D/ST rankings for Championship round

The defense and special teams rankings are fairly straightforward this weekend. The 49ers are looking healthy and dominant, as they whipped the Vikings last week and now take on a Packers team that they embarrassed in Week 12. They aren’t a lock to score big D/ST points against Aaron Rodgers but they are the best defense left and play at home against a team they recorded five sacks against and held under 200 total yards.

After the 49ers, the Chiefs are probably in the best spot to put up fantasy points, as their offense can get teams into holes that they can’t get out of with their core offense. That means, if the Titans are down 21 points midway through the third quarter, handing the ball off to Derrick Henry likely won’t get them enough points fast enough. The Titans haven’t fallen behind like that in these playoffs and they might not, but the Chiefs offense is the best going this weekend.

Jimmy Garoppolo can have down games and if the Packers can put up points, Garoppolo will need to do more than hand the ball off. That gives Green Bay’s D/ST a chance to put up points.

The Titans have now put up strong D/ST games against the Patriots and Ravens on their home fields, so we can’t say they are without appeal, even against the Chiefs, but we also just witnessed Patrick Mahomes obliterate the Texans with seven touchdowns. I’m taking the Chiefs in this matchup.