Top 6 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups: Defense (Week 11)

We will have you covered throughout the 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 fantasy football 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 Defense fantasy football waiver wire targets for the week below. And also be sure to check out all of our full fantasy football waiver wire advice for the week.

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets: Defense

DEFENSES

Written by Pat Fitzmaurice

Houston Texans: 43% rostered

• Next Opponents: @DAL, TEN, @JAX
• True value: $3
• Desperate Need: $5
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: Going into Week 10, the Texans’ defense ranked No. 2 in DVOA, No. 5 in pressure rate and No. 6 in sacks. The Houston defense had scored at least nine fantasy points in three of its last four games. Now, the Texans are about to embark on a glorious three-week stretch of schedule that brings matchups against the Cowboys, Titans and Jaguars. The next three quarterbacks the Texans face are likely to be Trey Lance, Will Levis and Mac Jones. That sounds like a surefire recipe for heavy defensive scoring. Spend $3 to land the Texans this week and you won’t have to worry about finding another defense until the week of Thanksgiving.

Green Bay Packers: 29% rostered

• Next Opponents: @CHI, SF, MIA
• True value: $1
• Desperate Need: $2
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: The Packers have been a top-10 fantasy defense, averaging 8.9 fantasy points per game. Green Bay has forced 19 turnovers and notched 22 sacks in nine games. Week 11 brings a tasty matchup against a struggling Bears offense that could muster only 142 total yards Sunday in an embarrassing 19-3 home loss to the Patriots. Unfortunately, the Packers are a one-week play only since they have a tough matchup against the 49ers coming up in Week 12.

Los Angeles Rams: 21% rostered

• Next Opponents: @NE, PHI, @NO
• True value: $1
• Desperate Need: $2
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: The Rams’ defense has been hot, producing 10, 17, 6 and 22 fantasy points in its last four games prior to a Monday-night matchup against the Dolphins in Week 10. The Rams forced eight turnovers and recorded 14 sacks over that four-game stretch. They get a Week 11 matchup against the Patriots and rookie QB Drake Maye, who’s thrown five interceptions and has taken 14 sacks so far this season.

Miami Dolphins: 28% rostered

• Next Opponents: LV, NE, @GB
• True value: $1
• Desperate Need: $1
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: Never mind that Miami is a bottom-five defense in terms of both DVOA and fantasy scoring. If you want a streaming defense for Week 11 that you can get for $1 (or for a zero-dollar bid if your league allows them), hold your nose and grab the Dolphins. They’ll be facing the hapless Raiders, who have given up 11.2 fantasy points per game to opposing defenses.

Cleveland Browns 39% rostered

• Next Opponents: @NO, PIT, @DEN
• True value: $1
• Desperate Need: $1
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: The Browns’ defense hasn’t been especially good this season, ranking 17th in weighted DVOA and 20th in fantasy points per game going into their bye. But the Browns have a favorable matchup against a Saints defense that entered Week 10 having allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing defenses. Cleveland could take advantage of a New Orleans offense that has been ravaged by injuries at the WR position. The concern is that the Saints will take a run-heavy approach, which could mean fewer sack and interception opportunities.

New Orleans Saints: 34% rostered

• Next Opponents: CLE, BYE, LAR
• True value: $1
• Desperate Need: $1
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: The New Orleans defense played competently on Sunday, holding a good Atlanta offense to 17 points and getting three sacks and an interception against Falcons QB Kirk Cousins. Now, the Saints get a date with the Browns and QB Jameis Winston, who in his most recent start threw three interceptions and took six sacks against the Chargers.