Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups & FAAB Advice: Defenses (Week 15)

Check out our top waiver wire targets for Week 15 of the 2022 fantasy football season. And here’s all of our Week 15 waiver wire advice.

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups & FAAB Advice: Defenses (Week 15)

Denver Broncos: 43% rostered

• Next opponents: ARI, @LAR, KC
• True value: $4
• Desperate need: $7
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: The fierce Denver defense intercepted Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes three times on Sunday and now has 16 takeaways on the year to go along with 38 sacks. The Broncos’ defense is good enough to be appealing this week in a neutral matchup against the Cardinals, and Denver gets a spectacular Week 16 matchup against the Rams, who entered Week 14 having given up the most fantasy points to opposing defenses.

New York Jets: 38% rostered

• Next opponents: DET, JAC, @SEA
• True value: $2
• Desperate need: $4
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: The Jets’ remaining matchups aren’t all that appealing: Detroit’s offense has been humming, and young QB Trevor Lawrence has taken a big step forward for the Jaguars. However, the Jets’ defense is absolutely vicious. Gang Green limited Bills QB Josh Allen to 147 passing yards and 5.4 yards per attempt on Sunday, sacking him three times. The Jets have 39 sacks on the year and are among the leaders in pressure rate. But before you go all in on the Jets, check the status of stud DT Quinnen Williams, who sustained a leg injury on Sunday. Without Williams, that outstanding Jets defense would be slightly less outstanding.

Minnesota Vikings: 41% rostered

• Next opponents: IND, NYG, @GB
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $2
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: The Minnesota defense isn’t all that good – and it certainly wasn’t sharp in a Week 14 loss to Detroit – but it’s an opportunistic unit. The Vikings have forced 20 turnovers this season, and they entered Week 14 ranked 13th in defensive fantasy scoring. The Vikes get an attractive Week 15 matchup against the Colts, who have yielded 11.6 fantasy points per game to opposing defenses. Colts QB Matt Ryan has thrown 13 interceptions and taken 35 sacks in 11 games.

Green Bay Packers: 33% rostered

• Next opponents: LAR, @MIA, MIN
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $2
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: The Rams’ offense is a good one to target with streaming defenses. The Green Bay defense has been mediocre in both fantasy and real life, but the Packers get a Week 15 home game against those injury-ravaged Rams. In Week 14, Baker Mayfield engineered a come-from-behind win in his Rams’ debut, but make no mistake: It’s usually lucrative to start a defense against Mayfield.

Washington Commanders: 26% rostered

• Next opponents: NYG, @SF, CLE
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $2
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: The Commanders have a top-10 fantasy defense, and this unit will be well-rested after a Week 14 bye. Washington has allowed an average of 16.6 points over its last nine games, and it has a Week 15 date against a Giants offense that has struggled in recent weeks.

Carolina Panthers: 6% rostered

• Next opponents: PIT, DET, @TB
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $2
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: The Panthers’ defense entered Week 14 tied for eighth in fantasy scoring, then proceeded to intercept Seahawks QB Geno Smith twice and sack him three times Sunday in Seattle. Carolina gets an attractive Week 15 matchup against the Steelers. Rookie QB Kenny Pickett sustained a concussion on Sunday, so it’s unclear whether the Panthers will face Pickett or backup Mitchell Trubisky. Either way, it’s a friendly matchup.

New Orleans Saints: 25% rostered

• Next opponents: ATL, @CLE, @PHI
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $1
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: The Saints haven’t been an especially lucrative fantasy defense this season. The allure here is a Week 15 matchup against the falcons and rookie QB Desmond Ridder, who’ll be making his first NFL start. But the Falcons have been run-heavy all season and will probably continue to tilt toward the run even without Marcus Mariota at quarterback, limiting the Saints’ chances for sacks and interceptions.