Top 5 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups: Defense (Week 12)

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 check out all of our Week 12 fantasy football waiver wire advice.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets: Defense

DEFENSES

Written by Pat Fitzmaurice

Washington Commanders: 20% rostered

Next Opponents: DAL, TEN, BYE
True value: $2
Desperate Need: $5
Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: The Washington defense has become a respectable unit after being a laughingstock a year ago. In 2023, the Commanders gave up 272.2 passing yards per game and 39 TD passes — both league highs. They had the worst opponent passer rating in the league. So far this year, the Commanders are giving up 200.6 passing yards per game. It would be a stretch to say Washington has one of the better pass defenses in the league, and the run defense still needs work, but the Commanders’ defense is no longer a pushover. Washington has a favorable two-week stretch ahead with games against Dallas and Tennessee. The improved Washington D should be able to collect a few sacks and interceptions against Cowboys QB Cooper Rush and Titans QB Will Levis. Spend an extra buck on the Commanders and ride them through Week 13.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 11% rostered

Next Opponents: @NYG, @CAR, LV
True value: $2
Desperate Need: $4
Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: The Buccaneers have given up an average of 31.3 points over their last six games. Tampa Bay’s pass defense has been a sieve this year. And yet, the Bucs are attractive as a streaming defense because of their upcoming schedule. Their next three games are against the Giants, Panthers and Raiders. Entering Week 11, the Giants had given up the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing defenses, the Panthers had given up the 12th-most, and the Raiders had given up the most. The defensive streaming options are thoroughly unappealing this week, so hold your nose and bid a dollar or two on the Bucs.

Arizona Cardinals: 4% rostered

Next Opponents: @SEA, @MIN, SEA
True value: $1
Desperate Need: $1
Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: The Cardinals have quietly been a solid fantasy defense this season. They’re averaging 7.4 fantasy points per game and have scored 12 fantasy points in each of their last two contests. Arizona has a Week 12 matchup against Seattle, which entered Week 11 having allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to defenses. Seahawks QB Geno Smith has thrown 11 interceptions and taken 32 sacks this year.

Tennessee Titans: 7% rostered

Next Opponents: @HOU, @WSH, JAX
True value: $1
Desperate Need: $1
Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: The Tennessee defense has been a much more effective unit in real life than in fantasy. The Titans entered Week 11 tied for 27th in fantasy points per game but were ranked 11th in defensive DVOA. The Titans have a Week 12 matchup against the Texans, whose offensive line has collapsed over the last month. Texans QB C.J. Stroud was sacked 18 times over a four-game stretch from Week 7 to Week 10.

DEF Stash Candidate:

Atlanta Falcons

Fantasy managers with deep rosters looking to get in early on a favorable playoff matchup might want to consider the Falcons, who play the Raiders in Week 15 and the Giants in Week 16.