TL;DR
- Focus on D/ST matchups in fantasy football, not just elite teams.
- Seattle Seahawks are ranked #1 for Week 12 with a favorable matchup against the Titans.
- Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints are sleeper D/ST options in a potentially low-scoring game.
- Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers, Miami Dolphins, and Washington Commanders have Week 12 byes.
The D/ST position in fantasy football is often overlooked. However, selecting the right defense can be the critical factor that determines victory or defeat each week.
Avoid starting an elite NFL defense in a difficult matchup, as it might not consistently yield fantasy points for the D/ST position. The optimal strategy is to concentrate solely on matchups.
Here are our Week 12 D/ST fantasy rankings, best starts, sleepers, and some matchups to avoid.
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Fantasy Football Defense Rankings for Week 12: Determining which D/ST units to start and bench.
| Rk | Team Defense | OPP |
| 1 | Seattle Seahawks | @TEN |
| 2 | Detroit Lions | NYG |
| 3 | Baltimore Ravens | NYJ |
| 4 | Green Bay Packers | MIN |
| 5 | Cleveland Browns | @LV |
| 6 | Chicago Bears | PIT |
| 7 | San Francisco 49ers | CAR |
| 8 | New England Patriots | @CIN |
| 9 | Carolina Panthers | @SF |
| 10 | Houston Texans | BUF |
| 11 | Buffalo Bills | @HOU |
| 12 | Los Angeles Rams | TB |
| 13 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | @LAR |
| 14 | Atlanta Falcons | @NO |
| 15 | Arizona Cardinals | JAX |
| 16 | Minnesota Vikings | @GB |
| 17 | Kansas City Chiefs | IND |
| 18 | New Orleans Saints | ATL |
| 19 | Pittsburgh Steelers | @CHI |
| 20 | Jacksonville Jaguars | @ARI |
| 21 | Tennessee Titans | SEA |
| 22 | Las Vegas Raiders | CLE |
| 23 | Philadelphia Eagles | @DAL |
| 24 | Indianapolis Colts | @KC |
| 25 | New York Giants | @DET |
| 26 | Cincinnati Bengals | NE |
| 27 | New York Jets | @BAL |
| 28 | Dallas Cowboys | PHI |
| BYE | Denver Broncos | BYE |
| BYE | Los Angeles Chargers | BYE |
| BYE | Miami Dolphins | BYE |
| BYE | Washington Commanders | BYE |
In fantasy Week 12, which D/STs are taking a bye?
- Denver Broncos
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Miami Dolphins
- Washington Commanders
BEST PICKUPS: Week 12 waiver wire
Which fantasy defenses rank highest for Week 12?
This week presents numerous D/ST units with favorable matchups. Any of the top five ranked defenses would have been a solid choice.
Seattle has been outstanding for fantasy football this season, and it's the best possible matchup with the Tennessee Titans—the Titans average just 14.4 points per game, the lowest in the NFL.
Looking for top fantasy D/ST sleepers for Week 12?
The Falcons-Saints game presents an intriguing contest. Both defenses are rather weak, while their offenses show considerable inconsistency.
If this is a low-scoring game, both units could find opportunities for fantasy points.
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