Fantasy Defense Rankings Week 14: Who to start, sit at D/ST in fantasy football

If there’s one thing fantasy football owners don’t need the week before the fantasy playoffs, it’s four good D / ST’s in goodbye. Our Week 14 fantasy defense rankings are definitely feeling the losses of the Patriots, Colts, Dolphins and Eagles, and are further weakened by some of the tough matchups for top-level defenses. That opens the door for several legitimate sleepers and waiver cable streamers, but it’s still a rough week overall.

First, let’s look at the unfavorable matchups. The Rams (@ Cardinals), Cardinals (vs. Rams), Buccaneers (vs. Bills) and Bills (@ Buccaneers) are in a small group of death, at least for fantasy owners. The Rams and Bills have had some turnover issues lately, so the Cardinals and Bucs are still up for grabs, but it’s reasonable to expect fewer points than usual. The Steelers (@ Vikings) and Ravens (@ Browns) are also in relatively tough situations on the road, at least according to head-to-head stats. Given some of their recent struggles, it’s reasonable to keep them on the bench, but we all know that both defenses have great potential to play.

WEEK 14 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Field marshal | Running backwards | Wide receiver | Tight end | Kicker

The Packers (vs. Bears), Panthers (vs. Falcons), Titans (vs. Jaguars), Broncos (vs. Lions), Saints (@ Jets), Seahawks (@ Texans) and Chargers (vs. Giants) are all less than 50 percent. owned by the Yahoo leagues, and all have early potential this week. All the matchup numbers say “yes” even if the season-long numbers say “no” for some of those defenses.

WEEK 14 PPR RANKINGS:
Field marshal | Running backwards | Wide receiver | Tight end | Kicker

The decision to rely on one of these defenses or stick with your usual starting unit comes down to whether you think you’ll need big points or just a solid floor. A team like the Seahawks or Chargers could easily go bankrupt despite favorable matchups, while the Rams and Bills are sure to get a few sacks and a loss or two. We generally recommend playing matchups, but clearly this is the kind of week that will put that strategy to the test.

As tough as a week is, it’s good to know that there are options. Big plays will finally rule the day, so assess your team’s needs and available D / STs and start from there.

Note: We’ll update these D / ST ratings throughout the week, so check back for the latest player movement and analysis.

Fantasy Defense Rankings Week 14: Who To Start With, Sit D / ST In Fantasy Football