This is it, folks. Championship week (well, for most of you). All of those months of preparation, drafting, pickups, trades, and lineup management. Everything that goes into winning a fantasy football title culminates in this. But nothing changes about the strategy. We are still streaming defenses. Go ahead and pick the best available defense from the list below.
1) Indianapolis Colts (at NYG)
We’ve been attacking the Giants’ offense all season. They are the worst team in football and have been the fourth-most-favorable matchup for fantasy defenses this season.
The Colts have an average defense that can become very good when they face weak opponents. They’ve recorded at least three sacks in seven games this season. Drew Lock should start for the Giants again in Week 17. In his three starts this season, his sack total has been six, two, and one.
The Giants have scored 14 points or fewer in three/four of their last five games. Let’s keep picking on the Giants for the fantasy championship.
2) Philadelphia Eagles (vs. DAL)
This is a rare instance of trusting a very good defense against a surprisingly competent offense. The Cowboys have proven capable of scoring points, even with Cooper Rush under center. But the Eagles are a different beast.
Rush has had success against the likes of the Commanders, Giants, Bengals, Panthers, and Bucs. His first start following Dak Prescott’s season-ending hamstring tear? The Eagles. What did he do? He threw for 45 scoreless yards, turned the ball over twice, and got benched for Trey Lance.
Prior to this past week, the Eagles had allowed 20 points or fewer in every game since their Week 5 bye. I expect the Cowboys to struggle to move the ball and fall behind on the scoreboard, creating opportunities for sacks and interceptions.
3) Miami Dolphins (at CLE)
The Dolphins have been pretty bad defensively for most of the season. They entered Week 16 allowing the eighth-fewest passing yards per game, though. And they’ve been able to put up productive fantasy outings against quarterbacks like Aidan O’Connell and Drake Maye. It doesn’t get any easier than Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
Against the Bengals’ league-worst defense, DTR threw for 157 scoreless yards with two interceptions. It was so bad that I’m not entirely sure he will start again next week. But even if it’s Jameis Winston or Bailey Zappe, you can trust the Dolphins.
4) Buffalo Bills (vs. NYJ)
This is a tenuous one. The Bills are certainly prone to giving up a ton of points. In Weeks 14 and 15 against the Rams and Lions, they surrendered a total of 86 points. Those two disastrous performances skew their season-long numbers quite significantly.
When these teams last met, the Bills held the Jets to 20 points and sacked Aaron Rodgers three times. At home, the game script should be even more favorable.
The Bills just registered two sacks, three turnovers, and a defensive touchdown against the Patriots. They are a worthy option at home against the Jets next week.
5) Las Vegas Raiders (at NO)
If by some miracle Derek Carr returns, scratch the Raiders off the list. I’m assuming he’s done for the season. Whether it’s Spencer Rattler again or Jake Haener, I am fine attacking the Saints’ backup quarterbacks.
Since this was written on Sunday, we don’t have the benefit of knowing how Rattler performed on Monday night. But we do know how Rattler did in his first three starts earlier this season.
From Weeks 6-8, Rattler took a staggering 14 sacks. He also turned the ball over twice.
Meanwhile, the Raiders have been much better defensively as of late. They sacked Patrick Mahomes five times in Week 13, Baker Mayfield four times in Week 14, and Kirk Cousins three times in Week 15. This past week, they only got to Mac Jones one time, though. But regardless, you can certainly do worse than Las Vegas.
6) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. CAR)
The options for Week 17 aren’t that deep. The Bucs were a streamer back in Week 13, and that did not work out well at all. On the road, they gave up 23 points to the Panthers and only got to Bryce Young once.
This time, the Bucs are at home, which should produce a better result. And it’s not like they haven’t been effective against weak offenses this season. The Bucs were a good start against the Giants, Raiders, and Saints earlier this year.
If the top streamers are taken, take a shot on the Bucs at home. They are likely to create a negative game script for the Panthers, leading to opportunities for sacks and turnovers.
7) Tennessee Titans (at JAX)
The last time the Titans and Jaguars played, it was a 10-6 defensive slog… or rather…an offensive struggle. Both defenses were playable in fantasy. Perhaps this week will be the same.
Tennessee isn’t the best option this week. They’ve only recorded more than two sacks in a game four times all season. But they have been forcing interceptions as of late, with eight in their last five games.
Mac Jones has been decent filling in for Trevor Lawrence, but he still has three starts with no passing touchdowns. I would certainly prefer to do better than the Titans, but they’re unlikely to torpedo your week if you have to use them.
8) New Orleans Saints (vs. LV)
If it were Desmond Ridder starting, the Saints would be much higher on this list. Even against Aidan O’Connell, though, they’re a viable option.
We don’t have much of a sample size on O’Connell this season. He’s only completed two starts — the Raiders scored a total of 30 points across them. He hasn’t taken many sacks, and outside of the Raiders’ eight-sack performance against the Commanders, they haven’t been great at getting to the quarterback.
Nevertheless, the Raiders have been the third-most-favorable matchup for defenses all season. If you are desperate for a streamer, attacking one of the worst teams in the league is never a bad idea.