December 6, 2016

Bill's fantasy football rankings for Week 14 defenses (DEF) -- streamers, starts, sits and D/ST waiver wire pickups to add. His Week 14 (2016) tiers and ranks for all NFL defenses.

It's playoff time Rotoballers! Below are our Week 14 defense tiers and rankings, or which defenses to stream, start and target at the end of your 2016 drafts for Week 14 of the NFL and fantasy football season. Our tiered defense rankings are your guide to drafting defenses, making waiver wire pickups/adds to improve your lineups, and to decide which defenses to start, sit, target, avoid or stream for Week 14.

Any and all _____ or ______ questions can be answered by the rankings--whoever I have ranked higher is who I would start. Starting the right defense every week can be a difference-maker, so we have broken out our defense rankings into tiers with analysis on each matchup.

Some of these Week 14 defenses have good matchups and are not widely owned, representing fantasy scoring opportunities if they are available on your league's waiver wire for a Week 14 pickup or add. Good luck in Week 14, RotoBallers!

Once you're done here, be sure to read about even more Week 14 waiver wire recommendations, for all fantasy-relevant positions. Just click on any link: ALL - RB - WR - TE - QB - DEF - FAAB - CUTS

Week 14 Defenses To Start & Stream: Tiers & Rankings

Tier 1 Defenses

1. Minnesota Vikings (@ JAX)
2. Denver Broncos (@ TEN)
3. Seattle Seahawks (@ GB)

Just when you were ready to give up on the Vikings, they string together a few respectable performances and get you wondering again. There's very little to wonder about in Week 14, as they get Blake Bortles and the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Vikings are still ridiculously talented on defense, and the fact that they get to feast on the hapless Jaguars offense just makes this matchup too good to pass up. They were so bad for so long that you may very well find them on the scrap heap in your league--snatch them up.

Tier 2 Defenses

4. Detroit Lions (vs. CHI)
5. San Diego Chargers (@ CAR)
6. Arizona Cardinals (@ MIA)
7. Kansas City Chiefs (vs. OAK)

The Lions defense has been terrific over the last few weeks--they've allowed more than 19 points to an opponent just once in their last six games, and that one was an away game in which Houston scored 20 points. Keeping opponents off the board is only one aspect of DST scoring, though. They've also forced seven turnovers in their last three games, and have a great shot at more against Matt Barkley and the Bears. I don't see Barkley tearing them up, as he mustered just 192 yards and zero touchdowns against the 49ers on Sunday (albeit in the snow).

I still love the Chiefs, as they managed to produce once again in a horrible matchup at Atlanta. Granted, it took an Eric Berry pick-six to make their fantasy output respectable, but as the NFL leader in takeaways the Chiefs can have a big day against anybody. Expectations must be tempered as they're facing Derek Carr and the potent Raiders offense, but they still likely offer more upside than whatever is on the waiver wire.

Tier 3 Defenses

8. New England Patriots (vs. BAL)
9. Atlanta Falcons (@ LA)
10. Cincinnati Bengals (@ CLE)
11. Washington Redskins (@ PHI)
12. Pittsburgh Steelers (@ BUF)

Usually the Falcons aren't in the "streamable" conversation, but you have to love any team going up against the Rams. Their offensive line play has been atrocious, and is the main reason that Todd Gurley has been one of the year's biggest busts. Jared Goff has had flashes of brilliance, but his 4:4 TD-INT ratio through three games certainly doesn't scare you. The Falcons should be able to put enough pressure on the rookie QB to force some mistakes, making this a DST to consider if you're streaming in the playoffs.

The Steelers have (shockingly) been one of the best fantasy DSTs of the last month, as they're currently riding a three-game streak with double-digit fantasy points. Were the matchup better I would have them higher, but they're facing a pissed-off Buffalo offense that has all of their big play-makers relatively healthy for once. Tyrod Taylor doesn't air it out a ton and the offensive line has been solid, but there is some upside to be found here if (when) the Bills have to play from behind.

Tier 4 Defenses

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. NO)
14. Miami Dolphins (vs. ARI)
15. Philadelphia Eagles (vs. WAS)
16. Carolina Panthers (vs. SD)
17. Oakland Raiders (@ KC)

In the last four weeks, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have mustered 12 sacks, 11 turnovers, and allowed an average of just 13.25 points to opposing offenses. That span includes games against Kansas City, Seattle, and San Diego, so it's not like they're feasting on cellar-dwellers. They draw the Saints in Week 14, but with New Orleans on the road and the entire Saints offense looking discordant, I would feel okay about starting the Bucs in deeper leagues.

The Panthers have at least one interception in each of their last seven games and three or more sacks in five of their last six. Yes, they were shellacked by the Seahawks on Sunday night, but I'm chalking that one up to a game that simply snowballed and got out of hand. They're a bottom-of-the-barrel streaming option, but Philip Rivers isn't the most careful guy with the ball (14 INTs in 2016). If you're in desperation mode, they could be a sneaky play.

Tier 5 Defenses

18. Baltimore Ravens (@ NE)
19. Houston Texans (@ IND)
20. New York Giants (vs. DAL)
21. Los Angeles Rams (vs. ATL)
22. Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. MIN)
23. New York Jets (@ SF)
24. Tennessee Titans (vs. DEN)