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D/ST start-sit decisions can be some of the most important choices you make down the stretch. It's much more difficult to get a startable player at WR, TE, QB, or FLEX spots at this point in the season.
Predicting flukey big games from any other position is more difficult, but unlike all the other positions, the D/ST is always on the field when the opposing offense is playing. Kickers can see a lack of FG attempts, WRs, RBs, and TEs can see very little if no playing time and bad QBs can struggle to produce well even against bad defenses.
Let's break down three defenses you can consider starting for Week 14.
Should I Start Buccaneers D/ST for Fantasy Football?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers D/ST will have the pleasure of facing the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 14, but LV's offense looked like a solid unit against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 14. This isn't as easy of a matchup as people think unless starting quarterback Aidan O'Connell can't play.
Raiders QB Desmond Ridder throwing at Raiders practice today with no Aidan O’Connell in sight.
🎥: By @Sean_Zittel, Vegas Sports Today#RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/g6IEQHTsaB
— Vegas Sports Today (@VegasSportsTD) December 5, 2024
He was curiously absent from practice on Thursday after practicing Wednesday. Keep your eye on this situation. TB's secondary is very suspect and hard to trust, but this D/ST is a smash start against QB Desmond Ridder, who would presumably start if AOC couldn't play.
They're the #7 D/ST in our half-PPR consensus staff rankings.
Should I Start Eagles D/ST for Fantasy Football?
Unquestionably, you should. They're playing like the best defense in the NFL now. They're loaded with studs in the secondary and linebacker position and have several great players along the defensive line. They've averaged 11.7 fantasy points in their last seven games despite a tough schedule.
Since the bye week the Eagles defense is giving up just 10.2 points per game! And more importantly, you can see this unit's confidence building each week! 😈 pic.twitter.com/zacW41fTP8
— The Philly Special (@thePHIspecial) November 11, 2024
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is still very good, and rookie defensive backs Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell have been playing incredible football. "Quintanamo Bay" has been locking down great receivers. They'll get to beat up on the lowly Carolina Panthers in Week 14.
They're the #1 D/ST in our half-PPR consensus staff rankings.
Should I Start Chiefs D/ST for Fantasy Football?
This unit has simply not been good since the loss of cornerback Jaylen Watson (lower leg). He's not coming back. He won't be able to play for the rest of the regular season due to a lower leg injury. While CB Trent McDuffie has played well, there's been a gaping void on the other side of the field.
29th in EPA allowed per dropback since Week 9! Only the Jaguars, Giants, and Raiders have been worse.
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) December 3, 2024
Oh, also the Chiefs haven't scored double-digit fantasy points in a single game since Week 3 this year. They're the #25 defense in fantasy football on the season. They're simply a bad defense. They'll face the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 14. Interestingly, though, they may have a fine game against them.
LA will be without their star RB, J.K. Dobbins (knee). WR Ladd McConkey (knee, shoulder) could miss the game as well, though he logged a limited practice Thursday. Keep an eye on McConkey's status. If he can't go, the Chiefs' defense should be a decent start. Otherwise, they're not a great play.
They're the #10 D/ST in our half-PPR consensus staff rankings.
Popular Week 14 Searches - Start/Sit Comparisons
Below are some popular Week 14 searches and comparisons from our Who To Start tool for Buccaneers D/ST, Eagles D/ST, Chiefs D/ST compared to others. You can also use the free Who Should I Start tool to run your own start/sit comparisons, up to four players at once:
Pittsburgh Steelers or Philadelphia Eagles
New Orleans Saints or Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buffalo Bills or Philadelphia Eagles
Tennessee Titans or Kansas City Chiefs
Tennessee Titans or Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Arizona Cardinals or Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Miami Dolphins or Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Miami Dolphins or Kansas City Chiefs
Pittsburgh Steelers or Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Minnesota Vikings or Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Philadelphia Eagles or Tampa Bay Buccaneers
San Francisco 49Ers or Kansas City Chiefs
Buffalo Bills or Tampa Baybuccaneers
San Francisco49Ers or Tampa Baybuccaneers
Seattle Seahawks or Kansas Citychiefs
Tampa Baybuccaneers or Philadelphia Eagles
Detroit Lions or Tampa Baybuccaneers
Los Angeleschargers or Tampa Baybuccaneers
New Orleanssaints or Kansas Citychiefs
Arizona Cardinals or Kansas Citychiefs
New Orleanssaints or Philadelphia Eagles
Arizona Cardinals or Philadelphia Eagles
Buffalo Bills or Kansas Citychiefs
Miami Dolphins or Tampa Baybuccaneers
New Orleanssaints or Tampa Baybuccaneers
San Francisco49Ers or Philadelphia Eagles
Tampa Baybuccaneers or Kansas Citychiefs
Cincinnati Bengals or Philadelphia Eagles
Dallas Cowboys or Philadelphia Eagles
Dallas Cowboys or Tampa Baybuccaneers
Kansas Citychiefs or Philadelphia Eagles
Kansas Citychiefs or Tampa Baybuccaneers
Minnesota Vikings or Philadelphia Eagles
New Yorkjets or Tampa Baybuccaneers
Arizona Cardinals or Tampa Baybuccaneers
Atlanta Falcons or Kansas Citychiefs
Buffalo Bills or Tampa Baybuccaneers
Cincinnati Bengals or Tampa Baybuccaneers
Cleveland Browns or Philadelphia Eagles
Dallas Cowboys or Philadelphia Eagles
Detroit Lions or Kansas Citychiefs
Jacksonville Jaguars or Tampa Baybuccaneers
Los Angeleschargers or Kansas Citychiefs
Los Angeleschargers or Philadelphia Eagles
Miami Dolphins or Tampa Baybuccaneers
Minnesota Vikings or Kansas Citychiefs
New Orleanssaints or Philadelphia Eagles
Pittsburgh Steelers or Kansas Citychiefs
Seattle Seahawks or Tampa Baybuccaneers
Tennessee Titans or Tampa Baybuccaneers
Arizona Cardinals or Philadelphia Eagles
Arizona Cardinals or Tampa Baybuccaneers
Arizona Cardinals or Tampa Baybuccaneers
Arizona Cardinals or Tampa Baybuccaneers
Arizona Cardinals or Tampa Baybuccaneers
Atlanta Falcons or Tampa Baybuccaneers
Buffalo Bills or Philadelphia Eagles
Buffalo Bills or Tampa Baybuccaneers
Buffalo Bills or Tampa Baybuccaneers
Buffalo Bills or Tampa Baybuccaneers
Buffalo Bills or Tampa Baybuccaneers
Chicago Bears or Kansas Citychiefs
Dallas Cowboys or Kansas Citychiefs
Detroit Lions or Philadelphia Eagles
Detroit Lions or Philadelphia Eagles
Detroit Lions or Philadelphia Eagles
Green Baypackers or Kansas Citychiefs
Isaac Guerendo or Philadelphia Eagles
Jacksonville Jaguars or Kansas Citychiefs
Kansas Citychiefs or Philadelphia Eagles
Kansas Citychiefs or Philadelphia Eagles
Los Angeleschargers or Kansas Citychiefs
Los Angeleschargers or Tampa Baybuccaneers
Miami Dolphins or Kansas Citychiefs
Miami Dolphins or Tampa Baybuccaneers
Miami Dolphins or Tampa Baybuccaneers
New Orleanssaints or Philadelphia Eagles
New Orleanssaints or Philadelphia Eagles
New Orleanssaints or Philadelphia Eagles
New Orleanssaints or Tampa Baybuccaneers
New Orleanssaints or Tampa Baybuccaneers
New Orleanssaints or Tampa Baybuccaneers
New Orleanssaints or Tampa Baybuccaneers
New Orleanssaints or Tampa Baybuccaneers
New Yorkjets or Kansas Citychiefs
New Yorkjets or Philadelphia Eagles
New Yorkjets or Tampa Baybuccaneers
Philadelphia Eagles or Tampa Baybuccaneers
Pittsburgh Steelers or Philadelphia Eagles
Pittsburgh Steelers or Tampa Baybuccaneers
Romeo Doubs or Tampa Baybuccaneers
San Francisco49Ers or Tampa Baybuccaneers
Seattle Seahawks or Kansas Citychiefs
Seattle Seahawks or Kansas Citychiefs
Seattle Seahawks or Kansas Citychiefs
Seattle Seahawks or Kansas Citychiefs
Seattle Seahawks or Philadelphia Eagles
Tampa Baybuccaneers or Kansas Citychiefs
Tennessee Titans or Kansas Citychiefs
Tennessee Titans or Kansas Citychiefs
Tennessee Titans or Kansas Citychiefs
Tennessee Titans or Philadelphia Eagles
Tennessee Titans or Tampa Baybuccaneers
Tennessee Titans or Tampa Baybuccaneers
Tennessee Titans or Tampa Baybuccaneers
Tennessee Titans or Tampa Baybuccaneers
Tennessee Titans or Tampa Baybuccaneers
Tennessee Titans or Tampa Baybuccaneers
Tennessee Titans or Tampa Baybuccaneers
Tennessee Titans or Tampa Baybuccaneers
Tennessee Titans or Tampa Baybuccaneers
Washington Commanders or Tampa Baybuccaneers
Baltimore Ravens or Philadelphia Eagles
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