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Entering Monday night, the St. Louis Rams, New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars housed the top fantasy defenses for Week 10. Of course, the percentage of fantasy owners who actually went ahead and started any of those options is minuscule, but the main bullet point is that this week was a perfect example of how top options can be had on the waiver wire.
With a few plus matchups on the horizon for lower-profile defense options, fantasy owners who weren't fortunate enough to grab the Seattle Seahawks or the Kansas City Chiefs will have a chance for some bonus fantasy points in Week 11.
Arizona Cardinals (vs. Jacksonville Jaguars): Anyone who regularly checks back to see top streaming options among team defenses has noticed a common theme -- pick the defense playing opposite the Jaguars. Though the Jaguars played their most complete game of the season last week versus the Tennessee Titans, they will have an even more daunting task against an underrated Arizona Cardinals defense that will make Chad Henne and company air it out.
The Cardinals have been stout up front, allowing just 87 rushing yards per game and notching 26 sacks on the season. Their secondary has given up a few big plays, but presents the threat of making a few of its own after picking off 12 passes on the year. They'll dare Henne to throw, and versus a Jaguars team that has allowed the fourth-most sacks in the league, the Cardinals could be in store for a few takeaways.
New York Giants (vs. Green Bay Packers): Several owners rushed to the waiver wire to pick up the Giants defense that got to face a sputtering Oakland Raiders offense coming off of a horrendous Week 9. Now, those very owners can just stand pat in Week 11 versus the Green Bay Packers and their dismal quarterback situation without Aaron Rodgers.
Scott Tolzien is the next man up, and he could potentially improve in a week where he goes into practice knowing he will start, but there wasn't much from a subpar performance versus a vulnerable Philadelphia Eagles defense to suggest that he will. The Giants defense is hardly dominant, but capable of capitalizing on the mistakes of an inexperienced quarterback, as evidenced last Sunday versus Terrelle Pryor, and could do the same this week as a result. They are still a defensive unit that can be had on the cheap, as the Giants are available in 73 percent in Yahoo! leagues.
New York Jets (vs. Buffalo Bills): It was likely due to their Week 10 bye, but the New York Jets are owned in just eight percent of Yahoo! leagues. That's good news for fantasy owners in need of a defense, because the Jets will face a suddenly lethargic Buffalo Bills offense this week. The return of rookie quarterback E.J. Manuel did not go as planned, as the Bills controlled the ball for just 24 minutes in a game where they could not sustain drives. Their bread and butter is the run game, but with C.J. Spiller proving inconsistent all season and now facing a Jets defense that is allowing a league-low 73.8 yards per game on the ground, it could be another long day for the Bills, but a pretty good one for fantasy owners with the Jets defense.