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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets: Defense

DEFENSES

Written by Pat Fitzmaurice

Green Bay Packers: 49% rostered

• Next Opponents: NO, @MIN, CHI
• True value: $3
• Desperate Need: $6
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: It’s a good week to stream a defense, with an array of palatable options. The Packers are rostered in 49% of Yahoo leagues, so they might not be available in yours. But if they are, it’s worth spending a little extra on them, assuming you have some FAAB money left to spend. Green Bay ranks inside the top 10 in defensive fantasy scoring and gets a gorgeous home matchup against the Saints, who figure to be starting fifth-round rookie Spencer Rattler at quarterback. In three starts this season plus Sunday’s relief appearance in place of the ineffective Jake Haener, Rattler has fumbled three times, thrown two interceptions, and taken 14 sacks. The Saints could be without ace RB Alvin Kamara, who sustained a groin injury on Sunday. Plus, a team from the Deep South that plays its home games indoors might not be entirely comfortable playing a Monday-night game in Green Bay in late December. The Packers’ defense could feast.

Indianapolis Colts: 21% rostered

• Next Opponents: TEN, @NYG, JAX
• True value: $3
• Desperate Need: $6
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: The Packers are probably a better play for Week 16, but the Colts are the co-headliners among the streamable defenses this week because of their mouth-watering schedule the next two weeks. Indy draws a home matchup against divisional rival Tennessee this week. It’s not clear whether we’ll see Will Levis or Mason Rudolph at quarterback for the Titans. Levis was benched on Sunday after throwing three interceptions in just 12 pass attempts. Rudolph acquitted himself well Sunday in his relief appearance against the Bengals, but a Rudolph-led Titans offense would still have to be considered a favorable matchup for the Indy D. In Week 17, the Colts get the Giants, who started Tommy DeVito at quarterback on Sunday and had to turn to journeyman Tim Boyle after DeVito sustained a concussion. The Colts went into Week 15 tied for 17th in defensive fantasy scoring.

Atlanta Falcons: 36% rostered

• Next Opponents: NYG, @WSH, CAR
• True value: $2
• Desperate Need: $3
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: The Giants are a great offense to target with a streaming defense, and the Falcons win the matchup lottery by drawing NYG this week. It’s not clear whether we’ll see Tommy DeVito, Tim Boyle, or perhaps Drew Lock at quarterback for the Giants. Lock missed Week 15 with a heel injury. DeVito started Sunday against the Ravens and left with a concussion, leaving Boyle to mop up in a 35-14 loss. Lock threw an NFL-high 15 interceptions when he started 13 games for the Broncos in 2020. DeVito has been a sack magnet, with 43 sacks in 12 career games. Boyle has a career interception rate of 5.6%. This is a great spot for Atlanta, whose pass rush has been less anemic of late. Going into Monday night’s game against the Raiders, the Falcons had recorded nine sacks in their previous two games.

Arizona Cardinals: 39% rostered

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

Analysis: Arizona’s defense has been surprisingly fantasy-viable this season. After a solid performance against the Patriots in Week 15, the Cardinals get a Week 16 matchup against a Panthers offense that struggled against an injury-depleted Cowboys defense in Week 15. Panthers QB Bryce Young threw two interceptions, lost two fumbles, and was sacked six times on Sunday.

Cincinnati Bengals: 39% rostered

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

Analysis: The Bengals rank near the bottom of the league in both defensive DVOA and defensive fantasy scoring, but Cincinnati is a viable fantasy option in the right matchup. We mentioned the Bengals in this space a week ago based on an attractive Week 15 matchup against the Titans, and Cincinnati wound up forcing six turnovers against Tennessee. Now, the Bengals get a Week 16 date with the Browns, whose QB situation is up in the air. Jameis Winston was benched Sunday after failing to get the Cleveland offense moving in a loss to Kansas City, giving way to the inexperienced Dorian Thompson-Robinson. The Browns have given up the most fantasy points to opposing defenses this season.