Fantasy Football Defense Rankings Week 12: Who to start, best sleepers, streamers, waiver wire picks at D/ST

Week 11 was highlighted by the elite defenses holding their own and leading their respective teams to victory. The Steelers, Vikings, and Broncos all surrendered fewer than 20 points on their way to wins.

Unsurprisingly, all three of these defenses were among fantasy's top performers on the week. Each member of this trio forced at least five combined sacks and turnovers which led to 9+ fantasy points for each defensive unit.

As we head into Week 12, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, and Denver all rank inside our top-5 defenses and remain in the must-start tier in fantasy. If you don't have one of these defensive powerhouses, don't worry, we've got you covered with a handful of defensive sleepers and streamers as well.

WEEK 12 FANTASY FOOTBALL RANKINGS
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Fantasy Football Defense Rankings Week 12: Who to start, sit at D/ST

These rankings will be updated throughout the week, so check back often.

Who are the best fantasy defenses in Week 12?

Jameis Winston has provided some highlight-reel moments, but the Browns have largely been an uninspiring offense throughout the year. Against a stout Pittsburgh defense, this offense is in for a long day. The Steelers are one of the few defenses that you feel comfortable starting just about every week, and a trip to Cleveland to face Winston shouldn't change that feeling.

The Chiefs have been riding a strong defense to wins throughout the year (Week 11's loss to the Bills aside). The defense has allowed fewer than 20 points four times this season, leading to a one-score win in all four games. Kansas City could add a fifth sub-20 game this week on a road trip to Carolina. Bryce Young has rattled off two straight wins, but he has still led the Panthers to more than 250 yards of offense just once in four starts. Expect to see the Bryce Young of old against the Chiefs.

Caleb Williams has not transformed the Bears' offense as many had hoped. The offense has actually regressed significantly in the last month. Chicago has averaged fewer than 4.0 yards per play in two of their last three games. The Vikings' defense has not made it easy on their opponents this season, and Williams could quite easily be in for another day of tough sledding. The Vikings are among the league-leaders in pressure rate, which could lead to plenty of sacks and turnovers that boost their fantasy production.

Who are the D/STs on byes in Week 12? 

Atlanta Falcons: The Atlanta defense has struggled this year, particularly through the air, ranking in the bottom 10 of passing yardage allowed. Atlanta has merely been a streaming defense this year and belongs on waivers while on bye.

Buffalo Bills: The Bills have been a weekly starter in the D/ST slot of fantasy rosters. They’ve cleared double digits three times and have regularly had a positive impact on lineups. They may be worth holding onto in leagues with deep benches, but it’s not an easy decision to justify.

Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals’ defense has routinely given up explosive plays and been torched for 30-plus points this season. They were likely on waivers to begin with, and it should stay that way.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Jacksonville is in a similar situation as Cincinnati. They have been one of the league’s worst defenses this season and require a premium matchup to even be considered as a starter.

New Orleans Saints: The Saints have been a bottom-10 defense this season both through the air and on the ground. They’re not worth a roster spot while they are idle this week.

New York Jets: The Jets have long been known as one of the league’s premier defensive units. Following the departure of Robert Saleh, they have faltered, scoring fewer than five points in five of their last six games. They can be dropped this week.

Who are the best fantasy defense sleepers in Week 12?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have not been known for their defensive prowess this season. In fact, they've been a bottom-5 team in both scoring a total defense throughout the year. However, a matchup with the Giants makes Tampa Bay a viable fantasy option. They'll see one of Drew Lock or Daniel Jones on Sunday; either way, this isn't an offense that strikes fear into their opponents. As long as Tampa Bay dedicates resources to Malik Nabers and Tyrone Tracy, they can have a strong fantasy performance.

With Cooper Rush at the helm, the Cowboys are a team to target with defensive streamers. The Commanders are on the schedule in Week 12, making them a quality option for managers without a consistent D/ST starter. Without much depth outside of CeeDee Lamb, it doesn't require a complex game plan to keep this offense in check.