Week 12 Fantasy Football Defense Rankings and Streamers feat. Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore Ravens, and more

Fantasy Football is marking one dozen weeks, and that means the fantasy football playoffs are on the horizon. Some managers might be willing to let their teams ride at this point, but those who do are setting themselves up for disappointment. As such, separation comes in the preparation. Luckily, Sportskeeda is here to help.

Here's a look at the best fantasy football defenses this week and the best options to pick up off the waiver wire as a one-week rental.

Fantasy Football Defense Rankings for Week 12

Rank	Week 12 Defense	Opponent
1	Cleveland Browns	Las Vegas Raiders
2	Seattle Seahawks	Tennessee Titans
3	Baltimore Ravens	New York Jets
4	Green Bay Packers	Minnesota Vikings
5	Atlanta Falcons	New Orleans Saints
6	San Francisco 49ers	Carolina Panthers
7	Chicago Bears	Pittsburgh Steelers
8	Los Angeles Rams	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
9	Detroit Lions	New York Giants
10	Philadelphia Eagles	Dallas Cowboys

Fantasy Football Defense Streamers for Week 12

Mike Macdonald at Arizona Cardinals v Seattle Seahawks - Source: Getty

#3 - Los Angeles Rams (vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

The Los Angeles Rams face an offensive powerhouse, but they have their own defensive powerhouse brewing. The Buccaneers will be traveling across the country to face the Rams in their building. The Rams also have a pass rush that could be explosive enough to help cover up any extra points or yards given up to Baker Mayfield and his constantly rotating skill position players.

Byron Young is tied for fourth in sacks in the entire NFL, so if he has a good game, the Rams should be able to get by defensively. However, in a week in which streamable defenses are in short supply, a trade might be a better option. Failing that, you can look for the other two defenses that might be available on the waiver wire.

#2 - Atlanta Falcons (at New Orleans Saints)

The New Orleans Saints haven't cracked 20 points in a game since Oct. 5, setting up the Atlanta Falcons to have a decent outing almost by default. That, coupled with the game serving as a divisional matchup, sets the stage for a defensive struggle.

With Penix out for potentially the season per Adam Schefter on X on Nov. 17, the only risk is if the aging Kirk Cousins has a turnover-heavy game that sets up the Saints in the redzone, but those odds are seemingly slim. Atlanta has shown the ability to lock teams up this season on occasion, allowing 20 or fewer points in three games this season.

#1 - Cleveland Browns (at Las Vegas Raiders)

The Cleveland Browns might have the best defense in the NFL no one is willing to take a shot with. If they had, they might not have let go of the unit. Things have gone off the rails in Cleveland, with Shedeur Sanders finally getting his opportunity, but at least defensively, things have been as stiff as ever.

The Browns also get the pleasure of facing the Las Vegas Raiders, who were essentially shut down by a Dallas Cowboys defensive unit on Monday Night Football that struggled to stop anything for most of the season. It could get ugly, setting up a pretty fantasy football score for the one who picks up and plays the defense.