Week 12 Results

Washington (vs Dallas) - 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery

Cooper Rush was actually safe with the ball, and the Commanders offense got bogged down, so they never played with a lead. If the Cowboys defense keeps playing well and Rush limits mistakes, Dallas may not be a good target for our rent-a-defense picks.

A Look Ahead: TEN BYE @NO - Will Levis threw another pick in Week 12. You can still stick with Washington despite the disappointing result vs. Dallas

Tampa Bay (vs NY Giants) - 4 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 7 pts allowed

The Bucs defense is not among the league’s better units, but Tommy Devito and the Giants offense was the worst in action in Week 12, so this still worked out.

A Look Ahead: @CAR LV @LAC - With Bryce Young playing better and Aidan O’Connell back for Week 14, a little bit of the shine of sticking with the Bucs has worn off. They’re still in consideration.

Arizona (at Seattle)  - 5 sacks, 1 INT

This was a good result if you went with the Cardinals, but not as good as the Seahawks, who created a decisive pick-six in the defensive battle.

A Look Ahead: @MIN SEA NE - Sam Darnold is playing better, so we’ll let the Cardinals fly the coop this week. We will come back to them in Week 15 when Drake Maye comes to the desert.

LA Chargers (vs Baltimore) - 1 sack
Baltimore (at LA Chargers) - 4 sacks

Quarterback play was the story of the night as Lamar Jackson neutralized the Chargers defense, and Justin Herbert didn’t make any big mistakes despite having to withstand a relentless Ravens pass rush.

LAC A Look Ahead: @ATL @KC TB - If Kirk Cousins is cold coming out of the bye, this play could hit
BAL A Look Ahead: PHI BYE @NYG - This matchup has potential if the Ravens can make Hurts play from behind

Philadelphia (at LA Rams) - 5 sacks, 1 fumble recovery

The performance by the Eagles pass rush was outstanding, although they lost stalwart sack artist Brandon Graham to a triceps injury.

A Look Ahead: @BAL CAR @PIT - We may come back to them in Week 14, but not if Bryce Young plays well again in Week 13.

Chicago (vs Minnesota) - 3 sacks, 1 fumble recovery

Sam Darnold rallied to play his best full game in a month, although he had to shrug off a foot injury to do it. 

A Look Ahead: @DET @SF @MIN - The Bears D/ST has some usefulness with the offense playing better, but they don’t have a good matchup for the rest of the season.

Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda

Dallas (at Washington) - 4 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 2 INT, 2 ST TD

This would have been a good D/ST play even without the two kickoff returns for a touchdown in the last three minutes of the game, including one on an onside kick.Micah Parsons has made this D/ST viable again and KaVontae Turpin’s speed doesn’t hurt.

Seattle (at Arizona) - 5 sacks, 1 INT, 1 DEF TD, 6 pts allowed

Devon Witherspoon had an outstanding play mirroring Kyler Murray on a rollout and forcing a terrible throwaway that ended up going the other way for six. The Seahawks defense has been playing their best football of the year against NFC West opponents.

Tennessee (at Houston) - 1 safety, 4 sacks, 2 INT

The Titans were able to overcome a Will Levis pick-six and eight sacks allowed thanks to strong play from their pass rush and secondary plus a safety from CJ Stroud stepping out of his end zone in a desperation comeback attempt.

New England (at Miami) - 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 1 DEF TD

A bungled handoff led to a Christian Gonzalez scoop and score in one of the only bright spots for the Patriots defense against the Dolphins.

Week 13 Candidates

**Minnesota, Kansas City, Houston, Detroit, and Denver are assumed to be rostered**

Dallas (vs NY Giants) **Thanksgiving**

Look who is back in our circle of trust! Micah Parsons return has given this pass rush some juice and the Giants look like they are giving up under Brian Daboll. Maybe the national stage will spur the Giants to play with pride, but the Cowboys defense stifled Jayden Daniels, so Tommy Devito or Drew Lock should also struggle while we are sleeping off our turkey dinners.

A Look Ahead: CIN @CAR TB - Throw the Cowboys D/ST out with the turkey carcass

Buffalo (vs San Francisco)

The Bills D/ST is rostered in some, but not all, leagues because of their Week 12 bye. Whether it’s Brock Purdy or not, the forecast calls for wind and cold with some possibility of snow in Buffalo Sunday night. The 49ers aren’t built for that, and their best offensive lineman was not healthy enough to play against Green Bay.

A Look Ahead: @LAR @DET NE - The Bills D/ST is worth holding for the Patriots matchup in Week 16, even if you aren’t playing them until then. Week 17 vs the Jets is also promising.

Washington (vs Tennessee)

The Commanders D/ST has floundered after a promising midseason stretch, but Will Levis might be just what the doctor ordered. The offense kinda sorta came out of its slumber in the second half against Dallas, so if they can stake the defense to a lead against the Titans, that will help.

A Look Ahead: BYE @NO PHI - Bye bye

Green Bay (vs Miami) **Thanksgiving**

Tua Tagovailoa in freezing weather with a short week of preparation seems like a good recipe for the Packers defense to wreak some havoc.

A Look Ahead: @DET @SEA NO—We may return to Green Bay when they face the Saints in Week 16.

Indianapolis (at New England)

The Colts defense was actually respectable against the Lions, holding them to 24 points. If Anthony Richardson plays well and forces Drake Maye to take risks, this play could work out.

A Look Ahead: BYE HOU @TEN - There’s Will Levis in Week 16, and whoever the Giants trot out there will face the Colts in Week 17.

Seattle (at NY Jets)

The Seahawks defense is surging, and the Jets are showing cracks at every level. 

A Look Ahead: @ARI GB MIN - Will the Seahawks play Kyler Murray as tough on the road? If they make Aaron Rodgers look bad, then we might stick with them in Week 14

Baltimore (vs Philadelphia)

The Eagles are one of the least attractive matchups for a D/ST, but the Ravens offense could jump out to a lead and force Jalen Hurts out of his comfort zone. The Ravens have multiple sacks in every game this year, and they have forced a turnover in every game but two.

A Look Ahead: BYE @NYG PIT - The Ravens D/ST is worth holding through the bye

LA Chargers (at Atlanta)

Kirk Cousins looked like a quarterback on the brink of being benched the last time we saw him. The familiar confines at home and a bye week to get his bearings could help, but the Chargers are a good defense that has posted multiple sacks in all but one game and multiple turnovers in four games. 

A Look Ahead: @KC TB DEN - Week 17 brings a trip to Foxboro and a return to usefulness for the Chargers D/ST.

Week 14 and Playoffs Preemptive Pickups

Week 14

New Orleans (at NY Giants)
Miami (vs NY Jets)
Tennessee (vs Jacksonville) **Monitor Lawrence Status**
Tampa Bay (vs Las Vegas)
Philadelphia (vs Carolina)

Week 15

Baltimore (vs NY Giants)
Arizona (vs New England)
Kansas City (at Cleveland)

Week 16

Tampa Bay (at Dallas)
Indianapolis (vs Tennessee)
Atlanta (vs NY Giants)

Week 17

Philadelphia (vs Dallas)
New Orleans (vs Las Vegas)
Indianapolis (at NY Giants)
LA Chargers (at New England)