Fantasy Football

2011 Fantasy Football, Week 17 Defense Rankings: 49ers Looking To Shutout Rams Again

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Justin Smith

1.  San Francisco 49ers (@STL) – With a win the 49ers will secure the #2 seed and an all-important bye.  When these two teams met in week 13 the Rams were unable to put any points on the board.  Repeating a shutout on the road will be a tough task, but this is still a great matchup for San Francisco.

2.  Pittsburgh Steelers (@CLE) – The Steelers need to win and have the Ravens lose to win the division and secure a bye.  Their defense was able to shut out the Rams last week and has been playing better as of late.  They will face a Cleveland team on the road, that has struggled all year to score touchdowns.

3.  Atlanta Falcons (TB) – The Falcons couldn't stop Drew Brees on Monday night, but this week get to face a Tampa Bay team that seems to have given up on their season.  The Falcons should be able to turn them over while limiting their scoring.

4.  Baltimore Ravens (@CIN) – The Ravens need a win to gaurantee themselves a bye.  They will be facing the surprising Bengals who put up a good showing when they last faced.  All year, the Ravens have run hot or cold.  When hot, they are easily one of the best defenses in the league.  I think they show up this week and make life tough for the rookie Dalton.

5.  Houston Texans (TEN) – The Texans don't have anything to play for in terms of improving their playoff seed, but after dropping two straight they will be fighting to gain some momentum.  They will also be fired up to play spoiler to the Titans who need a win and some help to make the playoffs.

6.  Denver Broncos (KC) – The Broncos will claim the AFC West with a win against the Chiefs.  Their defense looked terrible in Buffalo, but this week they're back at home and get to face a Chiefs team that has yet to sustain anything on offense.  They should be able to force Orton to make throws, as they should be able to stop their run game. 

7.  Philadelphia Eagles (WAS) – The Eagles have nothing to play for this week, but it seems like having the pressure off of their shoulders, has actually allowed them to play better.  They had a shutout intact against the Cowboys, albeit sans Romo, until a late punt block allowed a late Miles Austin touchdown.

8.  Chicago Bears (@MIN) – The Bears have also been eliminated from the postseason, but their defensive unit isn't the type to let up.  Minnesota's offense has looked more potent with Joe Webb behind center, but without Adrian Peterson their run game will be lacking.

9.  Tennessee Titans (@HOU) – The Titans are hoping for a few thigns to go their way to secure a playoff berth.  The only thing they can control is to beat the Texans.  The Texans will most likely use Arian Foster sparingly as they need to make sure he is healthy for their first ever postseason.  Look for the Titans to stack the box, and make Yates beat them down the field.

10.  New York Giants (DAL) – The Giants defense came out extremely motivated against their corss town rivals and their "big bellied" coach and it showed.  They were applying pressure on Sanchez all game long.  I expect more of the same as their playoffs begin in Week 17.  It doesn't hurt that Romo suffered a hand injury on Saturday.

11.  Arizona Cardinals (SEA) – The Cardinals defense has been playing extremely well lately.  They should be able to slow down Marshawn Lynch to an extent.  The Seahawks have also not played nearly as well on the road this season.  This could be a good matchup for the Cardianls.

12.  Jacksonville Jaguars (IND) – The Indianapolis Colts have won 2 in a row, but this week face a Jaguars team whose defense has played pretty well all season.  The Colts' two wins both came at home, and I don't think they'll be able to muster enough offense to beat MJD and the jags in Jacksonville.

13.  Cincinnati Bengals (BAL)
14.  New York Jets (@MIA)
15.  New Orleans Saints (CAR)
16.  New England Patriots (BUF)
17.  Minnesota Vikings (CHI)
18.  Miami Dolphins (NYJ)‎
19.  St. Louis Rams (SF)
20.  Detroit Lions (@GB)
21.  Green Bay Packers (DET)
22.  Washington Redskins (@PHI)
23.  Indianapolis Colts (@JAX)
24.  Dallas Cowboys (@NYG)
25.  Seattle Seahawks (@ARI)
26.  Cleveland Browns (PIT)
27.  San Diego Chargers (@OAK)
28.  Kansas City Chiefs (@DEN)
29.  Oakland Raiders (SD)
30.  Buffalo Bills (@NE)
31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@ATL)
32.  Carolina Panthers (@NO)

Written by Ilyn Yeh exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com

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(December 3, 2011 – Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images North America)


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