Key Highlights
- The best strategy is to focus solely on matchups -- even in the fantasy playoffs. If you have advanced this far in the season, you might've drafted an elite defense or played the streamer game successfully.
- Which direction should you take in your league's championship?Here are our Week 17 D/ST fantasy rankings, best starts, sleepers, and some matchups to avoid.➕ UPGRADE YOUR TOOLS: Sign up for Yahoo Fantasy PlusWeek 17 Fantasy D/ST Rankings: Start-sit team defense lineup tipsRkTeam DefenseOPP1Seattle Seahawks@CAR2New England Patriots@NYJ3Pittsburgh Steelers@CLE4Houston Texans@LAC5Los Angeles Rams@ATL6Denver Broncos@KC7Jacksonville Jaguars@IND8Green Bay PackersBAL9Cleveland BrownsPIT10Tampa Bay Buccaneers@MIA11Detroit Lions@MIN12New Orleans Saints@TEN13New York Giants@LV14Chicago Bears@SF15Kansas City ChiefsDEN16Indianapolis ColtsJAX17San Francisco 49ersCHI18Arizona Cardinals@CIN19Philadelphia Eagles@BUF20Buffalo BillsPHI21Baltimore Ravens@GB22Carolina PanthersSEA23Atlanta FalconsLAR24Los Angeles ChargersHOU25Minnesota VikingsDET26Tennessee TitansNO27Dallas Cowboys@WAS28New York JetsNE29Miami DolphinsTB30Las Vegas RaidersNYG31Cincinnati BengalsARI32Washington CommandersDAL🏆 Lock in your D/ST for championship week: Week 17 waiver wireWho are the best fantasy defenses in Week 17?This game is crucial for the Patriots' playoff seeding.
- Following their Week 15 loss to the Bills, New England cannot afford to slip up if they want to win the AFC East.
- The Patriots won't play with their food in this one, and they'll handle the Jets in Week 18. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Browns' offense is unimpressive, and Cleveland has also struggled with special teams.
- The Steelers present a formidable defense to face in Week 18. Who are the top fantasy D/ST sleepers in Week 17?The Steelers will be favored to win the game; it could be low scoring nonetheless.

