Key Highlights
- Which direction should you take in your league's semifinals?Here are our Week 16 D/ST fantasy rankings, best starts, sleepers, and some matchups to avoid.➕ UPGRADE YOUR TOOLS: Sign up for Yahoo Fantasy PlusWeek 16 Fantasy D/ST Rankings: Start-sit team defense lineup tips↕️ Fantasy Rankings for Week 16: QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST | PK | Flex Cheat SheetUpdated 12/19:RkTeam DefenseOPPRk Chg1Houston TexansLV2San Francisco 49ers@IND3Philadelphia Eagles@WAS4Denver BroncosJAX5Buffalo Bills@CLE⬆️ 76Green Bay Packers@CHI7Chicago BearsGB8Seattle SeahawksLARTNF9Indianapolis ColtsSF⬆️ 110Jacksonville Jaguars@DEN11Kansas City Chiefs@TEN⬇️ 212Los Angeles Rams@SEATNF13Detroit LionsPIT⬆️ 214Tampa Bay Buccaneers@CAR15New Orleans SaintsNYJ16Carolina PanthersTB17Atlanta Falcons@ARI⬇️ 218Cleveland BrownsBUF19Arizona CardinalsATL20Baltimore RavensNE21Los Angeles Chargers@DAL22Pittsburgh Steelers@DET23Minnesota Vikings@NYG24New York Jets@NO25New England Patriots@BAL26New York GiantsMIN27Dallas CowboysLAC28Miami DolphinsCIN29Tennessee TitansKC30Las Vegas Raiders@HOU31Washington CommandersPHI32Cincinnati Bengals@MIA📋 BEST PLAYOFF D/ST PICKUPS: Week 16 waiver wireWho are the best fantasy defenses in Week 16?There should be little debate that the Houston Texans are by far the best defensive unit in football.
- They're so elite that starting them regardless of the matchup is a viable option.
- Luckily for those with the Houston defense, they face the Raiders, a favorable matchup. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Eagles have struggled, no doubt, but not defensively.
- In Week 16, they'll face the Commanders, who have looked decent with Mariota, but still should be a game the Eagles win. Who are the top fantasy D/ST sleepers in Week 16?By no means have the Buffalo Bills been elite this season on the defensive side of the football, but this matchup with the Browns is too good not to exploit. There's a world where the Tennessee Titans' defense holds strong against a Chiefs team likely without Patrick Mahomes.
- It's risky for the fantasy playoffs, but it's an option. FANTASY TOOLS: NFL Player Stats | NFL Transactions | NFL Depth Charts | Fantasy Injury Reports.