The time for probably SB Nation’s most diverse, differing D/ST rankings could not have come at a much worse time — in the final week before the playoffs (for most leagues).
Fantasy football rankings, 2016: Defense/special teams for Week 13
The SB Nation fantasy team reveals which defense/special teams rank in the top 25 heading into Week 13.
Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Next to the Colts, the team are the top of our list has the best-looking matchup heading into Week 13 — the New England Patriots. Bill Belichick & co. are hosting the Rams, who’ve allowed the third-most points to opposing defenses this season. The Patriots have had two nice weeks in a row (in San Francisco and at the Jets), and it looks like they may finally reach that No. 1 D/ST potential.
Also near the top are the usual suspects — Denver (at Jacksonville) and Seattle (at Carolina).
The Ravens are also in the top five — John Harbaugh’s squad, coming off a controversial win against the Bengals, have a nice matchup at home against the Dolphins. On paper it doesn’t look all that flashy, but take into consideration the injuries that Miami is having on it’s offensive line coupled with the pass rushers in Baltimore, and you’ve got a team that might be the top D/ST this week.
Some defenses to keep an eye on: Washington -- it hasn’t been flashy the past couple of weeks, but they face an Arizona team that has given up double-digit fantasy points to opposing defenses in four of the last five weeks; Arizona -- it has been reliable as can be this season; and Pittsburgh -- anything can happen when you play Eli Manning.
Defense/special teams, Week 13
(ZS: Zach Senvisky, JM: Jason Marcum, SK: Scott Kaliska, JG: Jeff Goldberg, KB: Kyle Bennett, DG: Derek Gordon)
| Rk | Consensus | Opp. | ZS | JM | SK | JG | KB | DG |
| 1 | New England Patriots | vs. LA | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Denver Broncos | @ JAC | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| 3 | Baltimore Ravens | vs. MIA | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 4 | Seattle Seahawks | vs. CAR | 2 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 7 |
| 5 | Arizona Cardinals | vs. WAS | 10 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| 6 | Minnesota Vikings | vs. DAL | 8 | 4 | 13 | 4 | 16 | 4 |
| 7 | Houston Texans | @ GB | 18 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 5 | |
| 8 | Dallas Cowboys | @ MIN | 12 | 8 | 15 | 8 | 7 | 8 |
| 9 | San Diego Chargers | vs. TB | 9 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 10 |
| 10 | Cincinnati Bengals | vs. PHI | 11 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 12 |
| 11 | Philadelphia Eagles | @ CIN | 5 | 19 | 7 | 20 | 5 | 19 |
| 12 | Pittsburgh Steelers | vs. NYG | 16 | 14 | 9 | 14 | 10 | 14 |
| 13 | Green Bay Packers | vs. HOU | 7 | 20 | 5 | 19 | 8 | 20 |
| 14 | Washington | @ ARI | 14 | 11 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 11 |
| 15 | Jacksonville Jaguars | vs. DEN | 13 | 9 | 25 | 9 | 20 | 9 |
| 16 | Miami Dolphins | @ BAL | 6 | 23 | 8 | 23 | 12 | 23 |
| 17 | New York Giants | @ PIT | 15 | 13 | 24 | 13 | 18 | 13 |
| 18 | Kansas City Chiefs | @ ATL | 17 | 16 | 12 | 17 | 19 | 18 |
| 19 | Atlanta Falcons | vs. KC | 22 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 22 | 17 |
| 20 | Buffalo Bills | @ OAK | 19 | 17 | 20 | 16 | 21 | 15 |
| 21 | Carolina Panthers | @ SEA | 20 | 18 | -- | 18 | 23 | 16 |
| 22 | San Francisco 49ers | @ CHI | 24 | -- | 10 | -- | 11 | -- |
| 23 | Chicago Bears | vs. SF | -- | -- | 19 | -- | 13 | -- |
| 24 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | @ SD | 25 | 24 | 23 | 21 | -- | 22 |
| 25 | Los Angeles Rams | @ NE | -- | 21 | -- | 24 | 24 | 21 |
| -- | Detroit Lions | @ NO | 21 | 25 | -- | 25 | 25 | 24 |
| -- | New York Jets | vs. IND | -- | -- | 17 | -- | -- | -- |
| -- | New Orleans Saints | vs. DET | -- | 22 | -- | 22 | -- | 25 |
| -- | Oakland Raiders | vs. BUF | 23 | -- | 21 | -- | -- | -- |
| -- | Indianapolis Colts | @ NYJ | -- | -- | 22 | -- | -- | -- |
