It seemed so far away in early September, but Week 14 is here, and the playoffs are around the corner. Whether you’re trying to sneak in as the final team or bolster your resume for the number one seed, everyone can use a win in Week 14.
READ: BEST FANTASY FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS DST STASHES
The bye week bonanza of Week 13 is behind us. While no fantasy-relevant defenses are idle this week, a few potential high-scoring matchups between the Cowboys and Eagles and the Bills and Chiefs have many fantasy GMs looking elsewhere for safer options.
Here are our favorite defense streamers for the Week 14 Waiver Wire — including the ones that may stay on your roster beyond this week and help carry you to fantasy glory.
FANTASY WEEK 14 DST STREAMERS
GREEN BAY PACKERS (19%)
AT NEW YORK GIANTS | MNF
One of the hottest teams in the league, Green Bay has won three straight and has clawed their way into the NFC Playoff picture. After dismantling the Lions on Thanksgiving, the Packers followed it up with a primetime win against Kansas City, holding Patrick Mahomes to 210 yards passing and sacking him three times in a 27-19 win.
After holding their own against two of the most explosive offenses in football the past two weeks, Green Bay gets a massive break with a trip to MetLife to face the Giants. New York’s offensive woes have been well-documented, and they’re still ranked dead last in total yardage and passing yardage and giving up the most points to opposing fantasy defenses.
Green Bay’s averaged 9 points per game on defense with eight sacks over their three game win streak, and those numbers could be much higher against New York’s putrid offensive line that PFF ranks number 27 in the league.
After what should be a successful Week 14, Green Bay closes out the fantasy season with Tampa Bay, Carolina, and Minnesota, making them a solid playoff pick in the D/ST slot in addition to a home run Week 14 streamer.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (43% ROSTERED ON YAHOO!)
VS CAROLINA PANTHERS | 1 PM
Since going off for five turnovers against the Bears in Week 9, the Saints defense has been quiet, scoring three fantasy points per game including zero last week against Detroit. But this is a solid defense, especially in the secondary, where they’re currently ranked second in both interceptions and opponent passer rating in 2023.
New Orleans now sits at 5-7, which puts them a game out of the NFC wild card with five games to go. Every win matters at this point — especially when going up against the last place team in the league. Carolina is 1-11 and have given up 16 fantasy points per game to opposing defenses over their last four games, which is 2nd-most in the league in that span.
The Saints should eat up their division rival at home, and it won’t stop there, with the Giants, Rams, and Buccaneers on the docket to finish out their fantasy schedule. They aren’t the best defense in the league, but with generous matchups on the horizon and a lot still to play for, they’re a great streaming option starting this week.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (31%)
AT CINCINNATI BENGALS | 1 PM
For the life of me I cannot understand why the Colts are owned in 31% of leagues as of this writing. In their current four game win streak, they’ve scored 11 or more points on defense every week, averaging almost 18 points per game with 21 sacks and three defensive scores in that span, and they’re owned in less than a third of leagues. It’s baffling.
The Colts blocked two punts on Sunday to help win their team an overtime win over Tennessee, slotting them in as the sixth seed in the AFC if the season ended today. But as we all know, there’s still plenty of time left, and Indy needs to keep winning, likely on the back of their defense.
Indianapolis will travel to Cincinnati to play the Bengals this week, who have predictably struggled since losing Joe Burrow. The offensive line is one of the worst pass-blocking lines in the league, and Joe Mixon hasn’t topped 70 yards on the ground in four weeks. Cincy is really just trying to get through the rest of the year at this point, and unfortunately for them, they’re running into the hottest defense in football this week.
The Colts are a fantastic Week 14 streaming option and an incredible pickup heading into the fantasy playoffs. After the Bengals this week, they’ll face Pittsburgh, Atlanta, and Las Vegas from Weeks 15-17, putting them in a great position to keep their current win streak alive and put up some gaudy defensive numbers.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Houston Texans (13%): The Texans shut down Denver’s offense on Sunday to the tune of 11 fantasy points, and now face the bumbling Jets and their plethora of QB concerns.
Minnesota Vikings (14%): Minnesota put up 11 points on the Bears in their last game, and will travel to Vegas in Week 14 to face the Raiders.
New England Patriots (23%): New England’s held opponents under 10 points in three straight games (going 0-3 in that span), and their Thursday Night game against Pittsburgh has the potential to be a 3-0 final.
