Fantasy football defense rankings: Top D/STs for Week 15, plus three viable streamers

Welcome to Week 15, everyone! If you’ve made it this far, congratulations. You’ve probably already made it to your fantasy football playoffs. If not, you’re probably looking to clinch a spot this week (or just enjoying the ride of the rest of the season).

In case you haven’t locked in your starting defense, we’re here with our Week 15 defense rankings, plus three streamers to consider.

The Washington Commanders defense isn’t one you’d likely choose to represent your own favorite NFL team in real life... but it does find itself in an interesting position for Week 15, up against an injury-riddled New Orleans Saints offense. They’re set to be without several key contributors in Week 15, two of which are officially done for the year (WR Rashid Shaheed, knee, and TE/Swiss Army Knife Taysom Hill), while QB Derek Carr seems is week-to-week with a hand injury and star WR Chris Olave continues his recovery on IR from a concussion suffered in Week 9 (though he is eligible to return this week).

If Carr can’t go, it will either be Jake Haener or Spencer Rattler starting, throwing to a combination of Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kevin Austin Jr., Juwan Johnson and Alvin Kamara. Expect plenty of opportunities for Washington to create some splash plays.

Once again, the Atlanta Falcons are not a defensive unit you might choose to represent your favorite NFL team in real life. However, they, like the New Orleans Saints, have an ideal matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders this week. The Raiders didn’t have great options at quarterback to begin with this year between Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell. Now, the Raiders could be without either, as Minshew is out for the year with a collarbone injury and O’Connell deals with a knee bruise that forced him from Week 14.

If AOC should be unavailable, it will mean former third-round pick Desmond Ridder gets the start, throwing to a cohort of star TE Brock Bowers and WR Jakobi Meyers... and not much else. The Falcons have struggled in the pass rush this year, but their coverage unit is plenty capable between Jessie Bates III, A.J. Terrelle and Justin Simmons. It’s not an ideal spot start, as the Falcons D/ST has scored double-digit fantasy points on just two occasions all season, but you could do worse given the opportunity.

Remember back in the day, when the New York Jets’ defense was actually something to be feared? Yeah, that’s not the case anymore. This D/ST actually scored negative points this past week against the Miami Dolphins. However, they did prove themselves somewhat capable of splash plays back in Week 13, notching a 16-point outing against the Seahawks, limiting Seattle to 20 points, posting three sacks against Geno Smith and recovering two forced fumbles.

This week, the Jets will take on the Mac Jones-led Jacksonville Jaguars, limited to just 23 points over his three starts this year with 0 passing touchdowns, 5 interceptions and 5 sacks taken. Those are exactly the kind of opportunities any defense can take advantage of — even a struggling one, especially with the type of talent New York is deploying.

Kate Magdziuk is an editor and contributor for Yahoo Fantasy and co-host of the Locked On Dynasty Football podcast. She is also the managing editor for Behind The Steel Curtain, SB Nation’s exclusive Pittsburgh Steelers blog. Her previous bylines include Pro Football Focus, NBC Sports Rotoworld and 4for4 Football, among others.