Fantasy Football Week 17 Defense Rankings: Can Patriots Bounce Back?

Welcome to our fantasy football defense rankings for Week 17 of the 2019 NFL regular season. In this column, we’ll take a look at what is wrong with the New England Patriots D/ST and if they’ll be able to bounce back against a suddenly hot Miami Dolphins offense this week.

* If you’re looking for more information on how to best set your lineup this coming week, check out our Week 17 Defense Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em.

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Defense Outlook Week 17

Many fantasy football owners rode the New England Patriots’ (DEF3) early-season defensive success all the way into the playoff this year. Over the first eight weeks of 2019, the Pats D/ST never scored below double-digit points and averaged an absurd 22.6 fantasy points per game, the third-highest average in standard-scoring fantasy leagues over that span, regardless of position.

However, of late the Pats defense, though still passing with flying colors on the eye-test, has seen their fantasy star dwindle. The New England D/ST has now scored eight points or fewer in five of their last seven games. In fact, since Week 8, they rank as just the 16th-highest scoring defensive unit in fantasy.

While they may have burned many fantasy owners in championship games a week ago, if your league happens to operate on a 17-week season, the Pats will have a great shot at redemption vs. the Miami Dolphins.

Yes, it’s true Miami held the Bengals defense scoreless a week ago, however, that’s the Bengals we’re talking about. Prior to that game, the Dolphins had surrendered the third-most fantasy points to opposing D/STs this season, including eight games of double-digit fantasy points.

When New England played the ‘Phins back in Week 2, they finished the outing with a staggering 37 fantasy points. Look for Miami and Fitzmagic to fizzle out vs. New England in Week 17.

The Pittsburgh Steelers (DEF7) defense has taken a bit of a step back in recent weeks as well, however they still rank as the DEF2 in fantasy since Week 2. A matchup with the Baltimore Ravens would normally send an opposing defense all the way to the bottom of a fantasy rankings list. However, with the Ravens holding out Lamar Jackson, Mark Ingram, and Marshal Yanda for this week’s game, a once-perceived devastating matchup for the Steelers now presents great upside for their defensive unit.

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Week 17 Fantasy Rankings: Defense

1. [QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | Flex | DEF | Ks]

• Matchup: Great l Avg l Tough

#	Defenses TEAM	Opp.
1	Falcons ATL	@ TB
2	Ravens BAL	vs. PIT
3	Patriots NE	vs. MIA
4	Chiefs KC	vs. LAC
5	Broncos DEN	vs. OAK
6	Bills BUF	vs. NYJ
7	Steelers PIT	@ BAL
8	Colts IND	@ JAC
9	49ers SF	@ SEA
10	Rams LAR	vs. ARI
11	Eagles PHI	@ NYG
12	Saints NO	@ CAR
13	Cowboys DAL	vs. WAS
14	Cardinals ARI	@ LAR
15	Vikings MIN	vs. CHI
16	Packers GB	@ DET
17	Giants NYG	vs. PHI
18	Buccaneers TB	vs. ATL
19	Jaguars JAC	vs. IND
20	Bengals CIN	vs. CLE
21	Browns CLE	@ CIN
22	Seahawks SEA	vs. SF
23	Jets NYJ	@ BUF
24	Bears CHI	@ MIN
25	Raiders OAK	@ DEN
26	Titans TEN	@ HOU
27	Dolphins MIA	@ NE
28	Texans HOU	vs. TEN
29	Redskins WAS	@ DAL
30	Lions DET	vs. GB
31	Chargers LAC	@ KC
32	Panthers CAR	vs. NO

1. 1. *Check out our Week 17 Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Ems to further optimize your lineups
   2. Start-Sit [ QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | DEF | Ks]
   4. READ NEXT: Fantasy: Tight End Rankings Week 17

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