Week 11 Defense (DST) Streamers: Fire Up The Chiefs vs. Bo Nix

Last week brought some huge DST performances, primarily via special teams. The Jets returned two kicks for TDs, the Jaguars had a punt return of their own and Seattle tacked on two defensive TDs to score 20+ fantasy points in their dominant win over Arizona. Having the right DST made a big difference in Week 10, but as is often the case, the highest scoring DSTs included some predictable teams and some surprising ones.

There are only two teams (the Colts and Saints) that are on bye this week, and yet it is one of the least compelling weeks for streaming options this season. If you are forced to hit the waiver wire this week, I wouldn't spend much FAAB or burn a high waiver priority because I'm not convinced any of the top streaming options are much better than the replacement-level options you can add at any point.

RELATED: Catch up on Kendall's best Week 11 Waiver Wire Pickups.

DST Streamers For Week 11 Fantasy Football

As always, I am primarily looking for DSTs with the ability to create sacks and turnovers rather than minimizing points allowed to the other team, although those two things are correlated. I think this is one of the bigger mistakes fantasy managers make when thinking about fantasy defenses. As you will see in this article, I am generally focused on three things: offensive line play, QB turnover rates and game script.

A poor offensive line matched up against a strong defense line is one of the best signs for a fantasy defense. Putting the opposing QB under pressure increases the likelihood of sacks, fumbles, and interceptions. However, not all QBs are created equal, so we also want to target those who have a history of turning the ball over. Lastly, a defense on a team that is heavily favored is another good sign because it means the other team may be forced to call more pass plays as a result of a negative game script, and pass plays are more likely to lead to scoring opportunities for the defense than rush attempts are.

I only consider defenses that are available in at least 50% of fantasy leagues for this article, but it is worth a reminder to always check your full waiver wire. At first glance, I have seen DSTs like Philadelphia, Detroit, and New England available in some of my leagues. I don't know who is available in your league, but use your judgment and check our weekly rankings to determine if there are any DSTs you should prioritize over the ones on this list.

Kansas City Chiefs - 44% rostered

The Chiefs don't have any standout traits on defense; they rank in the middle of the pack against both the rush and the pass, and yet they have been one of the stingiest defenses in terms of points allowed to opposing offenses.

The Chiefs are coming off a bye, which is always a nice advantage because of the extra time it allows for coaches to study and gameplan for their opponent. There are few coaches better at that than Andy Reid and Steve Spagnuolo, so I like leaning into the idea that Kansas City will have its A game in this one. It is also a vital matchup if the Chiefs want to have a shot at winning the division, so I'm expecting a vintage KC performance against an opponent they know well.

The Broncos aren't an offense we have been targeting much this year, but Bo Nix has had some turnover issues in recent weeks, with four interceptions in his last three games. He has continued to avoid taking sacks, which isn't ideal for our fantasy defense, but in a week with no standout streaming option,s I am defaulting to the most talented and well-coached unit.

Minnesota Vikings - 38% rostered

This is a pretty simple story to tell. The Vikings blitz at a high rate and generate a lot of pressure on opposing quarterbacks, while Caleb Williams has the longest time to throw among qualifying QBs this season. Something has to give here; either Williams has to get the ball out quickly, or he is going to be under constant pressure.

The Vikings currently rank second in pass rush win rate and have recorded at least two sacks in every game this season, up until their Week 10 matchup with Lamar Jackson. Caleb is definitely a mobile QB who has shown the ability to escape pressure, but he is no Lamar Jackson. If the Vikings can generate pressure the way they almost always do, I expect to see some mistakes from the Bears second-year QB.

This game is in Minnesota, which is another small advantage for the Vikings defense. The Bears have been playing well recently, but Brian Flores always makes things difficult on the opposing QB and Williams has still shown questionable decision-making at times this year. It only takes one poor decision to lead to a defensive TD and put the Vikings among the highest scoring DSTs of the week, so I like Minnesota as a high upside streaming option in Week 11.

Dallas Cowboys - 7% rostered

The Cowboys are rightfully thought of as a defense to target for opposing skill players, but the Dallas DST has quietly had double-digit fantasy points in two of their last three games before their Week 10 bye. Even more notable is the big splash that Dallas made at the trade deadline, acquiring Quinnen Williams from the New York Jets. While I'm not a fan of the move from a long-term team-building perspective, there is no question that Dallas has a better defense now than it did before the trade.

Williams ranks highly in both pass rush win rate and run stop win rate among defensive tackles, adding a formidable presence to a defense that has struggled since losing Micah Parsons shortly before the season started. Dallas has had time to integrate Williams over the bye week and they get an extremely favorable matchup for their new star to make his debut against in Week 11.

Geno Smith has been the gift that keeps on giving to opposing DSTs, ranking top five in both interceptions thrown and sacks taken so far this season. If the Cowboys can get out to a lead and force the Raiders to let Geno drop back a bunch, their DST has a good chance of forcing turnovers and accumulating sacks.

Their reputation as a defense that allows points may cause your leaguemates to avoid them on waivers, but that could be a mistake as they can give up points on the scoreboard while still having a solid fantasy score.

Week 11 Defense (DST) Streamers: Fire Up The Chiefs vs. Bo Nix

DST Streamers For Week 11 Fantasy Football

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Kansas City Chiefs - 44% rostered

Minnesota Vikings - 38% rostered

Dallas Cowboys - 7% rostered

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