Top 5 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups: Defenses (Week 17)

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 fantasy football waiver wire advice for NFL Week 17.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets: Defense

DEFENSES

Indianapolis Colts: 47% rostered

Next Opponents: @NYG, JAX
True value: $4
Desperate Need: $7
Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: The Colts are unquestionably the best streaming option among the team defenses rostered in under half of Yahoo leagues. This week’s matchup with the Giants is as good as it gets. Giants QB Drew Lock was sacked three times last week against the Falcons and threw two interceptions, both of which were returned for touchdowns. Lock has thrown four interceptions and taken 11 sacks in three starts this season. The Giants could conceivably name a new starting quarterback for Week 17, but whether it’s Lock, Tommy DeVito or Tim Boyle, this is going to be a salivating matchup for the Colts.

Miami Dolphins: 46% rostered

Next Opponents: @CLE, @NYJ
True value: $3
Desperate Need: $6
Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: The key to streaming a defense: targeting bad quarterbacks. The Browns’ Dorian Thompson-Robinson certainly fits the bill. Last week against the Bengals, Thompson-Robinson completed 20-of-34 passes for 157 yards, with no touchdowns, two interceptions and five sacks. In Thompson-Robinson’s four career starts, the Browns have scored 3, 13, 12 and 6 points. Over his 180 career pass attempts, Thompson-Robinson is averaging just 3.9 yards per attempt. The Dolphins ranked 28th in defensive fantasy scoring going into Week 17, but it doesn’t matter. Thompson-Robinson is capable of making the 2024 Miami Dolphins defense look like the 2000 Baltimore Ravens defense.

Las Vegas Raiders: 9% rostered

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

Analysis: Never mind that the Raiders rank 31st in defensive fantasy scoring and will be without star edge rusher Maxx Crosby for the remainder of the season. The Raiders’ defense is nevertheless an intriguing Week 17 fantasy option thanks to a Week 17 matchup with the Saints. New Orleans is starting fifth-round rookie Spencer Rattler at quarterback in place of the injured Derek Carr. Entering the Saints’ Monday-night game against the Packers, Rattler has fumbled three times, thrown two interceptions, and taken 14 sacks in three starts and one relief appearance. The Saints will likely be without RB Alvin Kamara, who missed Week 16 with a groin injury on Sunday.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 44% rostered

Next Opponents: CAR, NO
True value: $1
Desperate Need: $2
Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: The Buccaneers’ defense has played well of late, and Tampa gets a solid Week 17 matchup against the Panthers, who have allowed the 12th-most fantasy points to opposing defenses. In 10 starts this season, Panthers QB Bryce Young has thrown nine interceptions and absorbed 23 sacks.

Jacksonville Jaguars: 10% rostered

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

Analysis: The Jaguars’ defense has produced double-digit fantasy points only twice this season, but Jacksonville next faces Titans, who have allowed the most fantasy points to opposing defenses this season. The Jaguars held the Titans to 272 yards of offense in a 10-6 victory in Week 14. Titans QB Mason Rudolph threw three interceptions last week in the Titans’ 38-30 loss to the Colts.