Streaming Defenses: Picking a Week 2 Team Defense

Note: As requested, this article will be posted on Monday or Tuesday in future weeks. Some of these defenses should be available even after FAAB/waivers, but the top picks may be scooped up by Wednesday, particularly in deeper/more competitive leagues.

TOP STREAMING OPTIONS

Baltimore Ravens (at. Cleveland Browns)
25% Yahoo ownership - 29% ESPN ownership

If Robert Griffin (shoulder) had merely managed to stay healthy for more than one game, the Ravens D/ST would be a borderline top-five option for Week 2. Instead, the Ravens have to settle for the No. 8 spot in my rankings, drawing a matchup with a quarterback (Josh McCown) who memorably roasted them for 457 passing yards and three total touchdowns in a Week 5 matchup last season. Of course, the Browns seem to have somehow gotten even worse since last season, whereas the Ravens should at least find their way to mediocrity after everything went wrong last season.

The Baltimore defense didn't have a huge Week 1 from a fantasy perspective, but few units turned in stronger real-life performances, with the Bills limited to a meager 160 yards of total offense in a 13-7 loss. The Browns will surely manage more than 160 yards, but they're unlikely to completely avoid turnovers, as the Bills did last week. Note that the Ravens have won 14 of their last 16 games against the Browns.

Detroit Lions (vs. Tennessee Titans)
4% Yahoo ownership - 3% ESPN ownership

The Detroit defense may be coming off a putrid Week 1 showing, but keep in mind that it was facing a healthy Colts offense with a much-improved offensive line in front of Andrew Luck. This week's opponent, the Tennessee offense, was somehow even worse than the Detroit defense in Week 1, surrendering a pair of defensive touchdowns in a 25-16 loss to the Vikings. Even if you're a long-term believer in Marcus Mariota, which I am, it's pretty clear the Tennessee offense still has a lot to figure out.

The Lions defense is probably also a bit underrated for the season, boasting an underrated superstar talent at every level in DE Ezekiel Ansah, LB DeAndre Levy and CB Darius Slay. Granted, the complementary pieces could hold this unit back, but it should at least be respectable so long as the aforementioned three players stay healthy.

Philadelphia Eagles (at Chicago Bears)
48% Yahoo ownership 30% ESPN ownership

As predicted by myself and nearly everyone else, the Eagles defense got off to a nice start in Week 1 against Robert Griffin (shoulder), tallying three sacks and an interception in a 29-10 beating. This week's matchup isn't quite as favorable, but it still ranks as above-average, with the Bears coming off a lifeless Week 1 showing in Houston. Even if Alshon Jeffery makes the most of a favorable matchup with a weak cornerback group, it's tough to find anywhere else that the Chicago offense has an advantage. The ownership numbers probably shouldn't be this high, but the Eagles do make for a solid streaming option if you can't nab Baltimore or Detroit.

Chicago Bears (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)
2% Yahoo ownership - 3% ESPN ownership

Looking at the other side of the MNF game, the Bears are at home against a rookie quarterback, which is really all you need to know. Sure, Carson Wentz looked good last week, but as everyone has already pointed out….that was against the Browns. Not to say the Bears are a defensive powerhouse -- far from it -- but they also aren't the Browns.

Note: I promise this article has a purpose besides picking on the Browns. We'll find it eventually.

Washington Redskins (vs. Dallas Cowboys)
7% Yahoo ownership - 3% ESPN ownership

The ownership numbers seem a bit low for a talented defense in a plus matchup, likely because the Redskins were just embarrassed on national television. The Cowboys offense should be fine without Tony Romo (back), but it's nowhere near the level of the behemoth Washington had to face in Week 1. With Antonio Brown and Co. out of sight and (hopefully) out of mind, the Redskins should bounce back against a far less experienced opponent. It will be interesting to see if Josh Norman shadows Dez Bryant, but regardless, Washington should manage just fine in this matchup. Bashaud Breeland may have been burnt by Brown and Ben Roethlisberger, but he's actually a pretty good cornerback who can stand up to nearly any other matchup.

Here are my rankings for this week and the remainder of the season: