Fantasy Football Week 14: Defenses Destined for Massive Output

If you own one of the following defenses, you are off to a great start in your fantasy league. Dominating defensive performances will abound this week, and these three teams will be at the forefront.

Houston Texans

Opponent: Bengals

The Texans defense is about to make a good season better this week. They will shut down the Bengals and give rookie QB Andy Dalton fits.

The Texans will be able to harass the rookie QB into bad throws and pick up some sacks, and the Bengals will not be able to hide behind the run to shelter him from this attack.

Cincinnati is 20th in rushing yards per game and Houston is fourth in rushing yards allowed. The Texans will stuff the Bengals running game and force them into obvious passing situations.

They will then be able to pin their ears back and go after Dalton. The Bengals have done a solid job of protecting their rookie QB this year. They are eighth in sack allowed percentage at 4.7. However, that number has risen to 6.1 in their last three games as they have begun to face stronger defenses.

They will be facing another solid pass-rush in this game. Houston is seventh in sack percentage.

This is going to lead not only to the Bengals posting few points and some sacks, but also an interception or two. Houston has done an excellent job of picking off passes as it has picked off more passes than all but one team.

The Texans will dominate the Bengals offense in all phases of the game.

Baltimore Ravens

Opponent: Colts

The Colts offense will return to their miserable ways this week against the fearsome Ravens defense.

Last week, with Dan Orlovsky under center, Indianapolis was able to put up 24 points against the Patriots. However, the New England has struggled to stop opponents passing games all season.

The Colts are in for an abrupt change of opponents this week. In terms of yards allowed, the Ravens are fifth in passing in second in rushing.

Baltimore also leads the league in sacks. The Ravens are going to destroy the Colts at the point of attack. There will be no running lanes and little time to throw.

This is going to lead to very little points, plenty of sacks, some turnovers and possibly a patented "run out of the end zone" play for Orlovsky.

This game will get ugly—unless you own the Ravens defense. Then it will be a joy to watch.

Denver Broncos

Opponent: Bears

The Bears are being led into the abyss by Caleb Hanie. He has thrown three picks in each of his two starts. His interception consistency is going to continue. 

Hanie's struggles have not all been due to him being awful. He is not getting much help. This offensive line is not blocking for him and RB Matt Forte was lost to injury early in last week's loss to the Chiefs.

That leaves the Bears with little help running the ball this week, and no hope of protecting their QB. The Broncos are ninth in the league in sack percentage.

Chicago is 25th in sacks allowed percentage, and they are getting worse. In their last three games, they have allowed a full sack per game more than they did in their first nine games.

It is going to be another long day for this Bears offense, and that is music to the ears of fantasy owners of the Broncos defense.