Transcription
What is up everyone? It's Quinn here and in today's video I'm going to be going through my week 17 top 12 defense rankings. I've already gone through the running backs, wide receivers, quarterbacks, and tight ends. So, my final set of positional rankings and then I'll have my flex rankings top 70 coming out tomorrow.
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But, let's dive right into tier one. And this is actually going to be a one team tier. I just don't think you can really make a case for another defense. It's, you know, a top tier NFL defense with probably the best matchup. So, got the Broncos going up against the Chiefs. This Chiefs offense has obviously been completely nuked. You know, I'm sure the NFL thought this was going to be a huge game. Believe this one's going down on Christmas. And the Chiefs with Momes now Mchu out, they're rolling with Chris Oludakun. um who you know can't really expect a ton out of him. The Chiefs are all the way down at 12 implied points. I believe that's the second lowest mark of any team this season just behind the Kenny Picket le Raiders going up against the Eagles. And then this Broncos defense, I know they haven't been as locked down as of late. Tough game against the Jaguars. This is still a very impressive unit. The pass rush is crazy. 63 sacks. That's first by 13 total sacks. And then from a fantasy perspective, they are tied for fifth in points per game. They're nearly 14 point favorites. This should just be a very impressive showing out of this Broncos defense. They are the clear-cut number one option and my one team in tier one.
Then moving into a larger tier two, I've got the Patriots going up against the Jets. This is just a Jets offense that does not scare me at all. 15 implied points, tied for the second lowest mark uh this week. Patriots defense has been solid, eighth in points per game. Defense is going up against the Jets, are scoring the fourth most points per game. And then it looks like they are rolling with Brady Cook in this one, which like I don't know if any of the options are great. You know, Trod Taylor, Justin Fields, but Brady Cook hasn't shown to be anything special. And also just the offense around him is poor. The wide receiver room is brutal. Um defenses are just so keyed in on Bree Hall. He can't get anything going. think the Patriots are a really strong play.
Then I've got the Steelers going up against the Browns. Browns offense just another matchup you want to attack. They are tied with the Jets with 15 implied points. Uh defenses going up against the Browns are scoring the third most points per game. Shadur, I guess, gives them a little bit more upside, but there's also a lot of negative plays. There's not a ton of consistency. He really holds on to the ball. And then the Steelers have been solid for Fantasy, seventh in uh points per game. Also a defense that forces a lot of turnovers. They are fourth in the NFL so far in forced turnovers. I think they get at least a couple here in this matchup against the Browns.
Also in tier two, I've got the Seahawks going up against the Panthers. Not coming off the best game against the Rams in week 16, but these are two very different matchups going from the Rams to the Panthers. The Seahawks defense is still first in points per game. They are top six in forced turnovers. They are first in both defense or at least tied in both defensive and special teams touchdowns. And then the Panthers just don't project super well. This offense is kind of a volatile unit. They'll have these big games and then they'll just have like these super low floor performances, but they have the fourth lowest implied point total this week. So, I think the Seahawks are a very strong play.
And then the final tier two team, I've got the Saints going up against the Titans. This Saints team as a whole is kind of just peaking to end the season. Believe that is uh three straight wins. I think you can make a strong case that like right now they are the best team in this division with like the Falcons Buccaneers not playing great. I mean, Saints have beat them in two of their last three games. And then I like the matchup against the Titans. Titans have looked better um as of late, but this is still a defense that's giving up the fifth most points per game to opposing defenses. They have the fifth lowest implied point total. And then the Saints defense has been just totally fine this year for fantasy. They are 13th in points per game.
Now, moving into tier three, I'm going to start it off with the Lions going up against the Vikings. And right before I started recording this, got the report that uh JJ McCarthy going to be out this week. So, they're going to be rolling with Max Brommer. And I obviously think that's, you know, great for the Lions. He had a pretty brutal uh first NFL start. This is still a defense I don't really trust. Like they're very banged up. Um injured in the secondary, but like this is just a good matchup. Um Vikings 19 and a half implied points. This unit does not scare me. Also, defense is going up against the Lions or sorry against the Vikings are scoring the most fantasy points per game. I'm sure you know Kevin Oonnell can scheme some things up. hopefully get Justin Jefferson involved. Maybe they get the run game going. You know, the uh Steelers running backs really went to work. But prior to last week, the Lions had been pretty tough against the run. I do think there's a case for them jumping into tier 2. I do think it's just like the injuries kind of hold them out for me. At this point, maybe I'll, you know, take a day to calibrate the McCarthy thing and then maybe I'll change my mind. But they're right on the fringe between tier two and tier three for me.
After the Lions, I've got the Jaguars going up against the Colts. And I'm kind of having a tough time gauging what I think of this Colts offense because you saw Philip Rivers go out there against the 49ers. Looked pretty solid. Obviously, the arm is pretty shot. Like anything 10 plus yards down the field, it really hangs up there. But he just has such a presence at the line of scrimmage. Was able to, you know, identify some of his quick passes. This Jaguars defense has been very good, though. They're third in points per game. They're second in turnovers. I also don't think it's a guarantee that Rivers actually is the quarterback. Like, if they're just thinking they're cooked for the playoffs, do they want to see what they have in Richardson? Riley Leonard. We'll kind of have to wait and see there. As of right now, I think like number seven here for the Jags is a pretty fair spot.
In that same tier, Rams going up against the Falcons had a tough game against the Seahawks. Both offenses performed very well in that one. This is a nice bounceback opportunity here against the Falcons. The Rams are still tied for fifth in points per game. They're tied for fourth in turnovers. The Falcons have some guys definitely to be worried about with Bjan Robinson, Drake London, Kyle Pittz has been playing at a really high level, but I still think the Rams are just a very solid play.
Couple more defenses. Actually, two teams going up against each other. I've got the Texans and the Chargers. This has the potential to be, you know, a very impactful game from uh, you know, a playoff perspective, but also just like a very grimy kind of grinded out game from both sides. The Texans defense has been great this year. They are second in fantasy points per game. They are third in turnovers forced. They are sixth in sacks. Um, the Chargers have a pretty low 20 and a half implied points. I think they're going to get after Herbert, right? This is a really rough offensive line. Herbert's hanging in there, but I expect them to definitely put the pressure on, you know, hit him, land some sacks on him.
On the other side though with the Chargers, this Texans offense is not scary. And this Chargers defense is kind of peaking over the last few weeks. They've had four straight just very solid performances, some better than others, but very respectable game against a good uh Cowboys offense. They really shut down the Chiefs. Mahomes got injured, but that was very late in that one. They still looked good. They had the awesome game against Philly and then also performed well in a much easier matchup against the Raiders. The Texans aren't getting a ton of respect from Vegas. They're down at 19 implied points. So, I do think both of these defenses are um very viable. I did consider flipping them. Like the Texans have been the better, more dangerous defense, but I also just think like if there was one offense that really kind of scares me or one specific player on these offenses that scares me, it would be Justin Herbert. So, they're backtoback. I think they're both interesting plays.
And then in tier four, my final tier, I'll start it off with the Packers going up against the Ravens. Now, this is kind of a weird spot because if Lamar Jackson plays, I wouldn't have him in my top 12. If Lamar is out, then I do think there's a case for them moving up into tier three. It seems like Vegas is not projecting Lamar to play with the Ravens being down at 19 implied points. And this offense just does not scare me at all without Lamar Jackson on the field. Now, they still have Derrick Henry. They'll probably try to establish the run, but I just don't see them burning the Packers. I know the Packers lost Micah Parsons. That defense still looked pretty good against the Bears. Held them to what, like 16 points in regulation, and that included like them giving up the touchdown late off of the onside kick. So, I think this Packers unit will be certainly fine going up against a Tyler Huntley unit for the Ravens.
With my last spot in the top 12, I ended up settling on the Browns going up against the Steelers. There were a bunch of different teams I considered here. Obviously, you love, you know, the Miles Garrett factor with the Browns. And then the Steelers, like you just look at this offense and their wide receiver room, like their downfield passing is pretty much non-existent. DK Metaf suspended, Calvin Austin is banged up. Like you're looking at a wide receiver room of Adam Thielen, MVS, and Scotty Miller. Like that is truly disgusting in the year 2025. The issue here though for the Browns is that they've been really bad against the run as of late. And this is a Steelers team that is going to heavily use their two running backs in Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell. both coming off of huge games against a defense that had been pretty solid against the run in the Lions. So, that is my concern. Now, Vegas not giving the Steelers a ton of respect. They're down at 19 and a half implied points. That's the worry though that they just get killed on the ground, but I also think like you can probably stack the box in this matchup. Like I said, there's not going to be a ton going on downfield. It's going to be the tight ends and it's going to be these running backs. So, I went with the Browns. you've got Garrett, you know, motivated to uh break the sack record. They're going to come in here at number 12.
And so that's going to wrap it up for my uh defense rankings. If you guys enjoyed the video, hit the like button, subscribe, check out all the other rankings, running backs, wide receivers, quarterbacks, tight ends, flex rankings coming out tomorrow. Thank you all for stopping by and I will see you in the next.