Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 12 Fantasy Football: Team Defenses

Bears defense primed for a Thanksgiving feast against the Lions.

Start ‘Em, Sit 'Em is the ultimate look at the best and worst matchups based on a PPR scoring system in fantasy football. This column will not cover the elite players in the NFL like Patrick Mahomes, Christian McCaffrey, Davante Adams or Travis Kelce. Instead, I'll look at the players you have the most questions about to help you set the most effective starting lineup possible. For all of your final fantasy lineup decisions, be sure to check out my weekly player rankings which will be updated daily throughout the 2021 NFL season.

Byes: Cardinals, Chiefs

Week 12 PPR Rankings: QUARTERBACKS | RUNNING BACKS | WIDE RECEIVERS | TIGHT ENDS | FLEX | KICKERS | TEAM DEFENSES (DST)

Week 12 Start ‘Em: Defenses

Start of the Week 

Eagles D/ST at Giants (1 p.m. ET, Fox): The Eagles D/ST enter this week ranked in a tie for 10th in fantasy points at the position, and this week's matchup against the Giants makes it an even more attractive option. Daniel Jones has been prone to turnovers, and their offense has allowed 22 sacks and averaged a mere 18.9 points per game. 

Week 12 Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: QUARTERBACKS | RUNNING BACKS | WIDE RECEIVERS | TIGHT ENDS | KICKERS | DEFENSES

Start ‘Em

Ravens D/ST vs. Browns (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC): Baltimore’s defense has been a real disappointment this season, ranking outside of the top 20 in fantasy points. Still, a matchup against a struggling Browns offense makes it a nice streamer. Cleveland has averaged a minuscule 10 points and 283 yards of total offense in the last two weeks.

Panthers D/ST at Dolphins (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Fantasy fans looking to stream D/STs should consider the Panthers this week based on a positive matchup against Miami. Defenses have averaged the fifth-most fantasy points when facing the Dolphins, who have committed the third-most giveaways and allowed 27 sacks on the 2021 season. 

More Starts

• Chargers D/ST at Broncos (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS)
• Texans D/ST vs. Jets (1 p.m. ET, CBS) 

DFS Bargains

• Falcons D/ST at Jaguars ($2,500)
• Texans D/ST vs. Jets ($2,300)

Week 12 Sit ‘Em: Defenses 

Sit of the Week

Colts D/ST vs. Buccaneers (1 p.m. ET, Fox): The Colts D/ST recorded a surprisingly good stat line against the Bills last week, but that doesn’t make it that much more of an option against Tom Brady and the Buccaneers. In fact, defenses have averaged the second-fewest fantasy points against them this season. I’d fade the Colts in Week 12.

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Sit ‘Em 

49ers D/ST vs. Vikings (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox): The Niners posted 10 fantasy points in last week’s win over the Jaguars, but an upcoming game against the Vikings makes them a sit ‘em. Defenses average the fourth-fewest fantasy points against Minnesota, which has committed asix giveaways and allowed 14 sacks to opposing units. 

Broncos D/ST vs. Chargers (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS): The Broncos defense has been a viable matchup-based starter this season, but a matchup against Justin Herbert and the Chargers makes it a fade this week. Defenses have averaged fewer than five fantasy points per game when facing Los Angeles, so keep the Denver D/ST sidelined.

More Sits

• Football Team vs. Seahawks (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET)
• Titans D/ST at Patriots (1 p.m. ET, CBS)

DFS Fades

• Rams D/ST at Packers ($3,300)
• 49ers D/ST vs. Vikings ($3,100)

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. Click here to read all his articles here on SI Fantasy. You can follow Michael on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram for your late-breaking fantasy news and the best analysis in the business!

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