Defenses can make a big difference in your fantasy football lineup — let’s get Week 18 off to a good start with our fantasy defense rankings. A solid outing can make or break your fantasy matchup, and playing the waiver wire for a streaming option based on matchups is a path many fantasy managers consider.
Fantasy Football Defense Rankings for Week 18 | 1-10
1. Buffalo Bills vs. NYJ
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. CAR
3. Green Bay Packers @ DET
4. New England Patriots @ MIA
5. New Orleans Saints @ ATL
6. Indianapolis Colts @ JAX
7. Tennessee Titans @ HOU
8. Cincinnati Bengals @ CLE
9. Kansas City Chiefs @ DEN
10. Baltimore Ravens vs. PIT
Defense Rankings for Week 18 | 11-20
11. Los Angeles Rams vs. SF
12. Dallas Cowboys @ PHI
13. Washington Football Team @ NYG
14. Arizona Cardinals vs. SEA
15. Cleveland Browns vs. CIN
16. Minnesota Vikings vs. CHI
17. Chicago Bears @ MIN
18. Los Angeles Chargers @ LV
19. Seattle Seahawks @ ARI
20. San Francisco 49ers @ LAR
Defense Rankings for Week 18 | 21-32
21. Pittsburgh Steelers @ BAL
22. Las Vegas Raiders vs. LAC
23. Miami Dolphins vs. NE
24. Philadelphia Eagles vs. DAL
25. New York Giants vs. WAS
26. Denver Broncos vs. KC
27. Houston Texans vs. TEN
28. Jacksonville Jaguars vs. IND
29. Atlanta Falcons vs. NO
30. Carolina Panthers @ TB
31. Detroit Lions vs. GB
32. New York Jets @ BUF
Fantasy Defense Streamers
Which streamers can you trust in Week 18? Here are a couple of options.
Minnesota Vikings (vs. CHI)
Last week’s top streamer was the Bears. This week, we’re going against them. Despite Chicago’s dominant performance over the Giants last week, this is still not a good offense. The Giants are just as inept as it gets.
This week, the Bears travel to Minnesota, where the Vikings will be playing out the final game of their season. Given their blowout loss to the Packers, I like the Vikings to play inspired football and close out the season on a high note.
The Bears allow the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing defenses. Even in a game where Chicago led wire to wire, Andy Dalton still managed to throw a pick and take 2 sacks.
It might be Justin Fields this week. We won’t know until closer to kickoff. Regardless of who starts for the Bears, the Vikings are good enough defensively to exploit lesser teams. They recorded 3 sacks and 3 fumble recoveries when these teams met in Week 15. Now at home, Minnesota is a strong streamer in Week 18.
Washington Football Team (@ NYG)
The Washington Football Team is another defense that isn’t your traditional streamer. They aren’t good. Once again, our focus is less on the caliber of defense and more on the ineptitude of the opposing offense. For a second consecutive week, we’re picking on the New York Football Giants.
It’s abundantly clear the Giants are just going through the motions. I can’t remember the last time I saw a team completely roll over and not give a single ounce of effort like the Giants did last week against the Bears.
Last week, New York trailed by multiple scores throughout much of the game. Despite this fact, they attempted just 11 passes (compared to 39 runs). While some teams play hard all the way to the end to try and finish strong, like the Lions or Texans, the Giants are just trying to go home.
Mike Glennon is an affront to quarterbacking. He played 100% of the snaps last week and threw for 24 yards … in an entire football game. Somehow, Glennon still managed to turn the ball over 4 times. New York allows the fifth-most fantasy points to defenses. Go back to the well one more time against the Giants.