3 FanDuel Defenses to Target in Week 14
Selecting a defense is never the most glamorous part of fantasy football. It often goes overlooked for the more fun positions that people want to watch and root for during the game. The good news is that if our opponents aren’t putting too much thought into their defense, we can gain an advantage with some research. So let’s dig in and try to identify some defenses that could be in a good position to score fantasy points this week.
There are some solid defenses we can choose from this week, so let's look at options from three different salary tiers.
New Orleans Saints
FanDuel Salary: $5,000
The New Orleans Saints are struggling, losing five games in a row. They've had a tough schedule over that streak, and most of it can't be blamed on the defense. They'll get a great chance to bounce back on Sunday.
The New Orleans D/ST could get a big boost, with Marcus Davenport and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson both returning to practice this week. The return of Davenport in particular will help a pass rush that ranks below average in adjusted sack rate.
The Saints will face the New York Jets this week. The Jets have been a target for opposing fantasy defenses all season, and this week is the same story. They lead the league in turnovers this season. When Zach Wilson in particular has been in at quarterback, it's been a struggle. The rookie has the highest interception rate in the league and has taken sacks at the second-highest rate among qualified quarterbacks.
New Orleans' defense has not had a big fantasy performance in a while, but they showed they are capable of it at the beginning of the season, with three games of at least 15 FanDuel points. The Jets have an implied team total of just 19 points, and it wouldn't surprise many people if they failed to reach that and had a couple of turnovers, as well. The Saints have the upside to produce a slate-winning score.
Los Angeles Chargers
FanDuel: $4,300
We liked the Los Angeles Chargers D/ST last week, and they produced their best fantasy game of the season. They have a good amount of talent and finally put it all together against the Cincinnati Bengals. They have an even better matchup in Week 14.
The Los Angeles Chargers had a big win last week, and the defense did their part. They produced six sacks and four takeaways, including a fumble return for a touchdown. Their adjusted sack rate is at 7.0%, the eighth best in the league. They jumped out to a 24-0 lead, which allowed them to rush the passer at will, and it should be a similar story this week.
The Chargers are at home against the New York Giants this week. The Giants continue to be a mess on offense, with their 18 offensive touchdowns tied for dead last with the Houston Texans. Their wide receivers have been banged up all season long, and now there are questions at quarterback. Mike Glennon started last week in place of Daniel Jones, but Glennon suffered a concussion and is currently in the protocol. If he can't go, it's likely that Jake Fromm will make his first NFL start.
No matter who ends up playing quarterback for the Giants, it's hard to see them scoring many points. Their implied team total is only 17 points, tied for dead last on the slate. The Chargers are a great defense to use this week in any contest you play.
Atlanta Falcons
FanDuel: $3,500
If you want a value defense, you can look at the Atlanta D/ST. It's not the cleanest play we're ever going to make, but they do have some things going in their favor that at least make them interesting.
This defense struggles to get to the quarterback, but they do produce turnovers. They have at least one takeaway in eight straight games, including an interception returned for a touchdown last week. They should be able to get opportunities for turnovers this week.
The Atlanta Falcons will play the Carolina Panthers on the road on Sunday. This is the second game in the division, which historically produces fewer points than the first. It's also an outdoor game instead of being played in the dome in Atlanta. The last time we saw Cam Newton play, he threw two interceptions and had a quarterback rating of 5.8. Now, with no Christian McCaffrey in the lineup, the Panthers could really struggle to move the ball.
Both teams could have a tough time scoring in this game, making it a defensive battle that might provide the Falcons with a floor. That would be worth playing them at just $3,500 on FanDuel. Our projections have them with a value score of 1.95, the fourth-best number at the position.
If your favorite roster build usually includes saving at defense, Atlanta is a fine option on this slate.
Nicholas Vazquez is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Nicholas Vazquez also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username hbyanksman. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his/her personal views, he/she may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his/her personal account. The views expressed in his/her articles are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.
