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Fantasy Football: Week 13 Kicker and Defense Rankings

By Alex Butler
Baltimore Ravens' defenders Ronnie Stanley (79) and Elvis Dumervil (58) celebrate a Cincinnati Bengals turnover late in the second half of their NFL game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, November 27, 2016. Baltimore won 19-14. Photo by David Tulis/UPI
1 of 4 | Baltimore Ravens' defenders Ronnie Stanley (79) and Elvis Dumervil (58) celebrate a Cincinnati Bengals turnover late in the second half of their NFL game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, November 27, 2016. Baltimore won 19-14. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo

MIAMI, Nov. 29 (UPI) -- Looking for that winning edge to get to your fantasy football league's playoffs?

It might come from an unexpected source. Selecting the right options for the bottom of your lineup can mean the difference between a win and a loss at the most vital point of the fantasy football season.

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Those spots are occupied by a defense/special teams unit and a kicker. Be on the lookout for consistent kickers who are part of explosive offenses, and keep an eye on weather reports for where your kickers will play this weekend. Also look at the schedule for possible defensive options that can help you for multiple weeks.

To help you figure out who to sit or start at the positions, take a look at my top 20 defense/special teams units and top 15 kickers for Week 13. You can also view my add/drops for the week and more positional rankings in the links below.

TOP SHELF

The Denver Broncos come in as my No. 3 defense this week with a matchup at Jacksonville. Although the Broncos' dominant unit has been giving up points lately, it has still managed to put up points for your fantasy football team by pressuring the quarterback. The Broncos have 13 sacks in its last four games. That unit also has a touchdown and seven forced turnovers in that stretch. The Jaguars' offense has 22 giveaways this season.

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Cario Santos is my top-ranked kicker for Week 13. The Kansas City Chiefs leg has made multiple field goals in six of his last seven games.

SNEAKY PLAYS

The Baltimore Ravens host the Miami Dolphins Sunday. I have the Ravens as a starting option this week. The Ravens have allowed 14 points or fewer in three of its last four games.

Will Lutz should stay busy for the New Orleans Saints in what could be a shootout in a dome against the Detroit Lions. Lutz will always have opportunities for extra points, note the seven he made in Week 12, and is a good bet to try from distance while kicking at Ford Field.

RANK NAME TEAM OPPONENT
1 Cairo Santos Kansas City Chiefs vs. Atlanta
2 Stephen Gostkowski New England Patriots vs. Los Angeles
3 Matt Bryant Atlanta Falcons vs. Kansas City
4 Will Lutz New Orleans Saints vs. Detroit
5 Dan Bailey Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota
6 Justin Tucker Baltimore Ravens vs. Miami
7 Brandon McManus Denver Broncos at Jacksonville
8 Matt Prater Detroit Lions at New Orleans
9 Stephen Hauschka Seattle Seahawks vs. Carolina
10 Adam Vinatieri Indianapolis Colts at New York Jets
11 Dustin Hopkins Washington Redskins at Arizona
12 Mason Crosby Green Bay Packers vs. Houston
13 Dan Carpenter Buffalo Bills at Oakland
14 Caleb Sturgis Philadelphia Eagles at Cincinnati
15 Sebastian Janikowski Oakland Raiders vs. Buffalo

LONGSHOTS

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The San Francisco 49ers might not sound like an appealing starting option, but I like this unit in its road matchup against the Chicago Bears. The 49ers are worth a streaming start if you are in a pinch. The Bears have allowed eight sacks and have turned the ball over seven times in its last three games.

Brandon McManus should stay busy for the Broncos against the Jaguars. McManus is on a roll, making multiple field goals in eight consecutive games. I expect that streak to continue against the struggling Jaguars.

RANK TEAM OPPONENT
1 New England Patriots vs. Los Angeles
2 Seattle Seahawks vs. Carolina
3 Denver Broncos at Jacksonville
4 Arizona Cardinals vs. Washington
5 Baltimore Ravens vs. Miami
6 Green Bay Packers vs. Houston
7 Miami Dolphins at Baltimore
8 Philadelphia Eagles at Cincinnati
9 San Diego Chargers vs. Tampa Bay
10 Buffalo Bills at Oakland
11 Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New York Giants
12 San Francisco 49ers at Chicago
13 Minnesota Vikings vs. Dallas
14 Cincinnati Bengals vs. Philadelphia
15 Kansas City Chiefs at Atlanta
16 Oakland Raiders vs. Buffalo
17 Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota
18 New York Giants at Pittsburgh
19 Houston Texans at Green Bay
20 Atlanta Falcons vs. Kansas City
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