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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets: Defense

DEFENSES

Written by Pat Fitzmaurice

Atlanta Falcons: 9% rostered

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

Analysis: The Atlanta defense has yielded very little fantasy value this season. The Falcons entered Week 14 ranked 28th in defensive fantasy scoring and have produced a double-digit point total in just two games all season. Sam Darnold picked his teeth with the Falcons last week, throwing for 347 yards and five touchdowns in a 42-21 Vikings win. But the Falcons have an excellent pair of matchups the next two weeks against opponents capable of making the Atlanta defense look good. This week, the Falcons face the Raiders, who are likely to be trotting out backup QB Desmond Ridder after starter Aidan O’Connell was carted off with a leg injury in Week 14. The Raiders have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing defenses. In Week 16, the Falcons get the Giants and mistake-prone QB Drew Lock, who threw an interception, took two sacks and posted a passer rating of 48.6 Sunday in a 14-11 loss to the Saints. As we’ve said many times before, when streaming defenses, the caliber of the opposing offense matters more than the caliber of the defense itself. The Atlanta defense looks like a smart bet for the next two weeks.

Green Bay Packers: 37% rostered

• Next Opponents: @SEA, NO, @MIN
• True value: $2
• Desperate Need: $4
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: Although the Green Bay defense hasn’t been forcing turnovers with the same frequency it did earlier in the season, this is still a solid unit, and the Packers have attractive matchups the next two weeks. This week, the Packers face the Seahawks, who are allowing 9.7 fantasy points per game to opposing defenses, fifth-most in the league. In Week 16, the Packers will face an injury-plagued Saints offense that has almost zero pass-catching firepower and will now be without starting QB Derek Carr, who is believed to have broken his non-throwing hand on Sunday. This is a highly playable defense for the first two weeks of the fantasy playoffs.

New York Jets: 43% rostered

• Next Opponents: @JAX, LAR, @BUF
• True value: $2
• Desperate Need: $3
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: Yes, the Jets’ defense has underachieved this season, but it’s still a respectable unit, and it gets an appealing Week 15 date with the Jaguars. QB Mac Jones, who’s playing in place of the injured Trevor Lawrence, has thrown zero touchdown passes and five interceptions in his three starts for Jacksonville this season.

Washington Commanders: 22% rostered

• Next Opponents: @NO, PHI, ATL
• True value: $2
• Desperate Need: $3
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: Pity the poor Saints, who had already lost Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed and Taysom Hill to injuries, and are now going to be without starting QB Derek Carr after he reportedly broke his non-throwing hand in Week 14. The Washington defense has its flaws, but the undermanned Saints are ill-equipped to exploit them. The Commanders’ defense should be able to raise havoc this week against one of the Saints’ backup quarterbacks, whether it’s Jake Haener or Spencer Rattler.

Arizona Cardinals: 36% rostered

• Next Opponents: NE, @CAR, LAR
• True value: $1
• Desperate Need: $2
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: The Cardinals went into Week 14 tied for 10th in defensive fantasy scoring and ranked 12th in defensive DVOA. The plucky Cardinals get a pair of decent matchups the next two weeks against the Patriots and Panthers. The Patriots have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing defenses. The Panthers have allowed the 15th-most fantasy points to opposing defenses and are averaging 17.9 points per game.

Cincinnati Bengals: 32% rostered

• Next Opponents: @TEN, CLE, DEN
• True value: $1
• Desperate Need: $2
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: Here’s another instance where we’re ignoring the quality of the defense itself and targeting a suspect offense. Cincinnati’s defense ranks near the bottom of the league in DVOA and defensive fantasy scoring, but the Bengals get an appealing Week 15 matchup against QB Will Levis and the Titans. In 10 starts this season, Levis has thrown nine interceptions (three of which have been returned for touchdowns) and absorbed 39 sacks.