Which D/ST units should you start, sit in fantasy football in Week 13?

There’s an old Jerry Seinfeld comedy routine based on the desire to go out and how people are obsessed with it. When you’re out, you want to be home and when you’re home, you want to be out. There’s really no in-between there.
The same can be true of seating arrangements. In the grand scheme of things, it’s just a chair. The chair’s only significance is what we assign to it. As we gather around the Thanksgiving table this week, we’ll give thanks and spend some quality time with family, hopefully.
Yet there’s always that ongoing debate about the seating. Are you at the kid’s table? The adult table? Are you sitting on the couch watching the NFL action because there aren’t enough seats? No matter what, those arrangements can make or break the dinner. You don’t want to be next to the complainer, but rather the class clown.
So in the spirit of Thanksgiving, we’re thankful for the set-it-and-forget-it defenses the league has to offer.
Regardless, some teams are finding themselves at the kids table, while others are getting called up to be with the adults for a fantasy start. Let’s hope they are ready to pass the gravy. Here’s a look at four D/ST units to play and four to avoid, if you can.
NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.
NFL POWER RANKINGS: Where do the Chiefs land after first loss? UPDATE WITH WEEK 13
Has the Dallas defense been a good fantasy option all season? No. Have they been good at home? Absolutely not. Will they score two special teams touchdowns to prop up their point total? Nope. Do we want some exposure against the lowly Giants? You better believe it.
Think of Dallas this week as the dish your family decided to try making for the holiday. It could be great or it could be terrible. Either way, you’ll give it a try and just might like it.
The Cowboys are allowing opposing teams to score 37.4 points per game at home this season. However, the Giants bring the worst scoring offense in the league to Dallas and, if Week 12 was any indication, it would take weeks for them to hit that number. Fantasy football is often a game based on luck and a willingness to take risks. Everything says the Cowboys can’t post a good D/ST number at home. However, you never get anywhere by playing it safe.
As the food coma ends and the deal hunting begins, look no further than the NFL’s second annual Black Friday game. The Chiefs present as one of the day’s best deals, offering fantasy managers elite upside for a fantasy defense. Gardner Minshew is done for the season with a broken collarbone, leaving the Raiders with Desmond Ridder or, potentially, Aidan O’Connell if he’s activated off IR.
Vegas gave Denver everything they could handle in Week 12, but even that required plenty of trickery to keep drives alive. The Chiefs will be ready and eager to avenge that Christmas loss from last season. Start them with confidence then kick back and relax watching the action unfold on your new big screen.
At this point in the weekend, it’s officially the holiday shopping season. That means that the masses are out for the hot gift of 2024. The Vikings are that trendy team this year, defying expectations and becoming a hot commodity. It wasn’t that long ago that people projected Minnesota to be in the running for a top draft pick. Now they own the top fantasy defense and get a matchup against the streaky Cardinals.
We’ve seen the best of Kyler Murray this season, but Week 12 brought us some of the worst as well. Murray notoriously struggles in November and December, winning just .344 of games in those months. With a blitz heavy defense, we’d expect the Arizona quarterback to use his legs more often, but he hasn’t been looking to do that lately either. Murray’s turnover potential makes starting the Vikings’ defense a no-brainer.
The Jaguars are an offense worth targeting, as they march towards the No. 1 pick in the draft once again. It doesn’t matter if it’s Trevor Lawrence or Mac Jones, Jacksonville is a disaster. They’ve scored a combined 13 points over the last two games and that won’t inspire much confidence in their ability to turn it around. Doug Pederson is essentially in a lame duck role as head coach, with a team that appears to have quit.
The Texans are coming off a disappointing loss to the Titans, so expect Houston to try and make a statement on Sunday. With three consecutive double digit fantasy performances, the Texans are primed for another great day at the office.
The Thanksgiving slate concludes with a battle on the frozen tundra. Temperatures should be around the high 20s, low 30s by kickoff. That doesn’t bode well for the Phins, who don’t typically take kindly to cold weather. However, Miami doesn’t have the luxury of worrying about the weather if they want to make a playoff push. Since Tua Tagovailoa’s return, the Dolphins have gotten some of their mojo back.
Green Bay’s defense isn’t lighting the fantasy world on fire recently, only finding their way to a double digit output in Week 12 because of the Brandon Allen-led 49ers. With Miami’s track team coming to town, we should expect some fireworks on offense to put a bow on Thanksgiving day.
Another week, another division matchup for the Steelers. This time it comes against the Bengals, who are on fire offensively. Cincinnati sits at just 4-7, with a ton of work to do if they want to reach the postseason. Entering Week 12, they became the only team to put up more than 20 points against the Chargers. They put up at least 34 points in the two games before their Sunday night contest in L.A. Now fresh off a bye week, the Bengals will need some magic. While the Steelers remain a solid fantasy defense, don’t tempt the fates against this Cincinnati unit.
Much like their Pennsylvania neighbors, the Eagles also possess a very good fantasy defense. Since their Week 5 bye, Philly has completely turned their season around. However, it’s not like they’ve played the best offenses the league has to offer in that span. The Ravens are hoping to keep pace in the AFC North, eager to pounce if the Steelers slip up. Baltimore is averaging the second-most points per game, only behind the Lions. This will be the Eagles’ biggest test yet. They should be on your bench as we wait to see whether they pass or fail.
The 49ers are getting by this season on name recognition. At 5-6, they have an uphill battle to make the playoffs and are going to do without some of their big stars on defense. Injuries to players like Nick Bosa are starting to take a toll, with no help coming through that door. A cross-country trip to Buffalo won’t make life any easier. At full strength, the 49ers probably would’ve been taking a seat this week from a fantasy perspective. Now there’s no argument to even take them off the bench.
Looking for more fantasy football advice? USA TODAY Sports has you covered:
→ Kickers are people, too: Here are some of the most clutch kickers to have on your fantasy team in Week 13.
→ Need an edge under center? Here are the best quarterback options to start and to sit in Week 13.
→ A good running back makes all the difference. A bad running back can cost you a lot of points. Here’s who to start and who to sit in Week 13.
→ The wide receiver position has been decimated this season. Protect yourself in Week 13 with start ’em, sit ’em advice for wideouts.
→ Tight ends can be the perfect X-factor for any fantasy team. Here’s who you should start and sit in Week 13.
→ A good defense can shut down your fantasy opponent’s offense. Here are some D/ST options to start and sit for Week 13.