Unless most of the teams in your league carry a backup defense, more than half of the league should be available to you every week. Perhaps instead of playing one above-average defense every week, regardless of matchup, we should instead target the widely available waiver wire defenses with the best matchups in any particular week? You can always make exceptions if your rent-a-defense gets hot - heck, you might find a team worth starting all year by accident. Even if you don't, good matchups will continue to get greater in number as more QBs get injured or yanked as the season goes on. You can steal some points from bad weather. Each week, I'll list the startable fantasy defenses on most waiver wires and rank them.
Week 17 Results
Kansas City (vs Cincinnati) - 6 sacks
The Chiefs defense had a big second half and helped them lock up the #3 seed.
A Look Ahead: @LAC - The Chiefs have nothing to play for, so we won’t use them.
Tampa Bay (vs New Orleans) - 1 sack
We had the wrong side of this one as the Bucs played like a team that didn’t need to win this game to win the division.
A Look Ahead: @CAR - We’ll consider the Bucs despite the Week 17 letdown.
Las Vegas (at Indianapolis) - 1 sack
The magical D/ST two-week run came to an end.
A Look Ahead: DEN - The Raiders D/ST could hit again in Week 18, but don’t count on it.
Seattle (vs Pittsburgh) - 1 sack
Who knew Mason Rudolph would revitalize the Steelers offense?
A Look Ahead: @ARI - Kyler Murray is regaining form, so this might not be a good choice, even though the Cardinals have nothing to play for.
Houston (vs Tennessee) - 6 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 1 DEF TD, 3 pts allowed
Your #1 D/ST of the week
A Look Ahead: @IND - Even though they are on the road, we’ll prefer the Texans D/ST in this win-and-you’re-in matchup.
Green Bay (at Minnesota) - 4 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 1 INT
The Packers dominated this game. The defensive stats don’t indicate how much they held down the Vikings offense.
A Look Ahead: CHI - The Packers are the team with something to play for here, but the Bears are also playing well, so Green Bay isn’t an automatic play.
Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda
NY Giants (vs LA Rams) - 4 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 INT, 1 ST TD
The Giants D/ST has shown flashes at times this year and Gunner Olszewski’s punt return score capped this performance.
Jacksonville (vs Carolina) - 6 sacks, 1 INT, 0 pts allowed
Bryce Young found himself in Week 16 and lost himself again in Week 17.
New Orleans (at Tampa Bay) - 2 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 2 INT
The Saints defense played one of their best games of the season with their backs against the wall.
Chicago (vs Atlanta) - 2 sacks, 4 INT
This is what happens when the Falcons play from behind and have to pass more.
Week 18 Candidates
Jacksonville (at Tennessee)
The Titans offense is in shambles, and the Jaguars just pitched a shutout.
Houston (at Indianapolis)
The Texans have been a good D/ST play in four of the last five weeks.
New Orleans (vs Atlanta)
The Saints D/ST is hot, and they might get to face Desmond Ridder.
Tampa Bay (at Carolina)
The Panthers offense reverted to league-bottom form, and they have nothing to play for this week.
Pittsburgh (at Baltimore)
The Ravens are likely to play their backups for most or all of the game.
Green Bay (vs Chicago)
The Bears have been playing well lately, but they have nothing to play for in this one.