Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 15: Defenses - Sleepers, Fades, Matchups, DFS Bargains

Start 'em and sit 'em defenses for Week 15 from senior fantasy football expert Michael Fabiano.

Week 15 Start ‘Em: Defenses

Start of the Week

Rams D/ST vs. Jets (4:05 p.m. ET, FOX): The Jets are the NFL’s best defensive matchup from a fantasy perspective, and this week the Rams get the privilege of smashing them to pieces. New York has averaged the fewest points and yards per game, and they’re tied for the eighth-most quarterback pressures and eighth alone in sacks allowed. There isn’t a better fantasy D/ST option this week.

Week 15 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em

• QUARTERBACKS
• RUNNING BACKS
• WIDE RECEIVERS
• TIGHT ENDS
• KICKERS
• TEAM DEFENSES

Be sure to check out my Week 15 rankings before finalizing any lineup decisions or if your league has special scoring rules, sign up for SI Fantasy+ for customized rankings.

MORE: Week 15 Rankings, Articles, Reports & Tools Hub

Start ‘Em

Steelers D/ST at Bengals (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN): The Steelers defense has been struggling in recent weeks, scoring a combined nine fantasy points in losses to the Football Team and Bills. Still, Pittsburgh remains a must-start when it faces Brandon Allen and the Bengals. Over the last three games without Joe Burrow, their offense has averaged 10.3 points and 220 total yards per game.

Bills D/ST at Broncos (Sat. 4;30 p.m. ET, NFLN): The Bills D/ST finished with an impressive 12 fantasy points against the Steelers last week, and a game against the Broncos is a nice matchup. Denver has committed the most giveaways (29) in the league, so it’s no surprise it’s also allowed the third-most points to fantasy defenses. Buffalo is an attractive streamer in this AFC battle at Mile High.

More Starts

• Ravens D/ST vs. Jaguars (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
• Dolphins D/ST vs. Patriots (1 p.m. ET, CBS)

DFS Bargains

• 49ers D/ST at Cowboys (DraftKings: $2,900)
• Vikings D/ST vs. Bears (DraftKings: $2,400)

Week 15 Sit ‘Em: Defenses

Sit of the Week

Saints D/ST vs. Chiefs (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): The Saints D/ST put up a combined 60 fantasy points in Weeks 9-12, but it’s mustered just eight points in its last two games. That trend is likely to continue this week, as New Orleans will face Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. Defenses have compiled just 19 sacks and the third-fewest fantasy points against Kansas City, so it is the Saints this week.

Sit ‘Em

Panthers D/ST at Packers (Sat. 8:15 p.m. ET, NFLN): Carolina’s defense fell flat in a positive matchup against the Broncos last week, and an upcoming game in Green Bay makes this unit hard fade. Defenses have produced just 14 sacks and nine takeaways against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, and just two teams have been less generous to defenses. Carolina should be on the wire.

Giants D/ST vs. Browns (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC): The G-Men had scored 22 points in its two games before last week when it’s defense produced a single point in a loss to the Cardinals. Next up is a date with the Browns, who have averaged league highs on both points (41.5 PPG) and yards (475.5 YPG) in the last two weeks. Keep the Giants D/ST on the bench in this important inter-conference clash.

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More Sits

• Chiefs D/ST at Saints (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS)
• Broncos D/ST vs. Bills (Sat. 4:30 p.m. ET, NFLN)

DFS Fades

• Chiefs D/ST at Saints (DraftKings: $3,300)
• Saints D/ST vs. Chiefs (DraftKings: $2,900)

Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on Sports Illustrated and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. You can follow Michael on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram for all of the latest breaking fantasy football news and the best analysis in the business!

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