One of the biggest strategies in fantasy football is streaming defenses. Each week owners will look at matchups and make waiver wire acquisitions to find their starting defense. Here are fantasy football defenses to stream in week 12. (Note: All defenses mentioned are owned in less than 50 percent of ESPN leagues. Stats from before Monday Night Football)
The Broncos have played well defensively this season, ranking 11th at 6.7 points per game. They have two double-digit scoring performances, which came against Indianapolis and San Francisco. Denver has one negative-scoring performance, which was against the Raiders in week 11.
While the Broncos have struggled to get sacks since trading Bradley Chubb to the Dolphins, their week 12 matchup against the Panthers presents their defense with a good opportunity. The Panthers have struggled offensively this season, scoring just 18.8 points per game. They are scoring less than that over the last three games with a quarterback controversy going on. Denver can play well and are rostered in just 45.8 percent of ESPN leagues.
Indianapolis has been solid on the defensive side of the ball, ranking 12th for fantasy defenses at 6.0 points per game. They were able to score double-digit points against Denver. Their lowest scoring outing of the season was against Jacksonville in week 2 when they scored no points. They are most recently coming off an eight-point game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
In week 12, the Colts play the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers are scoring just 17 points per game this season. Kenny Pickett has thrown eight interceptions on the season, even though he didn’t start the year as the starting quarterback. The Colts will be without Shaquille Leonard, but they are fully capable of playing well in the game. They are rostered in just 39.5 percent of ESPN leagues.
Miami ranks 24th for fantasy defenses at 4.6 points per game, but they have played well recently. They have two double-digit scoring performances, one of which came against the Patriots, while other was in a win over the Steeers. They have two negative-scoring outings as well. Over the last four weeks, they are averaging 6.4 points per game.
It is a favorable matchup for the Dolphins this week, as they play the Texans. Houston is scoring 15.9 points per game this season and are clearly still in rebuild mode. Over their last four games, they are scoring just 13.25 points per game. The Dolphins, who now have Chubb, can have a very big day against the Texans. They are rostered in 32 percent of ESPN leagues.
Although the season hasn’t gone well for the team, the Panthers are the 15th-scoring defense in fantasy football at 5.5 points per game. They have scored double-digit points twice this season against the Falcons and Saints. Carolina scored -6 points against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The week 12 game for the Panthers is against the Denver Broncos. Denver is scoring a league-worst 14.7 points per game and have struggled in Russell Wilson’s first season. Carolina may not win this game, but the defense has played well enough to get consideration to start. They are available in 94 percent of ESPN leagues.
Chicago ranks 26th for fantasy defenses at 3.9 points per game. They have scored double-digit points once this season, which happened in week 7 against the Patriots. The Bears scored negative points in two games, which were against the Dolphins and Cowboys.
Fortunately for the Bears, they should be able to play decently well in week 12 against the Jets. New York is thinking of making a quarterback change after Zach Wilson has struggled. Whoever they go with at quarterback, it likely won’t be great. The Bears are rostered in just 3.4 percent of ESPN leagues.
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