There are four games left in the NFL season, and just three -- or two, or one -- left for most fantasy coaches. Some play total points through Week 18, some through Week 17, and some are part of a playoff field where they might be about to play their final game or two. A look at defenses in those games.
In this table, I'm looking at the final four games for every defense that seems fantasy relevant. That's right, I took the liberty of ditching a third of the league's defenses -- the ones that don't really do enough to actually merit fantasy consideration. Do I care what Houston or Detroit's remaining schedule is? I do not.
Of the other 22 teams, here are the four remaining games for each. If your league is over before Week 18, as most are, you can ignore that column.
Teams listed in bold are teams that to this point are among the 10 worst in terms of turning the ball over. Teams in italics are among the 10 worst in terms of giving up sacks. Teams in bold and italics (Houston, for example) are among the 10 worst in both areas.
So as a for instance, if you could only have one defense over the next three weeks, San Francisco would be an appealing choice. Because their three games are against the Falcons, Titans and Texans, and those three rank in the top 10 thus far in terms of allowing sacks, turning it over, or both. Cincinnati and Pittsburgh also have potential to be very good in multiple games the rest of the way.
This does not automatically mean Cincinnati will be a better start than, say, Indianapolis in each of those weeks. These are matchups we'll examine in the Weekly, and a more opportunistic defense facing an offense that was just 14th in turning it over may grade out higher than a lesser defense facing one that was 10th in that regard. But it's a peek at what the most favorable remaining matchups are.
| DEFENSIVE MATCHUPS, WEEKS 15-18 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| New England | Indy | Buff | Jac | Mia |
| Tampa Bay | N.O. | Car | NYJ | Car |
| Indianapolis | N.E. | Ariz | L.V. | Jac |
| Arizona | Det | Indy | Dall | Sea |
| Buffalo | Car | N.E. | Atl | NYJ |
| Dallas | NYG | Wash | Ariz | Phil |
| LA Rams | Sea | Minn | Balt | S.F. |
| Denver | Cin | L.V. | LAC | K.C. |
| Green Bay | Balt | Clev | Minn | Det |
| Miami | NYJ | N.O. | Tenn | N.E. |
| Cleveland | L.V. | G.B. | Pitt | Cin |
| Tennessee | Pitt | S.F | Mia | Hou |
| Cincinnati | Den | Balt | K.C. | Clev |
| Minnesota | Chi | LAR | GB | Chi |
| Chicago | Minn | Sea | NYG | Minn |
| San Francisco | Atl | Tenn | Hou | LAR |
| New Orleans | T.B. | Mia | Car | Atl |
| Pittsburgh | Tenn | KC | Clev | Balt |
| Philadelphia | Wash | NYG | Wash | Dall |
| LA Chargers | K.C. | Hou | Den | L.V. |
| Kansas City | LAC | Pitt | Cin | Den |
| Baltimore | G.B. | Cin | LAR | Pitt |
--Andy Richardson