August 30, 2022
Defense/special teams is such a volatile position in fantasy football. The idea of taking defenses and kickers with the final two picks in a draft is commonplace. Some leagues like (one redraft league I'm in) have eschewed kickers and defenses completely because of the inherent randomness of it and the tough process of correctly figuring out which defense/special team units to stream.
I'm here to help though. Streaming is the way to go, working the waiver wire every week to grab a new D/ST based off the weakness of their opponent. The Bills' defense is great and will be one of the first taken in most drafts, but they won't be an ideal option week in, week out when they're facing the likes of the Rams, Ravens, Chiefs, Packers and Bengals. That's what fantasy managers need to weigh.
Not everyone takes the streaming path, but it's a great value play that can allow fantasy managers to put greater resources into the rest of the roster while slyly making changes weekly, especially if you don't land one of the eight-or-so best defenses.
Sorry to any Jets, Giants, Seahawks, Bears, Lions and Texans fans out there. Defenses playing those teams will be solid choices.
Here's a handy guide to refer back to this season when trying to decide which defenses to nab each week. Seeing a defense listed on here in back to back weeks can be a helpful look forward into the best value on the waiver wire:
Week 1
| Best matchup | 2nd best | 3rd best |
| Eagles (at Lions) | Titans (vs. Giants) | Bengals (vs. Steelers) |
Week 2
| Best matchup | 2nd best | 3rd best |
| Browns (vs. Jets) | Commanders (at Lions) | Panthers (at Giants) |
Week 3
| Best matchup | 2nd best | 3rd best |
| Vikings (vs. Lions) | Bears (vs. Texans) | Bengals (at Jets) |
Week 4
| Best matchup | 2nd best | 3rd best |
| Cowboys (vs. Commanders) | Steelers (vs. Jets) | Browns (at Falcons) |
Week 5
| Best matchup | 2nd best | 3rd best |
| Dolphins (at Jets) | Patriots (vs. Lions) | Packers (vs. Giants) |
Week 6
| Best matchup | 2nd best | 3rd best |
| Packers (vs. Jets) | Ravens (at Giants) | Cardinals (at Seahawks) |
Week 7
| Best matchup | 2nd best | 3rd best |
| Cowboys (vs. Lions) | Patriots (vs. Bears) | Raiders (vs. Texans) |
Week 8
| Best matchup | 2nd best | 3rd best |
| Cowboys (vs. Bears) | Patriots (at Jets) | Dolphins (at Lions) |
Week 9
| Best matchup | 2nd best | 3rd best |
| Eagles (at Texans) | Dolphins (at Bears) | Vikings (at Commanders) |
Week 10
| Best matchup | 2nd best | 3rd best |
| Chiefs (vs. Jaguars) | Bears (vs. Lions) | Eagles (vs. Commanders) |
Week 11
| Best matchup | 2nd best | 3rd best |
| Patriots (vs. Jets) | Commanders (at Texans) | Ravens (vs. Panthers) |
Week 12
| Best matchup | 2nd best | 3rd best |
| Raiders (at Seahawks) | Dolphins (vs. Texans) | Ravens (at Jaguars) |
Week 13
| Best matchup | 2nd best | 3rd best |
| Packers (at Bears) | Vikings (vs. Jets) | Browns (at Texans) |
Week 14
| Best matchup | 2nd best | 3rd best |
| Cowboys (vs. Texans) | Vikings (at Lions) | Eagles (at Giants) |
Week 15
| Best matchup | 2nd best | 3rd best |
| Commanders (vs. Giants) | Steelers (at Panthers) | Eagles (at Bears) |
Week 16
| Best matchup | 2nd best | 3rd best |
| Vikings (vs. Giants) | Titans (vs. Texans) | Chiefs (vs. Seahawks) |
Follow Shamus & PhillyVoice on Twitter: @shamus_clancy | @thePhillyVoice
Like us on Facebook: PhillyVoice Sports
Add Shamus' RSS feed to your feed reader
