Streaming Defenses: Week 13 Options

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Updated on November 30, 2021 1:57PM EST

For injury/ranking updates throughout the week, follow me on Twitter (@JerryDonabedian).

Note: These recommendations are limited to team defenses that are rostered on less than 60 percent of teams on Yahoo or 45 percent on ESPN. Any references to fantasy points are based on Yahoo standard scoring, which doesn't include yards allowed.

Top Streaming Options for Week 13

1. Minnesota Vikings (at DET)

19% Yahoo, 15% ESPN

Team implied total: 27.0

Opponent implied total: 20.0

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 14: 7th (vs. PIT), Week 15: 6th (at CHI)

The Vikings are tied for 11th in D/ST scoring and now match up with an offense that's allowed the eighth most points to the position. And that, of course, still underestimates how bad the Detroit offense has been, considering failure to move the ball has been an even bigger problem than sacks (28) and turnovers (14). As such, the Lions have given up a huge D/ST score just once all season, but they've also held only two opponents under five points and none under three. There's a nice floor here, and probably more of a ceiling than the past results suggest.

Additionally, the Vikings should be a solid start in Weeks 14-15, facing Ben Roethlisberger and then Justin Fields or Andy Dalton, before running into Matthew Stafford and Aaron Rodgers in Weeks 16-17. The Vikings can help you reach the playoffs; just be ready to dump them once you get there.

2. Philadelphia Eagles (at

For injury/ranking updates throughout the week, follow me on Twitter (@JerryDonabedian).

Top Streaming Options for Week 13

1. Minnesota Vikings (at DET)

19% Yahoo, 15% ESPN

Team implied total: 27.0

Opponent implied total: 20.0

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 14: 7th (vs. PIT), Week 15: 6th (at CHI)

2. Philadelphia Eagles (at NYJ)

58% Yahoo, 45% ESPN

Team implied total: 25.75

Opponent implied total: 19.25

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 14: BYE, Week 15: 9th (vs. WAS)

A popular streamer the past two weeks, Philadelphia is now flirting with our ownership requirement, rostered in 58% of Yahoo leagues and 45% of ESPN leagues as of Tuesday morning. Wherever available, the Eagles make for a strong choice again, despite managing only one sack and no turnovers in Sunday's loss to the Giants. They also allowed just 13 points in the contest, and that was after back-to-back weeks with multiple takeaways and a touchdown return on defense. The reliance on TDs (four on 12 takeaways) may not be sustainable/projectable, but a matchup with Zach Wilson and the Jets is fertile ground for a larger-than-usual number of sacks/turnovers.

3. Kansas City Chiefs (vs. DEN)

27% Yahoo, 7% ESPN

Team implied total: 28.75

Opponent implied total: 20.75

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 14: 10th (vs. LV), Week 15: 18th (at LAC)

It seems like the KC defense perked up as soon as everyone started criticizing the offense, following a miserable start to the season that was a little confusing given the mostly familiar personnel. Of course, things now appear to have been sorted out and then some, with the Chiefs allowing 17 points or less in four straight games, and 27 or less in six in a row (after 29+ in five straight to start the season). The improvement likely is schematic, in part, but we'll also note that the Chiefs arguably have the healthiest defense in the league right now — something that wasn't true back in

4. Miami Dolphins (vs. NYG)

44% Yahoo, 44% ESPN

Team implied total: 22.25

Opponent implied total: 19.25

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 14: BYE, Week 15: 4th (vs. NYJ)

The Dolphins have enjoyed a friendly stretch of schedule between their Week 8 trip to Buffalo and a Week 14 bye, with their previously beleaguered defense putting up a massive total of 63 fantasy points during the ongoing four-game winning streak. The favorable run of matchups continues this week with the Giants heading to town, but the appeal here isn't strictly about matchup given that Miami's improved play also stuck against a solid opponent (in the 22-10 TNF win over Baltimore in Week 10). The matchup is still a big part of the appeal, of course, but we can also say the Miami defense is a bit like KC where there was just too much talent (especially at CB) for the miserable September/October form to hold up over a full season.

5. Las Vegas Raiders (vs. WAS)

6% Yahoo, 10% ESPN

Team implied total: 25.75

Opponent implied total: 23.25

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 14: 27th (at KC), Week 15: 23rd (at CLE)

This is our strictly-about-matchup play, though the Raiders perhaps deserve credit for (again) sticking around in the playoff race with a key win every time people (including me) counted them out. Still, there's a big drop off in confidence after our fourth streaming pick this week, making the Raiders more of a desperation/emergency option.