Chris Wormley Jersey We said it last week, and we'll say it again -- if there's one even mildly positive thing this reserve/COVID carousel does, it's create more D/ST sleepers. Our Week 17 fantasy defense rankings reflect that -- or at least, will reflect that -- but season-long stats, both in terms of defenses themselves and matchup numbers, shouldn't be completely thrown out.As we saw last week, sometimes backup players can play reasonably well. Still, when a second- or third-string QB is under center, we want to pick on those offenses. It's not a shock to see those players perform well for a series or two when everything is scripted, but they often wear down as the game goes on. All we need from our D/STs to pay off is one big play, so we'll take our chances.WEEK 17 STANDARD RANKINGS: | | | | Heading into Week 17, some of the more traditional favorable matchups go to some of the top-drafted D/STs. New England (vs. Jaguars), Tampa Bay (@ Jets), and Buffalo (vs. Falcons) are all looking great. The highly owned Rams (@ Ravens) should pay off again this week, too, and even the Steelers (vs. Browns) have some upside against the reeling Baker Mayfield.WEEK 17 PPR RANKINGS: | | | |The Saints (vs. Panthers), 49ers (vs. Texans), and Eagles (@ Washington) have seen big upticks in ownership thanks to a string of favorable matchups lately, and they should come through again this week. Going a little deeper, the Bears (vs. Giants), Chargers (vs. Broncos), Seahawks (vs Miles Boykin Jersey . Lions), and maybe even the Giants (@ Bears) are your top sleepers this week, at least as of Monday. More figure to emerge throughout the week.WEEK 17 FANTASY: | | On the other side of the coin, the Colts (vs. Raiders), Chiefs (@ Bengals), Packers (vs. Vikings), and Cowboys (vs. Cardinals) all have neutral-to-bad matchups, but given how well all of those D/STs have been playing lately, we're not overly worried about any, especially since three of the four are at home. Moreover, most of these defenses thrive on takeaways and big plays, and they could all certainly get one or two and stay pay off even if they allow yards and points.MORE WEEK 17 DFS: | | The D/STs we're not touching this week are Arizona (vs. Cowboys), Cincinnati (vs. Chiefs), Denver (@ Chargers), and Baltimore (vs. Rams). Arizona is similar to some of the D/STs we listed above, but it's been struggling lately and doesn't look like the same unit that scored all those points earlier in the season. You can still take a chance on them making a big play at home, but against the Cowboys, we're not excited willing to risk it.WEEK 17DFS LINEUPS:||Like we said, more D/STs will emerge throughout the week depending on who winds up on the reserve/COVID list. However, be aware that defenses that lose key players (like the Chargers losing Joey Bosa last week) can take a dip in the rankings. It's fantasy championship week, so you better believe you're going to need to be extra vigilant.Note: We'll be updating these D/ST rankings throughout the week, so check back for the latest analysis and player movement.Fantasy Defense Rankings Week 17: Who to start, sit at D/ST in fantasy footballRankPlayer1New England Patriots vs. JAX2Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ NYJ3Buffalo Bills vs. ATL4New Orleans Saints vs. CAR5San Francisco 49ers vs. HOU.Davis Mills has Houston's offense playing much better, but the 49ers defense has been among the highest-floor units in fantasy since Week 10. In the seven games in that span, San Francisco has averaged just over three sacks and 1.7 takeaways while allowing 18.6 offensive Tony Jefferson Jersey points per game. Even with Houston looking decent, we expect some mistakes here, putting the 49ers in position to have a high floor and a high ceiling.6Indianapolis Colts vs. LV.The Colts are second in the league in takeaways (31), and the Raiders have been turnover machines lately, coughing it up 10 times in their past three games. That's enough reason to trust the Colts at home in this one.7Philadelphia Eagles @ WAS.Washington continues to spiral, scoring fewer than 18 offensive points in each of the past five games. Even worse, it's twice allowed five sacks in the past three games. Philadelphia has had some monster performances this year, like last week's showing against the Giants, and this is another good spot for the Eagles to go off.8Chicago Bears vs. NYG.The Bears haven't had multiple takeaways in a game since Week 4, so clearly this hasn't been a high-ceiling play, but the Giants are an absolute me s offensively, turning it over eight times in the past three games and averaging just 11.5 offensive points in its past six. The Bears will have a decent fantasy day regardle s of who starts for New York.9Miami Dolphins @ TEN.The Titans are Patrick Onwuasor Jersey a tough offense to figure out. In Weeks 11, 12, and 15, they turned it over 13 times and scored 39 total points. In Weeks 14 and 16, they scored 40 points and didn't turn it over once. Through it all, though, the Titans have allowed a decent number of sacks, and with Miami turning up the pre sure (25 sacks in six games in Weeks 9-15), the Dolphins should have a solid floor with a potentially high ceiling.10Los Angeles Rams @ BAL.Baltimore has actually been better the past two weeks with its second- and third-string QBs, at least in terms of fantasy points allowed to D/STs. Regardle s, we expect a talented, playmaking D/ST like L.A. to be able to take advantage of a gimpy, inaccurate Lamar Jackson, a rusty Tyler Huntley, or a below- Mark Ingram II Jersey average Josh Johnson. The Rams have posted their best four-game stretch of the season in Weeks 13-16, piling up 12 sacks and six takeaways while allowing an average of 15.8 offensive points per game.11Green Bay Packers vs. MIN.It's not easy getting D/ST points against the Vikings, but the Packers have 10 sacks and 10 takeaways in their past four games. A home, prime-time game against Kirk Cousins figures to keep that trend up. There are higher-ceiling D/STs ranked below Green Bay, but the Packers should maintain a solid floor.12Kansas City Chiefs @ CIN.Like the Packers, the Chiefs continue to generate turnovers (at least two in each of the past seven games), and they've also done a good job keeping the score low (17 or fewer offensive points in seven of the past eight games). Cincinnati is hot right now, but Joe Burrow is prone to sacks and he still has a bunch of INTs on the year, so the Chiefs still have a decent floor.13Dall