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Week 16 D/ST Rankings

Choosing between two fantasy defenses for championship week? Need to pick up a defense off the waiver wire? Jacob Adler ranks all 32 teams and goes over some of his top picks for the week.

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If you are reading this, you are likely either in your championship game, playing daily fantasy, or caring a little too much about a consolation game. Let's hope it's the first one.

Three Matchups to Play

Green Bay Packers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Starting in Week 8, the Buccaneers have allowed eight or more fantasy points to every opposing fantasy defense except Washington. The Packers shouldn't have much trouble getting ahead, and can run out the clock with Eddie Lacy and James Starks.

Carolina Panthers vs. Cleveland Browns

The Panthers have tightened up on D lately, and have 21 fantasy points in the past two weeks combined vs. New Orleans and Tampa Bay. Granted, those aren't the toughest of matchups, but Carolina should contain the rushing game and force Johnny Manziel to throw for most of the game. The Bengals scored 15 fantasy points against Manziel's Browns last week.

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans

This is obviously more of a desperation play, but the Jags D/ST put up six fantasy points against the Titans in Week 6 and the Titans' offense is arguably worse now. The Jaguars are listed here because they are widely available; check first if the Rams or Broncos are available.

Matchups to Avoid

For the first time this season, no heavily-owned defense has a super tough matchup this week. The closest two cases we get are Houston D/ST vs. Baltimore and Arizona D/ST vs. Seattle. Both teams are rated in the teens, and despite the strong offenses of the opponents, the defenses should be okay, but not great for fantasy. If anything, I might be too low on Houston, which has the JJ Watt factor in its favor.



Team Defense/Special Teams

Opponent

1

Buffalo Bills

Oakland Raiders

2

Seattle Seahawks

Arizona Cardinals

3

New England Patriots

New York Jets

4

Detroit Lions

Chicago Bears

5

Philadelphia Eagles

Washington Redskins

6

Green Bay Packers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

7

San Diego Chargers

San Francisco 49ers

8

St. Louis Rams

New York Giants

9

Denver Broncos

Cincinnati Bengals

10

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

11

Carolina Panthers

Cleveland Browns

12

Jacksonville Jaguars

Tennessee Titans

13

Tennessee Titans

Jacksonville Jaguars

14

Minnesota Vikings

Miami Dolphins

15

San Francisco 49ers

San Diego Chargers

16

Houston Texans

Baltimore Ravens

17

Baltimore Ravens

Houston Texans

18

New York Giants

St. Louis Rams

19

Arizona Cardinals

Seattle Seahawks

20

Washington Redskins

Philadelphia Eagles

21

Kansas City Chiefs

Pittsburgh Steelers

22

Oakland Raiders

Buffalo Bills

23

Pittsburgh Steelers

Kansas City Chiefs

24

Cleveland Browns

Carolina Panthers

25

Dallas Cowboys

Indianapolis Colts

26

Indianapolis Colts

Dallas Cowboys

27

Chicago Bears

Detroit Lions

28

Atlanta Falcons

New Orleans Saints

29

New Orleans Saints

Atlanta Falcons

30

Cincinnati Bengals

Denver Broncos

31

New York Jets

New England Patriots

32

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Green Bay Packers