With a short week to prepare for Thursday action, let’s get a jump on fantasy football defense rankings and streaming options for Week 12. Some fascinating games on the slate could provide sneaky fantasy value. Which streamers are in play on defense in Week 12?
Defense Rankings for Week 12 | 1-15
1. New England Patriots vs. TEN
2. Buffalo Bills @ NO
3. Dallas Cowboys vs. LV
4. Chicago Bears @ DET
5. Baltimore Ravens vs. CLE
6. Carolina Panthers @ MIA
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ IND
8. Philadelphia Eagles @ NYG
9. Tennessee Titans @ NE
10. Cincinnati Bengals vs. PIT
11. Houston Texans vs. NYJ
12. New York Jets @ HOU
13. Los Angeles Rams @ GB
14. Washington Football Team vs. SEA
15. Cleveland Browns @ BAL
Defense Rankings for Week 12 | 16-30
16. Jacksonville Jaguars vs. ATL
17. Green Bay Packers vs. LAR
18. Pittsburgh Steelers @ CIN
19. New York Giants vs. PHI
20. Detroit Lions vs. CHI
21. Atlanta Falcons @ JAX
22. Seattle Seahawks @ WAS
23. New Orleans Saints vs. BUF
24. Minnesota Vikings @ SF
25. Denver Broncos vs. LAC
26. Los Angeles Chargers @ DEN
27. San Francisco 49ers vs. MIN
28. Miami Dolphins vs. CAR
29. Las Vegas Raiders @ DAL
30. Indianapolis Colts vs. TB
Defense streaming options for Week 12
If you’re one of the many that play the streaming game based on the matchups, here are a few options to consider for Week 12.
Let’s start with one of the three Thanksgiving games.
Dallas Cowboys (vs. Las Vegas Raiders)
The Raiders look bad. Let’s just call it what it is. Outside of Josh Jacobs and Darren Waller, this offense is stagnant and is struggling mightily. I suggested that you play the Bengals’ defense against them in Week 11, and I’m going to double down and suggest Dallas in Week 12.
The Raiders are coming off a game where Derek Carr threw for only 215 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT. The Bengals sacked Carr twice, forced and recovered a fumble, and held Las Vegas to only 13 points. Dallas has registered 5 sacks and 4 interceptions over its last two games, and they’re in a prime spot to make life hard on the Raiders on Thanksgiving. The Cowboys are a great streaming option.
Houston Texans (vs. New York Jets)
I can’t believe I’m suggesting this, but you might be able to trust the Houston defense in Week 12. The Texans’ defense has scored at least 15 fantasy points in consecutive games, recording 6 sacks, 6 interceptions, 4 fumble recoveries, and holding each of their last two opponents to 17 points or less.
That’s good. The Jets are in a lot of trouble on offense, with bright spot Michael Carter set to miss multiple weeks. Whether Joe Flacco or Mike White is at quarterback, Houston and their recently opportunistic defense should be able to make some plays.
Green Bay Packers (vs. Los Angeles Rams)
Starting a defense against the Rams feels like a death sentence in 2021, but it shouldn’t. Over the first eight games of the season, the Rams averaged 30.6 points per game. Over their last two games, they’ve scored a total of 26.
The Packers’ defense is no slouch, either. Despite their poor showing against Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, they’ve been the third-best unit in fantasy points over the last four weeks, holding their opponents to a total of 44 points over those four games. The Rams seem a little disjointed, and having to go on the road to Lambeau Field in the cold might just give this Packers defense an advantage.