Top 6 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets: Defenses (Week 14)

We will have you covered throughout the 2023 fantasy football season with our bevy of tools, including our Waiver Wire Assistant. Find the top available players and get detailed analysis on how potential waiver wire adds will impact your team. Of course, our team of analysts will also have written advice each week. Check out some of our top waiver wire targets for the week below. Here’s our fantasy football waiver wire advice for Week 14.

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets

New Orleans Saints: 42% rostered

• Next Opponents: CAR, NYG, @LAR
• True value: $3
• Desperate need: $5
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: Here’s a defense you can ride for at least the next two weeks thanks to a pair of scrumptious matchups. The Saints host the Panthers this week, then stay home in Week 15 for a matchup against the Giants. The Panthers have scored 15 points or fewer in each of their last six games. Rookie QB Bryce Young has been sacked 44 times this season and has thrown eight interceptions. The Giants are an even more appealing matchup than the Panthers. It’s unclear whether the Giants will start Tommy DeVito at quarterback or if Tyrod Taylor will return from a rib injury and get the nod. The Giants’ offense has been dysfunctional all season regardless of who’s played quarterback. The Giants have taken 69 sacks and committed 14 turnovers, and defenses are averaging 13.5 fantasy points per game against them. Go the extra buck to add the Saints for these important weeks.

Houston Texans: 13% rostered

• Next Opponents: @NYJ, @TEN, CLE
• True value: $3
• Desperate need: $5
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: The Houston defense entered Week 13 averaging a modest 6.5 fantasy points per game, but it doesn’t really matter. What matters is that the Texans have a dream matchup against the Jets in Week 13. After pulling the plug on QB Zach Wilson a few weeks ago, the Jets benched third-stringer Tim Boyle in Sunday’s dispiriting 13-8 loss to the Falcons and inserted veteran journeyman Trevor Siemian. Jets quarterbacks have been sacked 51 times this year behind a bad offensive line and have thrown 11 interceptions. The Jets have also lost 12 fumbles in 12 games.

Detroit Lions: 31% rostered

• Next Opponents: @CHI, DEN, @MIN
• True value: $2
• Desperate need: $4
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: If we’re being honest, the Detroit defense has been pretty terrible lately. Opponents have put up 121 points against the Lions over the last four weeks, and Detroit has been particularly vulnerable against the pass. But the Lions are still a strong fantasy play for Week 14 because of their matchup. They’ll face the Bears, who are giving up 10.5 fantasy points per game to opposing defenses. Bears QB Justin Fields has taken 29 sacks and thrown six interceptions in eight starts this season.

Green Bay Packers: 18% rostered

• Next Opponents: @NYG, TB, @CAR
• True value: $2
• Desperate need: $4
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: The Packers’ defense has been playing well, with Green Bay yielding 18.4 points per game over their last eight contests. The Packers get a tasty Week 14 matchup against the woebegone Giants, who are giving up 13.5 fantasy points per game to opposing defenses.

Indianapolis Colts: 31% rostered

• Next Opponents: @CIN, PIT, @ATL
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $2
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: The Colts’ defense entered Week 13 tied for seventh in fantasy points per game (8.5). The Indy D has posted a double-digit point total in four consecutive games. This week, Indianapolis faces Cincinnati, which is forced to play Jake Browning at quarterback after losing Joe Burrow to a season-ending wrist injury.

Las Vegas Raiders: 7% rostered

• Next Opponents: MIN, LAC, @KC
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $2
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: Led by star edge rusher Maxx Crosby, the Las Vegas defense has become a respectable unit. The Raiders’ defense has scored eight or more fantasy points in six of its last eight games. Las Vegas has a home game at Minnesota this week, and it’s unclear who’ll get the start at quarterback for the Vikings after Joshua Dobbs‘ abysmal Week 12 performance in a Monday-night loss to the Bears had the Vikings contemplating a QB change.