The fantasy football playoffs are almost here, so now is the time to figure out which defenses you can count on when it’s do-or-die time for your team.
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You’ll also be happy to hear the bye weeks are over, so you’ll have all 32 team defenses at your disposal. Which ones you’re starting from here on out could be what makes or breaks your bid for a fantasy championship.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are still No. 1 in fantasy points per game among defenses, and they’ve got a very favorable schedule heading down the stretch. That includes matchups with the Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Indianapolis Colts, and Houston Texans, making Jacksonville easily the best defense to own right now.
Now, here is a fresh set of rankings for the top 25 defenses and special teams heading into Week 12.
Defense/Special Teams rankings, Week 12
(SK: Scott Kaliska; JG Jeff Goldberg; DG: Derek Gordon; KB: Kyle Bennett; ZS: Zach Senvisky; JM: Jason Marcum)
D/ST rankings, Week 12
Rk | Consensus | Opp | SK | JG | DG | AW | JM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pittsburgh Steelers | vs. GB | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Cincinnati Bengals | vs. CLE | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 3 | Philadelphia Eagles | vs. CHI | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| 4 | Baltimore Ravens | vs. HOU | 3 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
| 5 | Jacksonville Jaguars | @ ARI | 1 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| 6 | Carolina Panthers | @ NYJ | 8 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| 7 | Atlanta Falcons | vs. TB | 11 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 7 |
| 8 | Minnesota Vikings | @ DET | 10 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 8 |
| 9 | New England Patriots | vs. MIA | 7 | 6 | 11 | 9 | 13 |
| 10 | Seattle Seahawks | @ SF | 6 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| 11 | Washington | vs. NYG | 12 | 12 | 8 | 11 | 9 |
| 12 | Kansas City Chiefs | vs. BUF | 9 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 11 |
| 13 | Denver Broncos | @ OAK | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 16 |
| 14 | Arizona Cardinals | vs. JAC | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 |
| 15 | Detroit Lions | vs. MIN | 17 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 |
| 16 | New Orleans Saints | @ LAR | 19 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 |
| 17 | Los Angeles Chargers | @ DAL | 16 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 19 |
| 18 | Tennessee Titans | @ IND | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 17 |
| 19 | Los Angeles Rams | vs. NO | 22 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 |
| 20 | Dallas Cowboys | vs. LAC | 20 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 20 |
| 21 | Houston Texans | @ BAL | 15 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
| 22 | Cleveland Browns | @ CIN | 25 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 |
| 23 | Oakland Raiders | vs. DEN | 21 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 24 |
| 24 | New York Jets | vs. CAR | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 23 |
| 25 | San Francisco 49ers | vs. SEA | -- | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| -- | Indianapolis Colts | vs. TEN | 23 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
