Top 12 Fantasy Football Defense Rankings for Week 14 (Back Bucs Against Backup QB)

Top 12 Fantasy Football Defense Rankings for Week 14 (Back Bucs Against Backup QB)

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Defenses are usually just an afterthought in fantasy football. That's leaving points on the board though. Savvy fantasy managers will be scouring the waiver wire to capitalize on the best defensive matchups each and every week, especially with several teams on bye this week.

With that in mind, here are the top 12 fantasy football defenses for Week 14 of the 2022 NFL season.

Fantasy Football Defense Rankings Week 14

12. San Francisco 49ers (vs TB)

11. Arizona Cardinals (vs NE)

10. Jacksonville Jaguars (at TEN)

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at SF)

We normally wouldn't recommend starting a defense against the San Francisco 49ers on the road, but the calculus has changed following Jimmy Garoppolo's season-ending ankle injury. The 49ers are now on their third-string quarterback Brock Purdy -- a mere seventh-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He now has to make his first NFL start against a tough Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense that's giving up the fifth-fewest points and eighth-fewest yards per game this year. Purdy has as many interceptions as touchdown passes (2) so far and was sacked three times in relief of Garoppolo last week, so bank on a strong performance from Tampa Bay's defense here, even on the road in a short week.

8. Kansas City Chiefs (at DEN)

When in doubt, play whichever defense is going up the Denver Broncos. Denver managed a paltry nine points against the Baltimore Ravens last week and continues to be absolutely abysmal on offense, ranking dead last in scoring (13.8 points per game) and 27th in yards per game. The Broncos have topped just 16 points all season and clearly aren't a threat to anyone, even a relatively average Kansas City Chiefs unit. Every defense looks better against Denver, so don't be afraid to fire up Kansas City here.

7. Tennessee Titans (vs JAX)

6. Seattle Seahawks (vs CAR)

5. Philadelphia Eagles (at NYG)

4. Baltimore Ravens (at PIT)

3. New England Patriots (at AZ)

2. Dallas Cowboys (vs HOU)

The Dallas Cowboys are coming off a dominant performance against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday Night Football and enters Week 14 with a mouth-watering home matchup against the Houston Texans. Houston has been one of the least effective offenses in the NFL all season, ranking 31st in scoring (15.7 points per game) and 32nd in yards per game. That sets up Dallas for another huge fantasy showing at home, as the Cowboys are giving up the third-fewest points per game and fifth-fewest yards per game. They also have 10 interceptions this year and have the potential to force multiple turnovers here.

1. Buffalo Bills (vs NYJ)

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