No position can be overthought like D/ST, especially when every possible option is at our disposal. As always, matchups are going to dictate potential sleepers and streamers, but start 'em, sit 'em decisions will still be difficult in the first round of the fantasy football playoffs. Our Week 15 fantasy defense rankings are here to help you find the best options.
As always, some highly owned defenses have tough matchups. The struggling Steelers (vs. Titans) continue to drop in ownership numbers, but if you've stuck with them and somehow made the playoffs, now's the time to abandon ship. The Panthers (@ Bills), Ravens (vs. Packers), and Saints (@ Buccaneers) are also virtually unplayable this week (unless Josh Allen's ankle injury keeps him out against Carolina), though, to be fair, the Saints had one of their best fantasy days of the season against the Bucs last time they played. This game is in Tampa, though, so we're not nearly as optimistic.
WEEK 15 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide Receiver | Tight end | Kicker
The Rams (@ Seahawks), Chiefs (@ Chargers), and Broncos (vs. Bengals) are also in tough spots, but they're still startable depending on your other options. The Broncos are usually better at home -- and Joe Burrow throws his fair share of INTs -- and we know the Rams have the talent to produce against anyone. The Chiefs are also as hot as any D/ST in the NFL right now, so there are plenty of reasons to like these teams despite their opponents. The Patriots (@ Colts) also have a tough matchup on paper, but we're not worried about them against mistake-prone Carson Wentz.
WEEK 15 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide Receiver | Tight end | Kicker
If you need/want a sleeper, the top matchups go to the Dolphins (vs. Jets), Eagles (vs. Washington), 49ers (vs. Falcons), Vikings (@ Bears), and Bengals (@ Broncos). With the exception of the Dolphins, none feel like sure things, but the numbers are at least in their favor. The Eagles were struggling prior to their bye, but perhaps getting a rest will help. The 49ers, Vikings, and Bengals tend to give up big plays, so they're more of the "boom-or-bust" variety. Chances are, you can find a safer option, but if you're a big underdog and want to go all-in on a high-ceiling team, then you can try your luck with San Francisco, Minnesota, or Cincinnati.
WEEK 15 FANTASY: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em
If you really want to take a chance, you could try either the Jaguars or Texans. The two defensively challenged teams play each other, and it's entirely possible the defensive deficiencies of each team are outweighed by their offensive issues. Both teams rank in the top three in defensive fantasy points allowed to D/STs. We usually recommend playing the matchups, but we can't bring ourselves to put these teams in the top 15. However, they have just as good of a chance to "boom" as the sleepers we listed above.
WEEK 15 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel | Yahoo
It's tough to ever really feel confident about most D/STs going into a week. Anything can happen, and a lucky bounce or two could be the difference in a top-five outing and a disappointing performance. We'll make sure to watch the injury report closer to game day, as some key offensive line or defensive injuries can turn busts into sleepers and sleepers into busts in a hurry.
MORE WEEK 15 DFS: Best stacks | Best values | Lineup builder
Note: We'll be updating these D/ST rankings throughout the week, so check back for the latest analysis and player movement.
Fantasy Defense Rankings Week 15: Who to start, sit at D/ST in fantasy football
| Rank | Player |
| 1 | Arizona Cardinals @ DET |
| 2 | Dallas Cowboys @ NYG |
| 3 | Miami Dolphins vs. NYJ |
| 4 | Buffalo Bills vs. CAR |
| 5 | Green Bay Packers @ BAL |
| 6 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. NO |
| 7 | New England Patriots @ IND. The Colts are among the very best teams at limiting fantasy points to D/STs, but the Pats are among the very best fantasy defenses. Carson Wentz can be reckless, so even though the Colts score a lot of points and don't allow many sacks, the Pats still have a high ceiling. |
| 8 | Indianapolis Colts vs. NE. It was a rocky start for Mac Jones and the Patriots offense, but they've been much better over the past several games. In Weeks 10-13, New England gave up just seven sacks and two takeaways while averaging 28.5 points per game. All that said, the Colts lead the NFL in takeaways, and they've allowed 17 points or less in three of the past four games. Playing at home against a rookie QB, the Colts remain a must-start. |
| 9 | Philadelphia Eagles vs. WAS. Taylor Heinicke is coming off one of his worst games of the year (four sacks, INT, fumble), and after suffering a knee injury, he figures to be less than 100 percent for this week's game if he plays. Philadelphia couldn't completely take advantage of favorable matchups against the Giants and Jets before its bye, but iti still kept the scores low (31 total points). Given the matchup and Washington's QB situation, Philadelphia still has a lot of upside. |
| 10 | San Francisco 49ers vs. ATL. Despite still ranking in the top five in fantasy points allowed to D/STs, Atlanta has improved over its past three games with "just" six sacks and three takeaways allowed. This matchup isn't quite as good as it looks on paper, but it still should be considered "favorable." The 49ers have racked up nine sacks and five takeaways in its past two games and 15 sacks and 11 takeaways in its past four. San Francisco's upward trend supercedes Atlanta's improvement. |
| 11 | Minnesota Vikings @ CHI. The Bears have allowed five sacks and seven takeaways the past two games, showing that it might not matter who their QB is. Minnesota's isn't nearly as strong as Arizona's or Green Bay's, but the Vikings can still produce sacks and turnovers, shown by it's eight sacks and three takeaways the past two games. |
| 12 | Kansas City Chiefs @ LAC. Kansas City remains the hottest D/ST in fantasy. Over its past six games, it's allowed 65 total points while racking up 16 sacks and 16 takeaways. Even against the Chargers' high-powered offense, it's tough to sit the Chiefs right now. They produced against the Packers and Cowboys (16 points allowed, six sacks, five takeaways), so they can handle their business on a short week against L.A., too. |
| 13 | Cincinnati Bengals @ DEN. With 14 sacks and eight takeaways in its past four games, Cincinnati's D/ST is surging. The Broncos are an inconsistent offense that often has trouble scoring against decent defenses. The Bengals don't necessarily have a high floor here, but they certainly have a high ceiling. |
| 14 | Los Angeles Rams vs. SEA. The Rams D/ST has been disappointing this year, but it still has talented playmakers that can take advantage of mediocre offenses. Last time L.A. played the Seahawks, it posted two sacks and two takeaways while allowing 17 offensive points. Seattle lit up the Texans last week, but in the four games prior, it averaged just 13.5 offensive points, 1.5 turnovers, and 3.3 sacks per game. The Rams should have a pretty high floor here. |
| 15 | Denver Broncos vs. CIN. Cincinnati has allowed 11 sacks and six takeaways the past two weeks, so even though it scores a good amount of points, it has issues with protection and ball security. The Broncos have allowed 39 total points and produced six sacks and five takeaways over its past three games. Put the two together and Denver is a high-floor option at home. |
| 16 | Houston Texans @ JAX. Houston allows a ton of points and doesn't generate much QB pressure, but it has 14 INTs and seven fumble recoveries. Jacksonville is averaging just 9.1 offensive points since the start of Week 8, and it's turned it over at least twice in each of the past four games. As difficult as it is to trust the Texans with your season on the line, clearly their ceiling is high. |
| 17 | Tennessee Titans @ PIT |
| 18 | Pittsburgh Steelers vs. TEN |
| 19 | Jacksonville Jaguars vs. HOU |
| 20 | Carolina Panthers @ BUF |
| 21 | Los Angeles Chargers vs. KC |
| 22 | Baltimore Ravens vs. GB |
| 23 | New Orleans Saints @ TB |
| 24 | Seattle Seahawks @ LAR |
| 25 | Cleveland Browns vs. LV |
| 26 | New York Jets @ MIA |
| 27 | Chicago Bears vs. MIN |
| 28 | Las Vegas Raiders @ CLE |
| 29 | New York Giants vs. DAL |
| 30 | Atlanta Falcons @ SF |
| 31 | Washington Football Team @ PHI |
| 32 | Detroit Lions vs. ARI |
