NFL Week 14 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Soft Defenses for Your Stars to Exploit

A huge part of fantasy football is playing matchups. 

You may have the best overall players, but someone could easily come along and play the right matchups and beat you.

It's as simple as that. 

Very few players today are must starts. Plenty of guys who used to be superstars are easily benchable if they are facing a tough defense.

Conversely, a soft defense can make any player worth starting. Here's a look at five defenses that will do just that. 

Green Bay Packers

Now, I'm not necessarily a believer that the Packers have the second worst defense in the NFL as their 397 yards per game allowed would suggest.

This team still has tons of good players on defense. I am, however, a believer that having to defend the pass 40 times per game (the Packers are usually up big and teams have to play catch up) takes a toll on defenses.

Whether or not GB's pass defense is as bad as the numbers show, they will continually get big leads, and teams will continually throw a ton to catch up. 

Simply put, this is a defense you take advantage of for fantasy purposes. They host the Raiders on Sunday and that means Carson Palmer will probably throw about 40 times.

Palmer comes with his mistakes and turnovers, but he should put up some big volume numbers. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Bucs are third worst in the NFL in yards allowed, as they are giving up just under 400 per game.

Fortunately for opposing offenses, Tampa Bay likes to spread out the terrible. They are seventh worst against the pass (252 yards per game allowed) and fourth worst against the run (141 yards per game allowed). 

That means Jacksonville, which hosts Tampa Bay on Sunday, will get to pick how it wants to move the ball down the field.

Considering Blaine Gabbert is the Jaguars' QB, I'm guessing they turn to the run quite a bit. Maurice Jones-Drew should get at least 25 carries and 30 total touches.

Against this soft Tampa defense, Jones-Drew is a top-five play at home this week. 

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts are giving up 387 yards per game, which is fourth worst in the NFL.

They are actually about league average against the pass in terms of yards allowed, but that could be due to the fact that teams get ahead so quickly. Indy is among the league's worst in terms of passing yards per attempt allowed.

Against the run, it's actually the exact opposite. They are giving up a ton of yards, but that's because of the amount of carries.

Opponents are only averaging 4.1 yards per carry against the Colts, which is worse than average.

This is all just a fancy way of saying that the Colts are worse against the pass, but once they fall behind teams start running it a lot more. 

Essentially, everyone in Baltimore's offense will get chances for big days on Sunday. Start everyone with confidence: Joe Flacco, Anquan Boldin, Torrey Smith, Ed Dickson, Ray Rice, all of 'em. 

St. Louis Rams

The St. Louis Rams have been quite dreadful against the run this season.

They are giving up 157.8 rushing yards per contest (worst in the NFL) and 179 over the last three games. Not only that, they've already given up two 200-yard performances this year by DeMarco Murray and Beanie Wells.

It doesn't help that teams are always out in front and pounding the ball against St. Louis, but it is what it is.

Marshawn Lynch and his Skittles get the Rams this week. Lynch has been outstanding in the last month or so, and should have a field day on Monday night. 

I'd put Lynch as a top 10 running back against this anemic defense. 

New England Patriots

Did you see what Dan Orlovsky did against the Patriots last week; 353 yards through the air and two touchdowns? 

Yikes.

I realize Rex Grossman is no Dan Orlovsky, but yes, even Rex himself is startable in the right situation against these Patriots. 

The Pats are giving up a league-worst 310 yards through the air this year and that number shoots up to 349 when they are on the road. 

I'm not starting Grossman over guys like Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady, but he's on the fringe of the top 15 this week. 

I'd also feel comfortable starting Santana Moss and Roy Helu this week.