Welcome to the weekly Defensive Streamers article! We’re all the way to week 12, and the only fantasy managers locked in are fighting for a playoff bye or fighting for a playoff spot! Last week turned out to be a tough one for our selections. I suggested the Browns, Saints, and Colts for the most desperate. All three of them combined for one turnover, all while giving up an average of 25 points. Yikes! But it wasn’t all gloom and doom for us last week!
My preferred streaming selection last week was the Los Angeles Rams, and they delivered! The Rams were able to harass rookie Drake Maye to the tune of three sacks and one interception to go along with a fumble recovery and a blocked kick. The Rams turned in a top 10 performance for fantasy defenses.
This week doesn’t appear any easier with six teams on bye. The bye-pocalypse is upon us! The matchups available aren’t the greatest, but we’re going to make the best out of the streaming scenario. With six teams on hand, I only have three options available, but I’m extremely confident in the first two. As a reminder, all recommendations are available in 60% or more of Yahoo Leagues, but the first one is right on that border.
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Washington Commanders (available in 58%) vs. Dallas Cowboys
I’m admittedly bending the rules here, but with six teams on bye, I was forced to take a stand. In the two games that Cooper Rush has played, he’s been sacked six times. Rush’s QBR is in the bottom five of the NFL at 28.5. If he’s not getting sacked, he’s throwing incompletions or interceptions. There are reports that Trey Lance could have special formations available for this game, which makes Washington even more enticing. Lastly, Dallas has the third-lowest team total on Sunday with 17. The Washington defense is middle of the road, but this is too good of a matchup to ignore. Plus, we have the revenge game narrative with Dan Quinn facing off against his old squad. The Commanders are the top streaming option available this week.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (available in 68%) vs. New York Giants
The Buccaneers aren’t an impressive defense, but this matchup is too good to resist. The new-look Giants are fresh off a quarterback change with Tommy DeVito in charge but remember that standout left tackle Andrew Thomas is out for the season. In eight starts last season, DeVito was sacked an average of 4.5 times per game. The Bucs are inside the top 10 in total sacks on the season, even after the bye last week.
There are not many strong streaming matchups this weekend, but it’s between the Bucs and the Commanders as the best streaming option available. A bonus to Tampa is the schedule ahead. After the Giants, they get the Panthers and Raiders. Giddy up!
Arizona Cardinals (available in 92%) vs. Seattle Seahawks
I hesitated to put the Cardinals here, but the byes were too much to overcome. Arizona, fresh off a bye week, is traveling to division rival Seattle. The Cardinals have been a hot defense lately. Over the last two weeks prior to their bye week, the Cardinals finished as a top five fantasy defense each week. Seattle is a much more potent offense than the Jets or the Bears, but Geno Smith has taken the fourth most sacks this season. This suggestion is only for the most desperate, as the Commanders and the Buccaneers have the best matchups for the weekend.
Week 13 Options to Stash:
-Tampa Bay (vs. Carolina): The Bucs get three excellent matchups in a row with the Giants, Panthers, and Raiders.
-New York Giants (vs. Dallas): This game is perfect for the post-Thanksgiving meal nap. You can rest well if you start the Giants defense!
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