Somehow, some way, we are just one week away from the fantasy postseason. Months of draft prep, lineup tinkering, and waiver wire scouring feels like it’s gone by in an instant.
If you’re reading this, you’re likely at least in contention for the playoffs in your league, so I’m sure you’ve got most of your roster ready to go. But too often we forget about that pesky D/ST slot that can make or break your postseason run. So we’re here to make sure you don’t become complacent with that defense that’s gotten you this far.
Before Week 14 waivers close, there are a few different things we need to take a look at. First off — what if you’re still fighting for your place in the big dance? Well, we will key in on a couple of defenses that are primed for big days in Week 14 that will help you cement your spot.
Already have a playoff spot clinched? Great, that gives us a chance to look ahead a bit. Before next week, when everyone’s going to be locked in on those high-potential units, we can snag them now and stash them until we need them.
Looking at the postseason only (Weeks 14 through 17; if your league goes to Week 18 for the championship, please leave that league), we’ll highlight a few high-ownership units we’re not big on because of their upcoming schedule, a couple of no-brainer pickups that you should absolutely grab if they’re available in your league, and then, finally, the low-profile streamable units that could mean the difference between fantasy glory and going home empty-handed.
Let’s get into it!
FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 14 DEFENSE STREAMERS (D/ST)
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (30% ROSTERED)
The Bucs are still in first place in the NFC South, but Carolina, fresh off a huge win over the Rams, is firmly on their tail. Tampa has a lot of work to do to clinch a sixth consecutive playoff birth, but lucky for them, they have a great ROS schedule that includes four of five games against divisional opponents, including two that could seal the deal with the Panthers (more on this later).
Sticking with Week 14, Tampa will stay at home to face the 2-10 Saints, who were just eliminated from playoff contention after losing to Miami on the road. We chose Miami as a streaming pick last week, and they came through with a solid ten points in a home win. Things were looking even better early on when New Orleans failed to score in the first half, but they mustered up 17 second-half points to make things look a bit more respectable on the scoreboard. All in all, Tyler Shough had two turnovers, including a red zone INT, and was sacked four times on the afternoon.
For a good reference on how this game might go, look no further than these teams’ first matchup in Week 8. The Buccaneers won the game 23-3, and the defense scored 28 points on the day with five sacks and four turnovers, one being a pick six. Now, obviously, things have changed for both teams since that game. New Orleans has benched Spencer Rattler in favor of the rookie Shough, and Tampa’s defense has put up just 14 points in their last four games. However, with New Orleans playing for nothing and the Bucs needing a win to keep pace with the surging Panthers, I think they’ll come out with a similar fire to their last matchup and end up with a strong performance on defense.
MIAMI DOLPHINS (19%)
It feels crazy, but we’re picking Miami for the second straight week. As mentioned, they came through for us last week with a ten-point performance in their win over the Saints, shutting New Orleans out until well into the third quarter. They also had an interception that was one broken tackle away from being housed, so it could’ve been an even better day for the Fins.
With a Wild Card berth still technically possible but very unlikely, Miami will hit the road this week to face the Jets, who eked out a win over Atlanta on a 56-yard field goal from Nick Folk as time expired.
The Jets have cleaned things up a bit since naming Tyrod Taylor the starting quarterback, but are still allowing over seven points per game to opposing defenses this year. With Garrett Wilson on IR, they’ve had to rely on guys like AD Mitchell and Mason Taylor to be Tyrod’s primary options. All in all, they’ve won three of their last five, with their two losses coming against New England and Baltimore. However, they’re still 28th in total offense, dead last in passing, and 25th in scoring on the year.
Given the nature of both offenses, I could see this being a slow-moving, low-scoring contest, even potentially below the opening Vegas total of 41.5. Miami’s big test here will be stopping the run, as Breece Hall is still the focal point of New York’s attack, and the Dolphins have allowed the sixth-most rushing yards to RBs this year. If they can keep him relatively in check and force some turnovers, they should be in for a good day.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (12%)
The Commanders managed just four points in an overtime loss to Denver on Sunday Night Football, finishing the night with just one sack and one turnover. However, they have a much easier matchup on deck with the struggling Vikings.
After an incredible season last year, the Vikings have come full circle back to being an absolute joke. JJ McCarthy was doing absolutely nothing under center, and Max Brosmer kept that tradition going against Seattle with an atrocious NFL debut on Sunday.
Truthfully, there isn’t a lot to say about this one. The Vikings have legitimate weapons at receiver, but without a QB that can get them the ball, none of that matters. Their run game has been bad all year and will only get worse if there’s no threat to move the ball through the air.
Washington hasn’t been putting up great numbers lately, with just seven points over their last four contests, but those included tough matchups with Seattle, Detroit, and Denver. They’re widely available this week and should put up some good numbers against what can barely be considered an NFL offense right now.
DEFENSES (D/ST) TO AVOID IN THE 2025 FANTASY POSTSEASON
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (53%)
Coming off a Week 12 bye, the Chargers saw a big bump in ownership heading into a matchup with the Raiders. They had a solid day, putting up nine points via five sacks and a turnover, but things get much harder for them for the rest of the season. Over the next four weeks they’ll have matchups against the Eagles, Chiefs, Cowboys, and Texans as they fight for a spot in the postseason.
As much as franchises change over the years, some things seem to stick, and the Chargers have been and will always be the team that chokes. Whether it’s missing the playoffs with the number one offense and defense because their special teams was THAT bad, or blowing a 27-0 lead to the Jags in the playoffs, from San Diego to Los Angeles the Chargers always manage to disappoint. I’m hesitant to even reserve them a spot in the postseason given their final schedule, and I don’t want to ride that ship to the bottom by having any stock in their defense for this difficult stretch.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (92%)
Yes, this is an insane thing to say. Seattle has the number one fantasy defense on the year and just put up 32 points against Minnesota in a 26-0 win. They’re tied with Chicago and the Rams for the best record in the NFC at 9-3 and look primed for a deep playoff run. I’m not saying they’re going to fall apart down the stretch, but looking at their upcoming schedule, I cannot in good faith recommend sticking with Seattle, even if they’re a huge part of the reason you’re in the playoffs in the first place.
After a road matchup with Atlanta this week, the Seahawks will face the Colts, Rams, and Panthers in the fantasy postseason. The Colts and Rams are both in the bottom five in points allowed to opposing defenses this year, and after a monumental win over LA, the Panthers have won six of nine after a 1-3 start to the year. Bryce Young made some huge plays against the Rams, throwing two touchdowns on fourth down, and whether it’s Rico Dowdle or Chuba Hubbard lining up in the backfield with him, Carolina’s rushing attack has been a force to be reckoned with all year.
I won’t blame you if you completely ignore this and keep Seattle locked in as your D/ST throughout the playoffs, but don’t come crying to me if they put up a dud and you lose a close matchup.
NO-BRAINER D/ST PICKUPS FOR THE 2025 FANTASY PLAYOFFS
HOUSTON TEXANS (79%)
One spot behind Seattle for the top D/ST for the year is Houston, who put up just two points against the Colts in Week 13 but before that was on a streak of three straight double digit performances, averaging 14 points per game in Weeks 10 through 12.
Houston may have a tough go of it this week as they head to Arrowhead to face the Chiefs, but their postseason schedule has me licking my lips. From Weeks 15 to 17 they’ll have home matchups against the Cardinals and Raiders before a road game with the Chargers, which I assume will sound like it’s being played at NRG Stadium with how few Chargers fans show up for their games.
Houston is currently 5th in the league with 19 takeaways on the season, tied for sixth with 34 sacks, and has the best scoring defense in football, allowing just 16.5 points per game. They also have everything in the world to play for, currently in third place in the AFC South but just one game back of Jacksonville and Indianapolis. If the season ended today they’d be the first team out of the postseason in the AFC, but I wouldn’t count on them staying in that position.
CJ Stroud looked solid against Indy in his return from injury, and Houston’s offense in general is looking more and more like a playoff team as of late. That only helps their talented defense, giving them more time to rest between drives and better starting field position with fewer turnovers.
Houston is owned in nearly 80% of leagues, but if you are one of the lucky few that has them available on the waiver wire, make a move now. They may not be the best play in Week 14 against a Chiefs team that is literally fighting for their lives, but they have a combination of talent and a generous postseason schedule that we don’t often see, and you’ll want to take advantage.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (68%) AND BUFFALO BILLS (52%)
I was deciding between these two teams to include, but opted to lump them together for a few reasons. For starters, they will be facing each other in Week 17, so part of this decision will come down to which offense is less scary that you’d like to potentially face off with in the fantasy championship. In that regard, I lean Buffalo as they’re a bit more consistent than Philly on offense.
I also grouped these two teams together because they’re in very similar situations — both have solid playoff schedules, but neither has been even remotely capable of stopping the run this year. Looking at the full season, Buffalo is ranked 30th in run defense, allowing over 141 yards per game, but Philadelphia isn’t far behind, ranking 24th with 129 yards allowed per game. Philly has the slight edge for the full season, but Buffalo held the Steelers to 58 rushing yards in Week 13 while the Eagles were gashed by the Bears on Black Friday, allowing 281 rushing yards in a 25-14 loss as both Kyle Monangai and D’Andre Swift eclipsed 100 yards on the ground.
Recent trends definitely makes me want to lean toward the Bills out of these two, but obviously, that means they have the tougher schedule. The Bills will face Joe Burrow and the Bengals in Week 14, Drake Maye and the Patriots in Week 15, then get an easier matchup with Cleveland before facing the Eagles in Week 17. Philly, meanwhile, gets the Chargers, Raiders, and Commanders before their championship contest with Buffalo — definitely a much easier path.
Even with the schedule being considered, I’m still slightly favoring the Bills, as they’ve looked better lately and will likely have more to play for down the stretch as the current seven seed in the AFC. Philly is still in contention for a first round bye, but will need to take advantage of their schedule the next few weeks — and likely get some help — to make that happen.
FANTASY FOOTBALL PLAYOFF DEFENSE STREAMERS (DST)
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (30%)
We already established that the Bucs are a great option for Week 14 as they host the Saints, but their schedule continues to be in their favor for the next few weeks, too. After the Saints they’ll host Atlanta before finally heading back on the road for the Panthers and Dolphins.
With just a half game lead on the surprising Panthers, Tampa needs to roll through this final stretch of their schedule to secure a spot in the postseason. Luckily for them, three of their next four opponents are in the top nine in points allowed to defenses this year, and the other is Atlanta, who are on pace with those other teams in points allowed over the last two weeks since Kirk Cousins took over as the starting QB.
The Bucs have been a bit underwhelming this year as they’ve dealt with injuries on both sides of the ball, but they’re ranked sixth in stopping the run and are tied for sixth with 18 turnovers forced and 14th with 29 sacks. Not incredible numbers by any means, especially given their struggles in stopping the pass, but with everything to play for down the stretch and a huge matchup against Carolina looming in Week 16, they’ll be doing everything in their power to shut down opposing offenses and give the team a chance to continue playing into January.
CINCINNATI BENGALS (2%)
The Bengals have been one of the worst fantasy defenses this year, but things are turning around as of late. They’ve put up 25 points over their last two contests against the Patriots and Ravens and their upcoming schedule puts them in a good spot to contribute to your postseason run.
After a tough matchup with Buffalo in Week 14, the Bengals get a quick rematch of their Thanksgiving game against the Ravens. Baltimore is on the up and up for sure, but Cincinnati held them to 14 points on Thursday night with three sacks and four turnovers. They limited Lamar Jackson‘s impact with his legs, holding him to just 27 yards rushing, and held him to his second-lowest passer rating of the season at just 65.4.
If you don’t trust the Bengals to hold their own in that rematch, I totally understand — but they’ll be in much better shape for the rest of the fantasy postseason. After Baltimore, the Bengals will face the Dolphins in Miami and then round out the fantasy playoffs with Arizona at home. Both the Dolphins and Cardinals have allowed over eight points per game to opposing defenses this year, and neither project to have much to play for by the time those contests roll around.
It isn’t a sexy pick, but consider this: last year through Week 13, the Bengals were the DST29, averaging four points per game. From Weeks 14 to 17, they were the DST2, averaging 12 points per game with two explosions of 18+ in the fantasy playoffs.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (28%)
The Chiefs are in the midst of a nightmare season, currently sitting at 6-6 well outside the AFC Playoff Picture. Their defense was winning them games early in the season, but through a recent gauntlet of the Bills, Broncos, Colts, and Cowboys, they’ve struggled, averaging less than two points per game since Week 9.
As crazy as it seems, I struggle to see a future that doesn’t involve Kansas City at least making a run at a Wild Card spot. And their schedule lines up decently well for it, as after Houston in Week 14 they’ll face the Chargers and Titans before a Week 17 rematch with Denver, this time at home.
With their backs against the wall and likely needing to win out to have any shot at the playoffs, I’m expecting the Chiefs defense to come out firing for the rest of the year, especially after a high-profile loss to Dallas on Thanksgiving. They’ve struggled to generate turnovers with just ten on the year, but are ninth in total yardage and against the run and are seventh in scoring.
Obviously my favorite matchup is Week 16 against the Titans, but I also like them to show up against the Chargers, especially with Justin Herbert seemingly gearing up to play through a broken non-throwing hand for the remainder of the season. And with Denver in first place having won nine straight, they may not have much to play for by the time Week 17 rolls around. I don’t expect them to roll over considering how Kansas City has owned their division for the last decade, but I expect Sean Payton to be smart with how he uses his guys once they’ve locked up their playoff position.
KC isn’t my favorite pick for the stretch run, but their schedule could definitely be tougher, and I don’t expect them to go quietly into the offseason without making a legitimate run at the playoffs. And if Patrick Mahomes and the offense can’t get it done themselves, it’ll take some strong performances from their defense to make it happen.
NEW YORK GIANTS (4%)
As is customary, I’ll round things out with an awful unit that just might make some noise down the stretch. It’s been a brutal season for the Giants, losing their top two offensive weapons to season-ending injuries, firing their coach, and starting three different quarterbacks over the first 13 weeks. They’re tied for the worst record in the league at 2-10, and their defense has been the DST32 in fantasy, failing to put up a single double digit week so far.
Now, the good stuff — they’ll have a bye in Week 14 to rest up before an absolute cakewalk of a stretch against the Commanders, Vikings, and Raiders. Minnesota and Vegas are both in the top three in points allowed to defenses this year, and neither offense appears to be headed in the right direction after losses in Week 13.
Washington’s season-long numbers look a little better, but injuries have derailed their season since the start. Jayden Daniels may return at some point, but his numbers while he was healthy this year weren’t much better than Marcus Mariota‘s. For the season, the Commanders have put up less than 200 yards a game through the air and are 23rd in scoring at under 22 points per game.
If you don’t feel right about starting the Giants against Washington, that matchup will be in Week 15, and I can almost guarantee New York will be available heading into Week 16 for the Vikings followed by Las Vegas. You may get some questionable looks when waivers clear, but the Giants could be a legitimate piece of your title run given their final couple of matchups.
