This article is part of our Streaming Defenses series.
TOP STREAMING OPTIONS
Buffalo Bills (vs. Jacksonville Jaguars)
55% Yahoo ownership – 44.8% ESPN ownership
The Bills will be on their home field as they look to get to Blake Bortles, who's been sacked multiple times in all but two games this season, which matches up well with a Buffalo pass rush that's produced at least three sacks in seven games. However, this defense has struggled to generate takeaways, as it just broke a three-week drought by recording two against the Bengals, but the Bengals will have a great chance of turning their recent takeaways into a trend against a Jacksonville offense that has given the ball away multiple times in five of their last six games. With coach Rex Ryan trying to gear up his team for a playoff run, the Bills look like a great defensive option this week.
Baltimore Ravens (vs. Cincinnati
TOP STREAMING OPTIONS
Buffalo Bills (vs. Jacksonville Jaguars)
55% Yahoo ownership – 44.8% ESPN ownership
The Bills will be on their home field as they look to get to Blake Bortles, who's been sacked multiple times in all but two games this season, which matches up well with a Buffalo pass rush that's produced at least three sacks in seven games. However, this defense has struggled to generate takeaways, as it just broke a three-week drought by recording two against the Bengals, but the Bengals will have a great chance of turning their recent takeaways into a trend against a Jacksonville offense that has given the ball away multiple times in five of their last six games. With coach Rex Ryan trying to gear up his team for a playoff run, the Bills look like a great defensive option this week.
Baltimore Ravens (vs. Cincinnati Bengals)
48% Yahoo ownership – 64.5% ESPN ownership
Before running into the potent Cowboys offense in Week 10, the Ravens had piled up 11 sacks in their previous three games, and Sunday they'll take aim at Andy Dalton in his first game since losing Giovani Bernard and A.J. Green to injury. This should be a much easier team to defend without two of their top playmakers, and it definitely helps that this defensive unit will be at home in this divisional matchup. Baltimore will also look to have multiple takeaways for the seventh time this season against an offense that turned the ball over at least once in its last four matchups.
Detroit Lions (vs. Minnesota Vikings)
17% Yahoo ownership – 28.7% ESPN ownership
This year's Thanksgiving combo platter will have some turkey and stuffing along with some early fantasy points from the Lions defense as they face a Vikings offense that has struggled to move the football consistently the last month or so. The Detroit pass rush has been consistent all season, as it's generated multiple sacks in all but one game, while the turnstile that's called the Minnesota offensive line has allowed Sam Bradford to get sacked 17 times over his last five games. Even though the Vikes have taken care of the football reasonably well, they've turned it over in three of their last five games, and the Lions have been improving lately with at least one takeaway in five of their last six.
Oakland Raiders (vs. Carolina Panthers)
53% Yahoo ownership – 37.2% ESPN ownership
The Raiders have recorded multiple sacks in four of their last six games, while the Panthers have struggled to protect Cam Newton as they've dealt with injuries and occasional ineffectiveness along their offensive line, allowing 12 sacks in their last five games. In addition, the pressure that Oakland's generated has led to multiple takeaways in a pair of recent games, and Carolina may play right into the defense's hands, as it's turned the ball over multiple times on six occasions this season. On their home field, the Raiders will be ready to get after an inconsistent Carolina offense as they march toward a playoff berth.
Atlanta Falcons (vs. Arizona Cardinals)
12% Yahoo ownership – 7.8% ESPN ownership
Although the Falcons haven't been a very good fantasy defense this season, their pass rush has come on strong lately with 12 sacks in their last four games. Now they face Carson Palmer and his injury-plagued offensive line that has given up an amazing 18 sacks in their last four games. In addition, the Falcons are well-rested coming off their bye week, and they'll look to force some takeaways against an Arizona offense that's given the ball away eight times in its last four games. Even though Atlanta hasn't been great at forcing turnovers, it comes into this contest having forced five in its last four games.
Here are my rankings for this week and the rest of the season:
RANK | WEEK 12 | SEASON |
1 | MIA | DEN |
2 | DEN | KC |
3 | NYG | ARI |
4 | NE | NYG |
5 | SEA | SEA |
6 | MIN | PHI |
7 | BUF | MIN |
8 | PHI | LA |
9 | KC | MIA |
10 | BAL | NE |
11 | HOU | BUF |
12 | ATL | CAR |
13 | SD | BAL |
14 | DET | HOU |
15 | OAK | SD |
16 | CHI | CIN |
17 | CAR | PIT |
18 | GB | GB |
19 | TEN | CHI |
20 | CIN | WAS |
21 | DAL | DAL |
22 | ARI | TEN |
23 | LA | OAK |
24 | TB | NYJ |
25 | NO | JAX |
26 | PIT | DET |
27 | JAX | ATL |
28 | IND | TB |
29 | SF | IND |
30 | WAS | CLE |
31 | CLE | NO |
32 | NYJ | SF |