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Defensive matchup numbers

Are Colts the sleeper defense for Week 17?

For a sleeper defense for Week 17, how about the Indianapolis Colts? A pretty smelly defense to be sure, but the matchup sure looks nice. Titans have been very generous when handing out sacks and turnovers.

Suppose that you use the scoring system of 6 points for touchdowns, 2 for every interception or fumble, and 1 for every sack. And suppose you were to total what every defense has done, along with the offense it’s going to play against.

Using that process, Indianapolis grades out with 247 fantasy points in a combined 30 games. Just over 8 per game. That’s No. 1 for Week 17, just ahead of Denver, Arizona and Pittsburgh.

This doesn’t include any additional work. No accounting for injuries or teams that have switched quarterbacks. No weighing of offenses or defenses that are playing better or who have cooled off. Washington, for example, comes in at #5, but it will probably be resting a bunch of guys this week.

But it’s a starting point, and Indianapolis (available in many fantasy leagues) is way up there. Colts are also at home. While Titans are more prone to bad stuff with Zach Mettenberger at quarterback.

DEFENSE MATCHUP NUMBERS, Week 17
DefenseSk-TO-TDOpponentSacSk-TO-TDPoints
Indianapolis31-24-4Tennessee5050-32-5247
Denver47-25-6San Diego3737-23-5246
Arizona35-33-7Seattle4545-16-4244
Pittsburgh41-26-3Cleveland4646-26-4233
Washington34-23-5Dallas2929-29-6233
Carolina42-36-4Tampa Bay2525-25-3231
Kansas City41-28-6Oakland2727-23-4230
NY Giants22-26-6Philadelphia3636-29-4228
Houston37-21-2Jacksonville4343-24-6218
St. Louis40-25-4San Francisco5252-16-2210
Philadelphia35-25-6NY Giants2525-20-3204
Tennessee38-18-2Indianapolis3636-29-4204
Cincinnati38-25-1Baltimore2323-26-5199
New England48-21-2Miami4444-19-2196
Minnesota38-20-5Green Bay4242-15-2192
Detroit38-15-2Chicago2929-18-7187
New Orleans30-20-3Atlanta3131-28-2187
NY Jets37-29-0Buffalo4040-18-2183
Jacksonville34-17-4Houston3434-19-3182
Seattle35-20-5Arizona2525-21-1178
Buffalo20-22-3NY Jets2121-21-5175
Tampa Bay34-21-3Carolina2929-17-3175
Miami29-16-4New England3636-14-4173
San Diego30-15-1Denver3434-25-3168
Cleveland29-18-3Pittsburgh3333-24-0164
Green Bay40-20-2Minnesota4242-15-0164
Atlanta19-22-3New Orleans3232-19-2163
Baltimore34-13-4Cincinnati2727-16-3161
Oakland37-23-0Kansas City4545-13-1160
Chicago31-17-0Detroit4040-24-1159
Dallas30-11-2Washington2626-22-3152
San Francisco28-12-1St. Louis1818-21-4142

—Ian Allan

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