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Let’s be honest. Most of the season, most family managers don’t really care that much about team defenses. Unless there’s a gaggle of big plays or a defensive score, they just don’t score enough to swing games.
Some folks just draft a big name and roll them out every week regardless of matchup. Other managers (the smart ones) wait until late in the draft, select a defense that has a favorable Week 1 opponent and then stream defenses all season long based on matchups.
But as we near the end of the season, for some fantasy managers the margin for error has evaporated. Lose another game, and that’s that. There won’t be any playoffs. Now, every lineup decision is a huge deal. Every point matters that much more. One sack or takeaway can be the difference between keeping hope alive and playing out the string.
Now, every position matters – including defenses and kickers.
OK, maybe not kickers – let’s not get nuts.
THE NO-DOUBTERS
Pittsburgh Steelers (at Cleveland Browns)
Week 12 kicks off with one of the best teams in the AFC playing against one of the worst – and a contest where the Steelers should feast defensively. Cleveland’s offense actually moved the ball well last week against the Saints, but the Clowns still managed just 14 points. The Steelers are eighth in the league in total defense and second in scoring defense, while the Browns have allowed a league-high 46 sacks and the third-most fantasy points per game to defenses. Steelers edge-rusher T.J. Watt has to be salivating over this matchup.
Minnesota Vikings (at Chicago Bears)
The Vikings are this year’s poster defense for the difference between a good NFL defense and a good fantasy defense. The Vikings are tough against the run, but they can be had through the air. They have also piled up big plays all season long, pacing NFL defenses in fantasy points most of the season. The Vikings have failed to hit the 10-point mark just twice in 10 games, and while the Bears looked better offensively a week…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/getting-defensive-2024-week-12-090759943.html
Author : NBC Sports
Publish date : 2024-11-19 09:07:00
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