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 13. (Note: All defense mentioned are owned in less than 50 percent of ESPN leagues)
1. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs get in the headlines for their offense, but their defense has played well this year too. They rank 12th in fantasy points scored this season. Kansas City has three double-digit performances this year, with their best game coming against the Denver Broncos in week 7. They scored 21 points that week, but they have scored negative points in three different weeks this season.
This week, the Chiefs are worth picking up due to the matchup. They play the Broncos, who aren’t regularly a tough matchup, but are now worse due to their quarterback situation. Kendall Hinton had to start against the Saints, as the Broncos couldn’t play any quarterbacks due to COVID. Even if the Drew Lock is able to play in this one, the Chiefs have already proven to have the Broncos’ number this season. The Chiefs are owned in 42.6 percent of ESPN leagues.
2. Green Bay Packers
Green Bay has been a below-average fantasy defense this season, ranking 19th. They have two double-digit performances that are helping their ranking. The Packers pulled these good games off against the Lions and Bears. They only have one negative scoring performance, which came against Bucs, but they do have several low-scoring games.
The Packers play the Eagles this week. Philadelphia is coming off of a short week and also have Carson Wentz, who has turned over the football a lot and taken a lot of sacks. Green Bay should be able to take advantage. The Packers are owned in 46 percent of ESPN leagues.
3. Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota has had a tough year defensively and rank 24th in fantasy scoring. They have had two negative scoring weeks, which came against the Packers and Falcons. The good news for the Vikings is that they have played better recently. They scored 12 points against Chicago in week 10 and have scored at least three points in each of the last four weeks.
In week 13, the Vikings play the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars have struggled offensively and that has increased since Gardner Minshew has been injured. Minnesota doesn’t have the best defense, but will have a chance for a good day against the Jags. The Vikings are owned in 42.5 percent of ESPN leagues.
4. Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders have had a bad defense this season and rank 30th as a fantasy defense. They have four negative scoring performances and three other games where they scored 0 points. Their best game was against Denver in week 10, when they scored 15 points.
Luckily for the Raiders, they play the Jets this week. The Jets have struggled to do much of anything well on the football field, let alone move the ball and score points. Las Vegas has been bad, but they can put up a solid week in fantasy. Las Vegas is available in nearly 97 percent of ESPN leagues.
5. Detroit Lions
Detroit has been a mess defensively and they just fired their head coach. They rank 27th as a fantasy defense and have three negative scoring performances. The Lions also don’t have any double-digit scoring games this season.
This week, the Lions play the Bears. Chicago has struggled with injuries at the quarterback position and they haven’t played well when healthy. They don’t move the ball or put up a lot of points. Detroit might play more energized now that Matt Patricia was fired. The Lions are owned in 4.7 percent of ESPN leagues.
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