If you read my article on playing the waiver wire game, you know that it is an essential part of winning your fantasy football league. If you haven’t read it, what are you waiting for? I just told you it’s an essential part of winning your fantasy football league! Why do you hate winning? One of the best ways to maximize your weekly scoring is to stream defenses. This strategy is simple – we aren’t as concerned about good defenses, so much as finding defenses that are playing terrible offenses. Bad offenses are more likely to keep playing bad because if they knew how to be good, they would already be good. Because of this flawless logic, I will be pointing out the best streaming options for week twelve.
Streaming Defenses Option #1: Chicago Bears (20% rostered) @ Detroit Lions
I’m going to be honest with you. I feel weird recommending the Chicago Bears defense. All the numbers bear out that this is the most logical play. The Lions have given up the eighth-most sacks, while the Bears lead the NFL in sacks. The Lions have given up the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing defenses this season. On paper, the Bears are the obvious play. But I’m a Bears fan staring deep into the void. People in Chicago are chanting “Fire Nagy” at the high school games of the coach’s kid. The team is on a five-game losing streak where each loss just gets more heart-wrenching than the last. In my heart of hearts, I cannot imagine a future where the winless Lions don’t clown the Bears on Thanksgiving day.
Streaming Defenses Option #2: Philadelphia Eagles (17% rostered) @ New York Giants
If like me, your heart has been broken one too many times by my top defensive streaming option of week twelve, I have a lovely bargain-basement Philadelphia Eagles defense to sell you. Over the last four weeks, the Eagles have been the number two fantasy football defense in the league, with three weeks of double-digit scoring. The Eagles have been very good at beating up on bad teams. It just so happens, this week the Eagles are playing the Daniel Jones-led New York Giants. The Giants have given up the eleventh-most fantasy points to opposing defenses. The Eagles are a top-five defense in week twelve.
Streaming Defenses Option #3: Los Angeles Chargers (23% rostered) @ Denver Broncos
I’ll be honest, this is more of a play on how bad Denver has looked than how good the Chargers defense has been. But this feels like a very safe match-up with upside. The Broncos run the tenth-fewest plays and score the tenth-fewest points in the NFL. They also give up the tenth-most fantasy points to opposing defenses. So this has a nice, safe floor. However, the Broncos could easily find themselves playing from behind early and the Chargers could find themselves with multiple turnovers, sacks, or a defensive touchdown. If I can’t find the Eagles or Bears on the waiver wire, I’m taking a long, hard look at the Chargers.
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