Week 14 Recap: The Packers only allowed 7 points versus the Lions when Aaron Rodgers suffered a concussion and got knocked out of the game, which was definitely a serious plus for their defense. The Jets, Falcons and Vikings all finished in the top half of fantasy points scored for defenses, so a good week with starts overall. In terms of my sits, the only one who finished top 20 was Buffalo, but other than that the sits did not perform at all on Sunday. Here is the team defense start sit week 15.
Start ‘em: Week Fifteen Team Defenses
Chicago Bears @ MIN: With the Vikings quarterbacks all injured at the moment and this game now being played at the University of Minnesota [outdoors], I think the Bears defense will respond very well after their tromping in the snow by the New England Patriots. The Bears defense has had double digit fantasy points in every week so far this season, and that streak will continue when theses two teams play on Monday Night Football this week. The Bears have scored a total of 95 fantasy points on defense in their last 4 road games and with the Vikings quarterback situation looking like it is, I am definitely starting the Bears defense this week.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs NYJ: Like the Bears, the Steelers defense have scored in double digits every game so far this season and with the way the Jets offense has been playing lately, there is no way that will end in Pittsburgh on Sunday. The Steelers team defense have scored 60 points in their last 2 home games, and I definitely see their defense scoring a touchdown and causing some turnovers from Mark Sanchez. The Jets have played the Patriots and Dolphins in their last two losses and this week gets absolutely no easier when they play the defensive minded Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
San Diego Chargers vs SF: The Chargers defense has scored 68 fantasy points in their last 3 games, and one of them was their awful loss to the Oakland Raiders at home. When the Chargers play the 49ers on Thursday Night Football, expect the number one defense in football statistically to step it up and halt the 49ers chances at the playoffs on a national stage. The Chargers biggest defensive fantasy games this season have come at home versus sub .500 teams; 36 points against Arizona and 25 against Kansas City; expect this week to be no different against San Francisco without their top running back Frank Gore.
Atlanta Falcons @ SEA: Falcons defense has scored double digit fantasy points in four straight games, with three of those being on the road against the Rams, Buccaneers and Panthers. This week versus Seattle, with basically the entire receiving core for the Seahawks really banged up at the moment going up against a really physical secondary from the Atlanta Falcons; But the real strength of Atlanta’s defense is their rush defense, and that will really effect Marshawn Lynch and put a ton of pressure on Matt Hasselback and the pass offense.
Sit ‘em: Week Fifteen Team Defenses
Green Bay Packers @ NE: At the moment it does not look good for Aaron Rodgers to play on Sunday Night Football in New England when the Packers play the Patriots. If there is no Rodgers, that really hurts their defense just as much as it does their offense. Matt Flynn will most likely really struggle to move the ball versus New England in this game and with almost no running game coming from Brandon Jackson and James Starks, I fully expect Tom Brady and the New England offense to put up a lot of points, run the ball and take minutes off the clock. The Packers have scored double-digit fantasy points as a defense in 7 straight weeks, but it is going to be very difficult to keep that up going into New England for a national prime time game.
Indianapolis Colts vs JAX: For me this is a trend-type game for me; I really like what Rashad Jennings and Maurice Jones-Drew is doing on offense for the Jaguars and I am really big on selling the defense for the Colts. I think this will be a close game and it will be a high scoring game where Jacksonville will put up points with Mercedes Lewis and the run game. Every time Peyton Manning drives down the field and puts touchdowns up on the board, Jacksonville will be forced to match them score-by-score. The Colts defense has put up single digit fantasy points as a defense in 3 of their last 6 games and unfortunately for Colts fans I think it might be 4 out of 7 after this divisional battle.
Denver Broncos @ OAK: I am going against the Broncos defense in this game, but to be honest, the Denver defense might be the worst in the NFL [with all respect to Champ Bailey]. In terms of fantasy points, the Broncos defense have put up single-digit fantasy points in 4 out of their last 7 games, with one of them being for negative points. The Broncos have fired their head coach, and they have nothing to play for; while on the other side, Oakland is playing better than they have since Rich Gannon took them to the Super Bowl. Tom Cable has the Raiders playing hard every week and this will be no different at home versus a rival in disarray.
Arizona Cardinals @ CAR: In what must be the game of the week between the Panthers and the Cardinals [had to throw in a joke], I am sitting the Cardinals defense against a good running team in Carolina with Jonathan Stewart and Mike Goodson. The quarterback matchup in this game is actually pretty interesting with John Skelton and Jimmy Clausen facing off as young “studs” trying to make a name for themselves. The Cardinals defense has really not been bad this year only putting up single-digit fantasy points three times all season, but against a desperate team in Carolina, I am sitting the Cards defense.
