Garion Thorne lists his top D/STs to stash off the waiver wire before the fantasy football playoffs begin this week.

It’s here. Week 15. The first round of the fantasy football playoffs for a majority of the world. If you made it, I offer a hearty congratulations. If you didn’t, may I ask why you think you’re qualified to be reading this article? Just kidding. Thanks for the click, loser.

Jokes aside, this is a sacred time of the year when roster strategy gets turned on its head. Suddenly, a concept like rostering three defenses doesn’t seem all that wild. Instead, it’s looking ahead and being prepared — especially for any team managers with a opening round bye.

With that in mind, let’s sort through some widely available D/STs and decide which ones are worth an add off the waiver wire.

1. Patriots | Yahoo! Own: 48%

This one’s a bit of a loophole, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take advantage.

The fact that the Patriots’ defense is available in over half of Yahoo! leagues sounds like a misprint, yet it’s way more the result of a Week 14 bye than the actual performance of the unit. New England enters the fantasy football playoffs ranking fifth in opponent points per game (18.5) and 10th in defensive EPA per play (-0.05). Also, despite relatively middling turnover and sack totals, the Patriots have only allowed an opposing score on 32.3% of drives this season — the fourth-lowest mark in the NFL.

You probably won’t have to race to the waiver wire or use a wad of FAAB to get Patriots D/ST on your roster, either, as a tough matchup with the Bills looms in Week 15. However, things get much more tantalizing after that. Week 16’s matchup with the Ravens seems more and more palatable with every underwhelming Lamar Jackson performance, yet it’s Week 17’s tilt with the Jets that’s the reason for New England’s immense value. It doesn’t matter if Justin Fields, Tyrod Taylor or Brady Cook will be starting for New York by that point. Having the Patriots’ defense will be a massive boost in the Championship Game.

2. 49ers | Yahoo! Own: 26%

It’s strange to say, but the 49ers’ defense has actually been below-average through 14 weeks of action, entering Week 15 ranking 25th in the NFL in defensive EPA per play (0.04). Much of this can simply be chalked up to poor injury luck, as San Francisco currently has the likes of Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, Yetur Gross-Matos and 2025 first-round pick Mykel Williams on injured reserve. With all that talent missing — particularly on the defensive line — it’s no surprise that the 49ers currently sit dead-last in the league in sacks (16). That’s not exactly the formula for an amazing fantasy D.

So why mention San Francisco as a viable D/ST stash? It all comes down to schedule. The 49ers will take on the Titans this coming Sunday, a team that is producing a putrid 15.5 points per game, thanks primarily to their complete inability to protect rookie quarterback Cam Ward. In fact, at 49 times, Ward’s been sacked more than any other QB in the NFL. Yikes. After that, in Week 16, San Francisco will travel to Indianapolis to take on a reeling Colts squad that just lost Daniel Jones (Achilles) for the season. Quick analysis: If a team is reaching out to 44-year-old Philip Rivers, it’s a very bad sign.

3. Cowboys | Yahoo! Own: 11%

I know. The Cowboys were basically the worst defense in the NFL over the first half of the regular season. Well, in a shocking twist, adding a bunch of talent at the trade deadline can actually make a difference. Jerry Jones went out and acquired Quinnen Williams and Logan Wilson to supplement a unit that was hemorrhaging oil, and the impact has been noticeable — particularly in Dallas’ ability to stop the run. The Cowboys have held Ashton Jeanty, Saquon Barkley and Jahmyr Gibbs under 50 yards rushing in the past four weeks. No small feat!

Schedule is once again a major factor in Cowboys D/ST being viable in the fantasy football playoffs, as Dallas will draw the Vikings, the Chargers and the Commanders down the stretch. Minnesota leads the NFL in giveaways per game (2.0), Los Angeles doesn’t have anything resembling a healthy offensive line, and, in Washington, Jayden Daniels should probably just be shut down for the remainder of the season with his litany of injuries. On top of all this, the Cowboys lead the league in pressure rate (32.2%). This is a unit that can get to the quarterback and cause some chaos. You could do much worse in a deeper format with slim pickings on the waiver wire.