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Defenses to Stream – Week 12 NFL Fantasy Football

DFS Army’s Gthom goes over the defenses to stream this week. The defenses to stream listed below are normally found in at least 40-percent of leagues (prior to waivers).

HUGE week for our article last week, we nailed down two elite D/ST’s picks: the Baltimore D/ST (finished 2nd overall) and the Patriots D/ST (finished 3rd overall)! The article finished with a D/ST scoring average of 11.6 fantasy points.

Follow Gthom on the cesspool they call twitter, @GarettThomas.

Nov 6, 2022; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner (1) celebrates his interception with teammates during the second half against the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Jets D/ST vs Chicago Bears

Available in 70% of Sleeper Leagues

Let’s build a narrative around the Jets and Bears game. Chicago quarterback Justin Fields is currently dealing with a shoulder injury that has him day-to-day. His Week 12 status is uncertain. The Bears did not rule out Fields’ injury being a season-ending either, according to CBS Sports.

Fields would be severely limited, at best, if he suits up against the Jets. Fantasy quarterbacks who rely on their legs for production traditionally struggle when injured because they stop running. The best case scenario for the Jets’ D/ST is that Fields misses the game and backup Trevor Siemian has to start. Siemian has been brutally bad in past appearances. Either way, the Jets are a locked and loaded play for Week 12.

Looking at the Bears versus opposing D/ST’s on the the season, Chicago has struggled. They have allowed the third highest FPPG average to opposing D/ST’s with 9.5 fantasy points; that average climbed to 10.3-FPPG in their last three games. The Bears have also given up 40 sacks on the season, that is league worst.

The Jets D/ST has scored 55 fantasy points in their last five games, which translates to 11-FPPG. New York has gotten after quarterbacks recently too. In their previous three games they have totaled 17 sacks.

If Siemian starts, the Jets have 20-point upside.

Dolphins D/ST vs Houston Texans

Available in 82% of Sleeper Leagues

Since improving their defense at the NFL trade deadline, the Dolphins have played two games and their D/ST finishes have been nine and seven fantasy points, respectively. If this trend continues, Miami could have a fantasy relevant defense on a weekly basis.

Week 12 will be against the Texans who are undoubtedly a bad football team. Over the last five games, opposing D/ST’s against Houston have averaged 11 fantasy points. The Texans allow 4.2 fantasy points above expectation to the D/ST position. Both metrics are second-worst in the NFL.

At this point in the season, you automatically start D/ST’s going against the Texans. D/ST’s have finished top-12 on the week against Houston six times this season, and four times in the last five games.

Broncos D/ST @ Carolina Panthers

Available in 58% of Sleeper Leagues

This is all about the match-up. Last week Mayfield threw two interceptions against Baltimore, which helped the Ravens finish with 17 fantasy points in Week 11. In Week 12 the infamous Sam Darnold will be starting. Darnold finished 2021 tied with the sixth-most turnovers by a player (with 17), yet he only suited up in 12 contest.

Broncos got gashed last week against the Raiders, which causes hesitancy about their fantasy outlook. Denver is an active dumpster fire right now. There’s been constant drama around Russell Wilson’s eccentric actions; their head coach could get fired after year-one and already gave up play-calling duties (yikes); they traded a cornerstone defender for this team, Bradley Chubb; and Melvin Gordon III was cut after Week 11 following a bizarre run of recent events.

The match-up against Carolina is an elite one that Denver should dominate. How Denver feels, and their morale coming out of the locker room, makes me want to grab the Jets or Dolphins D/ST instead.

Chiefs D/ST vs Los Angeles Rams

Available in 69% of Sleeper Leagues

Another potential backup quarterback spot would be against the Chiefs’ D/ST. Rams’ quarterback Matthew Stafford cleared concussion protocol for Week 11, but during the second half of the game Stafford was evaluated for his second concussion in three weeks. The quarterback’s Week 12 status is uncertain.

After the Tua concussion injury earlier in the season, one could easily assume that Stafford misses Week 12. If Stafford misses that would propel either John Wolford or Bryce Perkins to play under center. Wolford struggled earlier in the season when he started against the Cardinals, throwing one interception and finishing with a QBR of 20.6. Perkins is an undrafted quarterback from Virginia who has never started an NFL game. Perkins filled in for the injured Stafford last week and finished 5-of-10 for 64 passing yards and no touchdowns.

In their last five games the Chiefs D/ST has played well and averaged 7 fantasy points per contest. Even with Stafford playing, the Chiefs should be a solid streaming option. On the season the Rams are allowing 11.4-FPPG to opposing D/ST’s. That is the most points allowed in the NFL against the D/ST position.

Sleeper Defenses to Stream:

  • Commanders D/ST vs Atlanta Falcons
  • Steelers D/ST vs Indianapolis Colts

 

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