Team Defense Rankings: Week 12

Here are the team defenses that you should go for or stay away from if your team is underperforming:

Start regardless of matchups (including teams on bye): Tennessee Titans, Chicago Bears, Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers.

Three Matchups To Target

Denver Broncos (vs. Oakland Raiders). It seems that there is room for the team playing the Raiders in this column every week. But when a team doesn’t score 20 points since Week Three, it pretty much makes the defense going against them a good play every week. 

Denver’s defense is one of the worst in the league as they give up over 27 points per game. They have forced the second least number of turnovers in the league, and they have just 20 sacks in 10 games.

All that being said, they are playing the Raiders.  So take these statistical shortcomings for Denver and throw them out, they should make a good play in Week 12.

Washington Redskins (vs. Seattle Seahawks). This time the Redskins actually do have one thing in their favor, they don’t give up a lot of points.  They give up the 7th fewest number of points at just over 18 points a game. 

However, the rest of the fantasy point system for defenses make the Redskins look horrible. They are among the worst at sacking the quarterback with just 15, and have only forced 11 turnovers in 10 games. 

Outside of the one game against the Niners, the Seahawks also hadn’t scored more than 20 points since Week Three. Matt Hasselbeck is missing practice again this week which means if he plays he might be limited and if he doesn’t, well it’s back to Seneca Wallace again. 

Play the Redskins if you need a defense.

Indianapolis Colts (vs. San Diego Chargers). The Chargers looked pretty pathetic against the Steelers defense. With LaDanian Tomlinson being so inconsistent this year it has been Philip Rivers and the passing game that have been the focal point of the Chargers offense this season. Well, that just happens to play right into the strength of the Colts defense. 

Not only are they ranked among the league leaders in yards against through the air, but Indianapolis has only allowed TWO passing touchdowns all season long.  They have been good with forcing 16 turnovers this year, but have struggled putting pressure on the QB getting only 14 sacks in 10 games.

If they can keep Tomlinson in check, the Colts’ defense should have a good fantasy day.

Three Matchups To Avoid

Miami Dolphins (vs. New England Patriots). Let's lay out the one reason that I would stay away from the Miami Dolphins defense this week: Bill Belichick is going to be pissed. He’s going to be pissed that he lost last week to the rival Jets, he’s going to be pissed that he lost his grip on first place, and he is still going to be pissed that they Dolphins embarrassed his team 38-13 a few weeks ago.

After playing last Thursday, one of the great football minds of our time has had ten days to prepare for this game. Don’t you think that the Pats are going to put up some serious points this week? 

Matt Cassel is coming into his own, Randy Moss has been far too quiet this year, and the running game is getting a little healthier with the return of Sammy Morris.  Miami has been a better than average defense this season and hasn’t allowed a team to score 20 points in the last four weeks. 

Expect the Patriots to score at least 28 this week.

Atlanta Falcons (vs. Carolina Panthers). In the last two weeks Jake Delhomme has thrown for 72 yards against Oakland and 102 yards against the Lions. Ugh! Why in the world would I say to stay away from their opponents, the Falcons this week? 

Jake Delhomme is obviously a better quarterback than he has shown over the past couple of weeks. Not to mention the two-headed monster of DeAngelo Williams and Johnathan Stewart really know how to move the ball. Heck, they still scored 31 points last week with Delhomme throwing for just over 100.

The Falcons' defense has been about middle of the road, but I can see more than one Delhomme-Steve Smith connections this week.  Look for Atlanta to give up at least 24 points, and for Jake Delhomme to play a mistake-free, statistically impressive game.

San Diego Chargers (vs. Indianapolis Colts). What is the best part of the Indianapolis offense?  Of course, it is Peyton Manning and the aerial attack.  What is the greatest weakness of the Chargers’ defense?  They rank last in yards through the air and have allowed nearly two passing touchdowns per game. 

San Diego also allows nearly 23 points per game on average and are among the league’s worst at forcing turnovers with just 10 takeaways on the year. What is usually the catalyst to giving up a ton of passing yards? Failing to get pressure on the quarterback. 

Put the Chargers at the bottom of that list too, only sacking the quarterback 22 times in 10 games. 

The Colts scored 24 points in Pittsburgh and just hung 33 on the Texans. I fully expect them to get over 30 again in another poor performance for the Chargers’ defense.

As always your comments and questions (adds/drops, trade advice, lineup questions, etc.) are welcome at [e-mail]. I guarantee a response within 18 hours.