Streaming Defenses: Picking a Week 16 Team D

Please note: The Miami Dolphins would've come in a fourth on this week's list of five streamer defenses, but their ownership percentage was too close to the cutoff we tend to use (Yahoo 58.0%, ESPN 49.8%).

San Diego Chargers (at Cleveland Browns)
29% Yahoo ownership – 36.8% ESPN ownership

The Chargers will easily be the most popular streaming option in leagues this week, so you'll need to claim them as quickly as possible, and even if you're not going to use them, it might be wise to drop a player you don't plan on using in the fantasy playoffs to snag this defense so your opponent doesn't use them against you. This analysis is as easy as it comes: the Browns have scored fewer than 10 points per game over the last four weeks while allowing an otherworldly 23 sacks over their last four games. In addition, the offense is consistently getting into obvious passing downs due to poor performance on early downs, and due to negative game scripts. Meanwhile, the Chargers have been solid on defense, as they've recorded a pair of sacks in each of their last two games, and they've generated eight takeaways over their last four. Although this is a road game, the potential for cold weather makes this an even better spot for the San Diego defense.

Los Angeles Rams (vs. San Francisco 49ers)
53% Yahoo ownership – 23.6 % ESPN ownership

Even though they're mired in a losing streak, the strong pass rush of the Rams continues to bring the heat on opposing quarterbacks, as they've recorded multiple sacks in four of their last five games, and they've posted six sacks over their last two home games. They'll be hosting the 49ers, who have allowed 17 sacks over their last five, including eight in their last two road games. In addition, San Francisco has also turned the ball over three times in their last three road games, and even though the Rams have just three takeaways in their last five overall, this is a spot where they should be able to force at least one. Finally, in leagues that award points for low points allowed, this is looking like it could be an extremely low-scoring game, which boosts their value.

New York Giants (at Philadelphia Eagles)
32% Yahoo ownership – 53.7%ESPN ownership

The Giants will face a divisional foe on the road while playing on a short week, but they'll be ready to pit their red-hot defense against an offense with significant issues along the offensive line (despite the return of Lane Johnson) and at wide receiver. New York has 17 sacks over their last five games while generating 10 takeaways in their last four. The Eagles will struggle to contain the Giants' pass rush, as they've allowed 10 sacks in their last four games and have turned the ball over six times in their last three. In addition, with the exception of Zach Ertz, it's difficult to imagine the Philly wide receivers having much success against the Giants' defensive backs, which should also help the pass rush get to Carson Wentz. When these teams met in Week 9, the Giants were able to pick off a pair of passes while notching a pair of sacks, and that type of success is certainly something this defense should be able to replicate this week.

Washington Redskins (at Chicago Bears)
13% Yahoo ownership – 5.8% ESPN ownership

The Redskins come into this game having lost three of their last four, making them desperate for a win, and they'll be counting on a pass rush that's recorded six sacks over their last two games to take aim at Matt Barkley. Although Barkley's been sacked just three times over his last three games, the Bears are coming off a tough divisional loss, and this appears to be a prime spot for Washington to use their passing attack to jump out to a lead, and then have a game script that's conducive to producing sacks and takeaways. Should the game script work out, the Chicago QB showed his flaws last week when he threw three interceptions (and the Bears had four turnovers) in a game in which they trailed the Packers.

Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Baltimore Ravens)
42% Yahoo ownership – 34.7% ESPN ownership

The Steelers will be home for the holiday against their hated rivals, and they'll look to keep applying the type of defensive pressure that has led them to collect 19 sacks over their last five games, which has also helped them to force six turnovers in their last four. They should be able to find success getting to Joe Flacco, who has been sacked multiple times in three of his last four games while turning the ball over five times in that span. When these teams met over a month ago in Baltimore, the Steelers recorded three sacks and an interception, and they should be in line for similar success on their home field.

Here are my rankings for this week, and Week 17 will not be factored into the season-long rankings at this time due to the unpredictable nature of how teams may approach that game.