So, you made it through the wildly chaotic Week 15 and you’re on to the second round of the fantasy football playoffs? Congratulations! Let’s get a jump on the competition with our defense rankings and streamer options for Week 16.
Week 16 D/ST Rankings
The top option is an elite option, but there are some surprises in the top 10. Let’s dive in.
Defense Rankings for Week 16 | 1-16
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ CAR
2. Los Angeles Chargers @ HOU
3. Dallas Cowboys vs. WAS
4. Green Bay Packers vs. CLE
5. Philadelphia Eagles vs. NYG
6. Buffalo Bills @ NE
7. Los Angeles Rams @ MIN
8. Miami Dolphins @ NO
9. San Francisco 49ers @ TEN
10. New England Patriots vs. BUF
11. Kansas City Chiefs vs. PIT
12. New Orleans Saints vs. MIA
13. Indianapolis Colts @ ARI
14. Cincinnati Bengals vs. BAL
15. Arizona Cardinals vs. IND
16. Denver Broncos @ LV
Defense Rankings for Week 16 | 17-32
17. Seattle Seahawks vs. CHI
18. Las Vegas Raiders vs. DEN
19. Pittsburgh Steelers @ KC
20. New York Jets vs. JAX
21. Tennessee Titans vs. SF
22. Baltimore Ravens @ CIN
23. Jacksonville Jaguars @ NYJ
24. Atlanta Falcons vs. DET
25. Cleveland Browns @ GB
26. Chicago Bears @ SEA
27. New York Giants @ PHI
28. Detroit Lions @ ATL
29. Washington Football Team @ DAL
30. Minnesota Vikings vs. LAR
31. Carolina Panthers vs. TB
32. Houston Texans vs. LAC
Week 16 D/ST Streaming Options
If you’re playing the streaming game, here are a few defenses worth streaming with your playoffs on the line. Good luck in the playoffs if you’ve gotten this far!
Miami Dolphins (@ New Orleans Saints)
The Miami Dolphins have been a sleeping giant on defense this year. Over the last four weeks, the Dolphins have boasted the No. 6 defensive unit in fantasy football, holding opposing teams to an average of 9 points per game over that stretch. They’ve been brutal against the run, opportunistic in the turnover department, and have been a solid unit all around.
They’ll get a Saints offense that relies on the ground game. When New Orleans can’t run the ball, they can’t do anything. On Sunday Night Football, the Buccaneers held Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram to a combined 28 rushing yards, and the Saints were unable to score a touchdown. The Dolphins could put New Orleans in a similar situation. Miami’s defense is a sneaky play that could post big points.
Denver Broncos (@ Las Vegas Raiders)
The Raiders are bad. It’s pretty straightforward. Their offense has been disjointed ever since losing Henry Ruggs, with Derek Carr struggling mightily to connect on any kind of deep passing play. Over the last four weeks, Las Vegas’ offense has given up the sixth-most fantasy points per game to opposing defenses.
The Broncos haven’t been a juggernaut on defense this year, but they’ve had their moments. Week 15 against the Bengals was the first time since Week 7 that Denver didn’t generate a turnover, but they’ve also only allowed one team to score more than 17 points since Week 6. This defense doesn’t concede a lot of points. They should be able to make life difficult for Carr and force him into bad situations.
Philadelphia Eagles (vs. New York Giants)
The Eagles are good and the Giants are hurt. There’s your analysis. We have no idea who’s going to be under center for the Giants next week. On Monday, Daniel Jones was shut down for the season, and head coach Joe Judge declined to name a starting quarterback. Saquon Barkley has been very un-Barkley-ish, meaning this offense has essentially nothing.
In Week 15, the Cowboys’ defense generated 3 interceptions and a fumble off New York’s offense and forced Mike Glennon to the bench halfway through the game. With Darius Slay playing like one of the best corners in football and the Eagles’ defense giving up the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs over the last four weeks, they’re a great streaming option against the Giants.