Skip to main content

Defense/Special Teams Rankings: NFL Fantasy Week 17

Just two more games to watch future Hall of Famer J.J. Watt in action.

The top half-dozen options could be put in any order for the Week 17 fantasy defense/special teams (DST) rankings and I'd have zero issues with it.

All six are solid DST1s this season and have decent matchups this weekend as well. To be completely honest, I don't really have much to say about defenses this week, so just a few random DST-related thoughts this way: 

  • I'm still shell-shocked over what happened to Denver last week as I did not see that one coming. As bad as Denver has been all year, the defense has been solid, week in and week out. I guess the dam finally broke.
  • Also, quite a bit further down the list is a DST I would not start, but I implore you to watch the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals' defense has also been a disappointment this season, but we are about to see the last two games of an all-time great. J.J. Watt announced his retirement earlier this week and I will be sorry to see him leave. Even now in his 12th year, he was playing at a pretty high level. But at his peak, he was an absolute nightmare for offenses. If I had a vote, he would certainly get my HOF vote as soon as he's eligible.
  • I still like Minnesota to make a nice little playoff run, but the Vikings had better fix their defensive woes and fast. I think their offense can battle with any team in the league. But that defense has better improve quickly or it will be another early exit for the Vikes.
  • On the flip side, is there any team currently in the playoffs that feels less like a playoff team than the Titans? Their offense is in shambles and their defense is in tatters. Whoever ends up being the new GM, I would invest heavily in the draft on the defensive side of the ball. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

And with those random thoughts out of the way, see below for my DST rankings.

Week 17 Positional Rankings: QB I RB I WR I TE I DST I K I Flex

NFL Defense/Special Teams (DST) Rankings: Week 17

— Rankings by Mark Strausberg, a member of the Athlon Network Contributor, who despite his youthful exuberance and good looks has been playing fantasy sports before Wildcats or Hoosiers even made it to VHS. Got a fantasy sports question or thought? Hit him up on Twitter @MarkStrausberg.