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The D/ST position in fantasy football ... while easy to overlook, choosing the proper defense can be the key to victory or defeat in your championship.
Refrain from deploying a top NFL defense in difficult matchups, as it may not earn points for the D/ST position. The best strategy is to focus solely on matchups -- even in the fantasy playoffs.
If you have advanced this far in the season, you might've drafted an elite defense or played the streamer game successfully. Which direction should you take in your league's championship?
Here are our Week 17 D/ST fantasy rankings, best starts, sleepers, and some matchups to avoid.
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Week 17 Fantasy D/ST Rankings: Start-sit team defense lineup tips
| Rk | Team Defense | OPP |
| 1 | Seattle Seahawks | @CAR |
| 2 | New England Patriots | @NYJ |
| 3 | Pittsburgh Steelers | @CLE |
| 4 | Houston Texans | @LAC |
| 5 | Los Angeles Rams | @ATL |
| 6 | Denver Broncos | @KC |
| 7 | Jacksonville Jaguars | @IND |
| 8 | Green Bay Packers | BAL |
| 9 | Cleveland Browns | PIT |
| 10 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | @MIA |
| 11 | Detroit Lions | @MIN |
| 12 | New Orleans Saints | @TEN |
| 13 | New York Giants | @LV |
| 14 | Chicago Bears | @SF |
| 15 | Kansas City Chiefs | DEN |
| 16 | Indianapolis Colts | JAX |
| 17 | San Francisco 49ers | CHI |
| 18 | Arizona Cardinals | @CIN |
| 19 | Philadelphia Eagles | @BUF |
| 20 | Buffalo Bills | PHI |
| 21 | Baltimore Ravens | @GB |
| 22 | Carolina Panthers | SEA |
| 23 | Atlanta Falcons | LAR |
| 24 | Los Angeles Chargers | HOU |
| 25 | Minnesota Vikings | DET |
| 26 | Tennessee Titans | NO |
| 27 | Dallas Cowboys | @WAS |
| 28 | New York Jets | NE |
| 29 | Miami Dolphins | TB |
| 30 | Las Vegas Raiders | NYG |
| 31 | Cincinnati Bengals | ARI |
| 32 | Washington Commanders | DAL |
🏆 Lock in your D/ST for championship week: Week 17 waiver wire
Who are the best fantasy defenses in Week 17?
This game is crucial for the Patriots' playoff seeding. Following their Week 15 loss to the Bills, New England cannot afford to slip up if they want to win the AFC East. The Patriots won't play with their food in this one, and they'll handle the Jets in Week 18.
The Browns' offense is unimpressive, and Cleveland has also struggled with special teams. The Steelers present a formidable defense to face in Week 18.
Who are the top fantasy D/ST sleepers in Week 17?
The Steelers will be favored to win the game; it could be low scoring nonetheless. The Browns could still provide a more than viable start at the D/ST position.
The last time the Vikings played the Lions, Detroit's defense got torn apart. However, a lot is on the line in this one which hopefully means that Lions defensive unit will show up.
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