The fantasy football playoffs are upon us now that Week 13 is arriving.
Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Week 14 is when many leagues begin their playoffs, so this may be a do-or-die week for you to earn your spot in the postseason. That is why the last thing you want to do is overlook the defense you will be starting this week.
One of the early contenders for matchup of the week is the Chicago Bears hosting the San Francisco 49ers, who will be going with a new quarterback this week in Jimmy Garoppolo. While Garoppolo has shown he can be a solid quarterback before, he is in a brand-new offense that is nothing like what he had in New England, so Chicago could be poised to feast this week.
What other defenses will step up big in Week 13? Let us help you answer those questions with a fresh set of rankings for the top 25 defenses and special teams heading into Week 13.
Defense/Special Teams rankings, Week 13
(SK: Scott Kaliska; JG Jeff Goldberg; DG: Derek Gordon; KB: Kyle Bennett; ZS: Zach Senvisky; JM: Jason Marcum)
D/ST rankings, Week 13
Rk | Consensus | Opp | SK | JG | DG | AW | ZS | JM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles Chargers | vs. CLE | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2 | Jacksonville Jaguars | vs. IND | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | Baltimore Ravens | vs. DET | 7 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| 4 | Denver Broncos | @ MIA | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 5 | Chicago Bears | vs. SF | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 3 |
| 6 | Los Angeles Rams | @ ARI | 3 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 |
| 7 | Minnesota Vikings | @ ATL | 15 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 |
| 8 | New England Patriots | @ BUF | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| 9 | Philadelphia Eagles | @ SEA | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 3 | 12 |
| 10 | Tennessee Titans | vs. HOU | 6 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 10 |
| 11 | Pittsburgh Steelers | @ CIN | 5 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 |
| 12 | Seattle Seahawks | vs. PHI | 21 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 11 |
| 13 | Kansas City Chiefs | @ NYJ | 11 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 |
| 14 | New Orleans Saints | vs. CAR | 12 | 14 | 19 | 18 | 11 | 17 |
| 15 | Miami Dolphins | vs. DEN | 16 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 14 |
| 16 | Arizona Cardinals | vs. LAR | -- | 12 | 11 | 13 | 25 | 9 |
| 17 | Oakland Raiders | vs. NYG | 13 | 20 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 19 |
| 18 | Houston Texans | @ TEN | 23 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 19 | 16 |
| 19 | New York Jets | vs. KC | 24 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 18 |
| 20 | Washington | @ DAL | 18 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 23 |
| 21 | Detroit Lions | @ BAL | 14 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 14 | 25 |
| 22 | Cincinnati Bengals | vs. PIT | 20 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 21 |
| 23 | Carolina Panthers | @ NO | -- | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 20 |
| 24 | Atlanta Falcons | vs. MIN | 25 | 22 | 21 | 25 | 21 | 22 |
| 25 | Green Bay Packers | vs. TB | 17 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 24 |
| -- | San Francisco 49ers | @ CHI | 19 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| -- | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | @ GB | 22 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
