in 2025, averaging 4.8 YPA while leading the Falcons to just one touchdown across 17 non-kneel-down drives. The Falcons are also banged up on defense, and in danger of missing LG Matthew Bergeron (ankle) for a third straight game, giving the Saints a nice opportunity to pick up their third win of the season.

3. Cleveland Browns (at LV)

• 50% Yahoo, 92% NFFC
• Team implied total: 17.0     Opponent implied total: 20.5
• Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 13: 20th (vs. SF),  Week 14: 2nd (vs. TEN)

The main concern here is that Cleveland's offense will play so poorly that the Raiders simply don't have to take many chances on offense. However, the Raiders aren't any better than the Browns, and there's also a scenario where a pass-heavy Las Vegas offense falls behind and repeatedly asks Geno Smith to throw the ball against a tough Cleveland defense with a vicious pass rush. It makes sense that Cleveland's D/ST has been wildly inconsistent for fantasy, with three games of 13-plus points (including Week 11 against Baltimore) but three others with one point or worse. Of course, variance isn't a bad thing if you're on the outside looking in and need a huge run over these final few weeks to earn a playoff spot.

4. Atlanta Falcons (at NO)

• 52% Yahoo, 95% NFFC
• Team implied total: 18.5     Opponent implied total: 20.0
• Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 13: 13th (at NYJ),  Week 14: 24th (vs. SEA)

We'll stick with the theme here, playing in the mud with two of the least appealing matchups of the NFL season from any perspective besides D/ST scoring. I definitely like the other side better here, but the Falcons defense also offers upside, facing rookie quarterback Tyler Shough and his uninspired supporting cast.

5. Buffalo Bills (at HOU)

• 50% Yahoo, 69% NFFC
• Team implied total: 24.5      Opponent implied total: 19.0
• Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 13: 15th (at PIT),  Week 14: 7th (vs. CIN)

If we went by betting lines, the Bills would be ranked higher here. My concern is that Buffalo's shaky run defense combined with Houston's strong defense will allow the Texans to limit QB dropbacks, whether it's Davis Mills or C.J. Stroud under center. It'll likely be Mills, considering Stroud is on a short week ahead of TNF and still needs to clear at least 2-3 steps of concussion protocol.

Week 12 Rankings

Tier 1: SEA, BAL, GB

Tier 2: DET, LV, NO, CLE

Tier 3: NE, ATL, BUF, SF, CHI, LAR

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

Looking Ahead to Week 13

1. Seahawks (vs. MIN)
2. Jaguars (at TEN)
3. Patriots (vs. NYG)
4. Dolphins (vs. NO)
5. Rams (at CAR)
6. 49ers (at CLE)
7. Chargers (vs. LV)
8. Ravens (vs. CIN)
9. Eagles (vs. CHI)
10. Colts (vs. HOU)
11. Broncos (at WAS)
12. Buccaneers (vs. ARZ) 
13. Falcons (at NYJ)
14. Jets (vs. ATL)
15. Bills (at PIT)
16. Lions (vs. GB)
17. Chiefs (at DAL)
18. Saints (at MIA)
19. Texans (at IND)
20. Browns (vs. SF)

Rest-of-Season Rankings

I'll again caution that these aren't especially useful in the first place, and entirely depend on a fantasy team's situation at this point in the season. If you're desperately clawing for a playoff spot, you'd probably put Seattle at the top of this list, targeting matchups with Tennessee, Minnesota and Atlanta in Weeks 12-14. 

For a team already in good position for the playoffs, Seattle's defense is far less appealing, due to matchups with Indianapolis and Los Angeles in Weeks 15-16. Houston's defense is kind of the opposite, with brutal matchups over the next three weeks but then favorable draws during the fantasy playoffs. Anyway, here's my weekly guesstimate, trying to balance out various factors:

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