ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 16: SirVocea Dennis #8 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates after an interception during the second quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
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If you have a spot in the fantasy football playoffs locked up, here’s your chance to get a leg up on your league mates. You more than likely have at least one player on your team that you can drop to the waiver wire.
Instead of holding another player who likely won’t contribute to your team, see if you’re able to add any of these defenses. These defenses all have great matchups, and by stashing at least one of these three, you won’t have to compete with all your league mates for a defense when the fantasy football playoffs start.
Although not everyone starts their playoffs in Week 14, a few people, including myself, play in some leagues that do. The requirement for this list is that all defenses must be under 50% rostered on ESPN.
1. Tennessee Titans @ Cleveland Browns
(1% Rostered)
Not many people think of the Tennessee Titans in a very positive light right now because they’re 1-9 on the year. However, in Week 14, their defense has the 2nd best matchup possible.
As of now, the Cleveland Browns have allowed the 2nd most PPG to opposing defenses per game at 10.3. Now you’re not looking to add the Titans because of what they’ve done so far this season.
The Titans have scored just 4.2 PPG on the year, but they’re coming off two games with at least five points. That includes their 20-point performance against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 9.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Vs New Orleans Saints
(20.1% Rostered)
Typically, it’s best to play the defense with a better matchup, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers might be a better start than the Titans. Either way, there’s not much of a difference, even though I have the Titans one spot higher.
The reason why is that the Buccaneers have looked better overall on the year with 6.2 PPG compared to the Titans at 4.2. Not only that, but the Buccaneers have a phenomenal matchup in Week 14. It’s just not as good as the Titans.
The New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings have both allowed 9.1 PPG this year, which is the 5th most PPG. In Week 14, the Buccaneers get to take on the Saints.
Now, to be fair, the Saints have decided to start Tyler Shough for two games now, which changes things slightly. If Shough continues to impress, you may want to hold off on the Buccaneers, but for now, they look like a strong play.
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 16: Jonathan Jones of Washington Commanders (#31) and Frankie Luvu of Washington Commanders (#4) celebrate during the NFL 2025 game between Washington Commanders and Miami Dolphins at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on November 16, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
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3. Washington Commanders @Minnesota Vikings
(3% Rostered)
It’s been a rough few weeks for the Washington Commanders in terms of their defense in fantasy football. Over the last five weeks, the Commanders have scored negative points three times.
Again, when adding these defenses, though, the most important thing is their matchup. If the Commanders don’t have an absolutely elite matchup, they’re not a great play for your fantasy football team.
Week 14 looks like it should be extremely beneficial for the Commanders, though. The Commanders get to play the other team tied for the 5th most PPG allowed, the Vikings.
The problem is that the Commanders have scored the least PPG of anyone on this list at 2.3. We’ve seen the Commanders score at least eight points at least three times this year, they’ve just been very inconsistent.
Although the Commanders aren’t my favorite play on defense, if you don’t have another defense to depend on, the matchup makes them a solid start for Week 14 of the fantasy football season.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevebradshaw/2025/11/22/3-defenses-to-stash-for-the-fantasy-football-playoffs-nfl-week-14/
