Top Fantasy Football D/ST Rankings (Weeks 10, 11, 12, 13) - Defense Streamers and Starts

Welcome, RotoBallers, to our fantasy football D/ST streamers and starts for Weeks 10, 11, 12, and 13 -- looking at the next four weeks and identifying the best D/ST matchups. If you are a fantasy manager who likes to stream defenses each week, you have come to the right place. 

This article will look at the best defenses to pick up and start in Week 10 through Week 13. With the fantasy playoffs quickly approaching, picking up the right defenses weeks in advance could be the difference in making the postseason. 

So here are the best defensive streamers and starts for Week 10 through Week 13. If you want only specific Week 10 D/ST fantasy football streamers and rankings, be sure to check that link.

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D/ST Strength of Schedule: Weeks 10-13

Sometimes, planning out your defenses could be a major advantage over your league mates. Picking up defenses weeks in advance that have a great upcoming schedule could go a long way for your fantasy roster. Although most fantasy managers don't like carrying two defenses on their roster, it could be a great strategy in the final weeks of the regular season.

Targeting defenses that are playing offenses like the Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants, and Cleveland Browns has worked well for fantasy managers through the first nine weeks, and that should continue moving forward. Defenses playing those offenses are averaging over 9.5 fantasy points per game. 

Each defense on this list will be broken down into four categories (temporary streamer, part-time streamer, recruit streamer, and fool's gold streamer) to help you make the best decision. The description of each category can be found below, and all defenses on this list will be rostered in 50% or less of ESPN leagues. 

• “Temporary” Streamer: D/ST with a good matchup in Week 10
• “Part-Time” Streamer: D/ST with multiple nice matchups in a row
• “Recruit” Streamer: D/ST with an easy upcoming schedule that you pick up earlier to stash on your bench
• “Fool’s Gold” Streamer: D/ST that on paper looks like a good option but should be avoided 

Week 10 D/ST Streamers

Chicago Bears D/ST (Temporary Streamer)

• Week 10 Opponent: New England Patriots (28th)
• ESPN Rostership: 43.5%
• Over-Under: 38.5 points
• Opponent’s Implied Total Points: 16

If you are looking for a defense in Week 10, the Chicago Bears should be your choice. It's still shocking that this Bears defense is under 50% rostered in ESPN leagues, but expect that number to climb up with a matchup against the Patriots this upcoming weekend. 

The Patriots have allowed 31 sacks through nine weeks (tied for the second most in the NFL), and that offensive line ranks 32nd in pass-block win rate (49%) this season. As for the Bears, they rank fifth in pass-rush win rate (47%) while totaling at least three sacks in six of eight games in 2024. Chicago is a top-3 play at home in Week 10. 

Born Reddy 🥜🥊

📺: #CHIvsAZ on CBS pic.twitter.com/eFNRL7kAQX

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) November 3, 2024

However, this defense is most likely a drop after Week 10. The Bears will play the Packers, Vikings (twice), Lions (twice), and 49ers from Week 11 to Week 16. Chicago's defense is just a temporary streamer. 

Miami Dolphins D/ST (Recruit Streamer)

• Week 10 Opponent: Los Angeles Rams (22nd)
• Week 11 Opponent: Las Vegas Raiders (31st)
• ESPN Rostership: 25.2%
• Over-Under: 50.5 points
• Opponent’s Implied Total Points: 26.5

You likely aren't picking up the Dolphins defense to play them against the Rams this week. Although opposing defenses are averaging seven fantasy points per game against the Los Angeles offense this year, there are likely better defensive options in Week 10.

However, Miami's defense is a great stash for Week 11 and Week 12. In those two weeks, it'll go up against the Raiders (Week 11) and Patriots (Week 12). Both Las Vegas and New England have struggled to protect the quarterback this season, as both units have allowed at least 30 sacks through nine weeks. 

Despite the Dolphins defense not playing well in recent weeks, it is a great start in both Week 11 and Week 12. Opposing defenses are averaging 11.2 fantasy points against the Raiders and 9.6 fantasy points against the Patriots. As a result, Miami is a great stash for these two weeks.  

Tampa Bay Buccaneers D/ST (Recruit Streamer)

• Week 10 Opponent: San Francisco 49ers (13th)
• ESPN Rostership: 10.3%
• Over-Under: N/A
• Opponent’s Implied Total Points: N/A

It might be tough for some fantasy managers to pick up the Buccaneers defense because it'll sit on your bench for a couple of weeks. Tampa Bay will play the San Francisco 49ers in Week 10 before going on a bye in Week 11. But this defense has some nice matchups after the bye, making it a recruit streamer. 

Tampa Bay will play the Giants in Week 12, the Panthers in Week 13, and the Raiders in Week 14. If you can afford to stash it on your bench, it is worth it. Daniel Jones has been sacked 13 times over the past three games, Carolina quarterbacks have thrown nine interceptions across the last six games, and Las Vegas leads the league in giveaways (19). 

Of course, the Buccaneers defense has had some troubles this season, which has included allowing at least 30 points in four of the past five games. However, those matchups against the Giants, Panthers, and Raiders make it a sneaky top-10 play in each of those weeks. 

New York Giants D/ST (Temporary Streamer)

• Week 10 Opponent: Carolina Panthers (24th)
• ESPN Rostership: 4.6%
• Over-Under: 41.5 points
• Opponent’s Implied Total Points: 18

The Giants defense is a strong pickup and play in Week 10 against the Panthers. New York ranks first in sacks (35), and this unit has totaled at least four sacks in six of the last eight games. With Brian Burns also set to face his former team for the first time since being traded, this is a revenge game for the two-time Pro Bowler. 

On top of that, the Panthers have had a hard time protecting the football this year. Carolina ranks tied for third in giveaways (15), and Bryce Young/Andy Dalton have thrown a combined nine interceptions across the last six games. The Giants are a top-5 play this weekend against a struggling offense. 

After this matchup against the Panthers, New York will have a bye in Week 11 and then face the Buccaneers (Week 12) and Cowboys (Week 13) in the ensuing weeks. While this defense isn't a strong start against Tampa Bay in Week 12, it could be a sneaky play against Dallas in Week 13 -- considering Dak Prescott (hamstring) will likely be out for that contest. 

Green Bay Packers D/ST (Recruit Streamer)

• Week 10 Opponent: BYE
• ESPN Rostership: 32.3%
• Over-Under: N/A
• Opponent’s Implied Total Points: N/A

The Packers defense has cooled off a bit since averaging 10.5 fantasy points through the first six weeks. Since then, this unit has averaged only four fantasy points over the past three games while totaling only six sacks and forcing two turnovers during that span.

But picking up this Green Bay defense on the bye is a smart move. That's because it will play the Bears in Week 11 following the Week 10 bye.

Chicago has allowed the fifth-most sacks (29) this season, and Caleb Williams has been sacked 12 times across the last three games. While the Packers have only totaled 22 sacks through the first nine weeks, this is still a great matchup for them. Green Bay has also forced the most turnovers (19) in 2024. 

16 different #Cardinals players got a pressure against the #Bears in week 9, per @NextGenStats.

That’s the most players to get a pressure for a defense since 2018. pic.twitter.com/F8nh64baJ5

— NFL Stats (@NFL_Stats) November 5, 2024

The Packers, though, are likely only playable for that Week 11 game. They'll face the 49ers (Week 12), Dolphins (Week 13), and Lions (Week 14) in the weeks after. 

Recruit Streamers

If you have Week 10 already figured out, let's look ahead at some defensive options that you could start in Week 11:

• New Orleans Saints (57.3% rostership)- Week 11 opponent: 30th-ranked Browns
• Detroit Lions (54.8% rostership)- Week 11 opponent: 14th-ranked Jaguars
• Los Angeles Rams (4.4% rostership)- Week 11 opponent: 28th-ranked Patriots 

Fool’s Gold Streamers

Atlanta Falcons D/ST at New Orleans Saints

• Week 10 Opponent: New Orleans Saints (26th)
• ESPN Rostership: 14.3%

On paper, the Falcons defense might seem like a strong play against the Saints. Atlanta scored 16 fantasy points the last time it faced this offense back in Week 4, and New Orleans will likely be without Chris Olave (concussion) in this game. 

However, the Falcons defense will be a risky play in Week 10. It has only totaled nine sacks all year, and Derek Carr has been sacked only one time in each of his six games this season. Given that Atlanta also ranks in the bottom five in pressure rate through nine weeks, this isn't the best matchup for Atlanta's defense this weekend. 

D/ST Streaming Action Plan

Planning out your fantasy D/ST might require some work, but it might be necessary to target the best matchups every single week. Here is how I would line up my defensive streams over the next four weeks. All of these defenses are under 50% rostered in ESPN leagues. 

• Week 10: Stream the Bears versus the 28th-ranked Patriots
• Week 11: Stream the Dolphins versus the 31st-ranked Raiders
• Week 12: Stream the Dolphins versus the 28th-ranked Patriots
• Week 13: Stream the Buccaneers versus the 24th-ranked Panthers

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