Unlock the Winning Defense for Fantasy Football Championship

New Orleans Saints Vs. Las Vegas Raiders

The New Orleans Saints stand out as the top defense to stash for week 17. Their performance throughout the season has been solid, averaging 6.6 PPG and ranking 15th in the NFL. In week 17, they face Desmond Ridder. Coupled with the fact that the Raiders have allowed 10.9 PPG to opposing defenses, which is the 3rd worst in the NFL, this matchup is truly fantastic. If you can secure the Saints for your championship, it should be your top priority. Just imagine the advantage it could give you in the final showdown.

FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY – NOVEMBER 12: Indianapolis Colts players celebrate after the team’s 10-6 … [+] victory over the New England Patriots during the NFL match between the Indianapolis Colts and the New England Patriots at Deutsche Bank Park on November 12, 2023 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

Indianapolis Colts Vs. New York Giants

The Indianapolis Colts are on a roll after a 10-point performance in week 15, and there's no reason to think they won't continue building on that. The New York Giants have been a mess at the quarterback position, with Drew Lock set to start the next few weeks. He's had a rough season so far, with no touchdowns and one interception in both games he started. The Colts defense, which has been slightly below average this year, scoring 6.1 PPG and ranking 19th in the NFL, is expected to improve significantly in week 17. The Giants have allowed the 4th most points to defenses this year with 10.1 PPG, just slightly behind the Raiders we discussed earlier. This makes them a great option to stash for the championship.

Miami Dolphins Vs. Cleveland Browns

Among the three defenses on this list, the Miami Dolphins are the ones I would be least inclined to prioritize. They've scored a meager 4.4 PPG, ranking 28th in the NFL this season. However, they did score nine points against the Texans, giving us some hope that they can perform against a weak offense. The Dolphins take on the Cleveland Browns, who recently made the move to bench Jameis Winston. Going up against Winston and his 13 interceptions would have been ideal, but Dorian Thompson-Robinson isn't much better. In his only two years in the NFL, Thompson-Robinson has thrown seven interceptions to only one touchdown. Despite the Dolphins' defense being great, with the Browns allowing 11.6 PPG to opposing defenses (2nd in the NFL), I'm comfortable starting them in week 17.