A bad week for most fantasy leagues meant a good week for most defenses. 15 different DSTs scored 8 or more fantasy points. Importantly, a low-rostered DST that played badly most of the season finally paid off when the Cowboys finished 6th last week. After having limited options in recent weeks, Week 12 offers much better DST streamers.
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Week 11 Results (Standard Fantrax Scoring)
- Baltimore Ravens: 15 Points (T-3rd Ranked DST)
- Dallas Cowboys: 13 Points (T-6th)
- New England Patriots: 9 Points (T-12th)
- Chicago Bears: 9 Points (T-12th)
- Atlanta Falcons: 5 Points (T-21st)
Week 12 DST Streamers
Last Week’s Stashes: Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns
Seattle Seahawks (at Tennessee Titans)
Fantrax Rostership: 93% (Other Platforms: 75% – 84%)
One of last week’s stashes, the Seahawks expectedly dropped in rostership on some other platforms. They weren’t too widely available, though, so if they pay off, I can’t victory lap this one too badly. This is an elite defense going up against the worst offense in the league.
Cam Ward has been sacked a league-high 41 times in just 10 games. Tennessee’s offense continues to struggle, and they just placed WR Calvin Ridley on IR after he missed over a month. There isn’t much to be excited about in the Music City. Seattle’s defense continues to rank as a top-3 unit, and they should feast in Week 12.
Cleveland Browns (at Las Vegas Raiders)
Fantrax Rostership: 82% (Other Platforms: 36% – 50%)
Cleveland’s home-away split is eye-popping. On average, the Browns allow 31.4 on the road but only 15.4 at home. To their credit, though, they have played some of the best offenses in the league on the road. Can you really expect anyone to hold off the Ravens, Lions, and Patriots? All three rank top-10 in offensive DVOA.
This week is one of their tamer away games as they visit the Las Vegas Raiders. Geno Smith has taken a beating in the pocket and struggles to generate offensive success. Smith leads the league with 13 interceptions to only 12 TDs and has taken 31 sacks. The Browns are tied for the 4th most sacks in the league with 32.
Perhaps there is something to the home-away split, but this is a top-5 defense against a bottom-5 offense. You have to take a chance on that matchup. The Browns play the Titans in two weeks, too, so they’re worth stashing if you can afford it.
Jacksonville Jaguars (at Arizona Cardinals)
Fantrax Rostership: 74% (Other Platforms: 21% – 30%)
Following a string of rough performances, the Jaguars are once again a great fantasy defense. Jacksonville already ranks as the DST7 on the season and just shut down a good Chargers offense. Now they’ll visit a Cardinals team giving up the 10th most fantasy points to opposing DSTs.
Jacoby Brissett just set the record for most completions in a single game, but the Cardinals only scored 22 points against the 49ers. Arizona has been consistently solid under Brissett, but they’ve never taken off. He’s a veteran who takes care of the ball and keeps games close, but doesn’t singlehandedly win them. That’s not great news for the Jags, as they’ve thrived when taking the ball away.
This won’t be the easiest game despite the matchup, but I’m trusting a great defense against just a solid offense. Even if you don’t plan to start them in Week 12, they’re a great stash. Jacksonville plays the Titans next week.
Las Vegas Raiders (vs Cleveland Browns)
Fantrax Rostership: 65% (Other Platforms: 5% – 6%)
This is the weekly desperation play. Vegas has been a bottom-10 fantasy DST, but they have had some big performances against struggling offenses. The Raiders scored 16 in Denver on Thursday Night Football and 22 against the lowly Titans. They combined for 8 sacks in those games, and they didn’t even get lucky with a TD on defense or special teams.
There is still a risk in playing such a bad defense, but the Raiders aren’t as bad as they appear. The Raiders defense ranks 15th in DVOA and 23rd in EPA/play. Things like turnovers and stalled drives can lead to more opportunities for the defense to let up a score, and that could once again happen against an elite Browns defense. However, Cleveland’s offense just can’t get it going, and that may continue this week.
Dillon Gabriel starting would make this a worse plan, but he still gets sacked at a high rate. We don’t have much NFL tape of Shedeur Sanders, but he’s another rookie who should struggle with a bad offense. Like the Cowboys last week, this is a desperation play that could pay off in a great matchup.
DSTs to Stash
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams play the Buccaneers this week, which should lower their roster percentage. After this tough matchup, the DST4 on the season will play the Carolina Panthers. Carolina has been frustrating for fantasy, but they still allow the 8th most fantasy points to opposing DSTs. Aside from their games against the 49ers, the Rams have scored at least 6 fantasy points in every game this year and double-digit points in all but one other game. They’re trustworthy against nearly any opponent.
Los Angeles Chargers
With the Chargers on bye this week, they should be a free stash. Next week, they get a divisional matchup at home against the Las Vegas Raiders. Geno Smith struggled in his last matchup against them, getting sacked 3 times and throwing 3 interceptions. You would’ve been happy to start the Chargers in most of their good matchups. They average over 14 points in their 6 best matchups this year. They’re a top-10 pass defense hosting a bottom-3 passing offense. There’s a path to success here.
San Francisco 49ers
You could arguably start the 49ers against the Panthers this week, but San Francisco has been a major letdown in fantasy. Bryce Young and the Panthers don’t exactly boast a scary offense, but they can get the job done. The 49ers may have a great record, but they are the DST29 this season. They do, however, visit the Cleveland Browns next week. They’re worth a stash against the second-best DST matchup in fantasy.
Make sure to check out all of our Week 12 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!
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