Streaming Defenses: Picking a Week 13 Team D

Note: The Dolphins, Ravens and Giants, respectively, are strong streaming options this week, but they missed the 50 percent availability cutoff for making this week's list.

Cincinnati Bengals (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)
26% Yahoo ownership – 36.4% ESPN ownership

Don't confuse the current version of the Eagles offense with the version that started the season hot. This team has limited wide receivers and its offensive line has had plenty of struggles recently, so this is a week the Bengals defense could have a productive game on their home field. They should be able to get to Carson Wentz, who's been sacked 21 times in his last seven games, which matches up well with the Cincinnati pass rush that's recorded multiple sacks in four of its last six games. While then Bengals are busy getting pressure on Wentz, they'll try to extend a streak in which they've intercepted a pass in five straight games while the Eagles' quarterback has been picked off five times over his last four games.

San Diego Chargers (vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
20% Yahoo ownership – 34.7% ESPN ownership

Facing the Bucs is a much different proposition when they're on a cross-country trip as opposed to when they play at home. This could easily be a game that has the Chargers playing with a lead. If that's the case, the defense should have the ability to register sacks and produce takeaways against a Bucs offense that has some limitations. The Chargers are on a four-game streak with at least one takeaway, and they've generated eight over their last three games. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay has turned the ball over eight times in five road games.

Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. New York Giants)
48% Yahoo ownership – 43.1% ESPN ownership

The Steelers' offense typically does well at home, so there's a decent chance that they get out to a lead and force Eli Manning into a one-dimensional pass offense. If that's the case, the Steelers' red-hot pass rush could add to the 16 sacks it's had in the last four games. However, the Giants have done a great job protecting Manning lately, as he's been sacked three times over his last five games. Pittsburgh's recent pressure on quarterbacks has led to six takeaways during the last month, and matches up with New York having turned the ball over five times in its last four games.

Chicago Bears (vs. San Francisco 49ers)
2% Yahoo ownership – 6.1% ESPN ownership

It's certainly troubling that the Bears will be without both Jerrell Freeman and Danny Trevathan, but overall, this defense has the ability to take advantage of an offense that has significant issues, and the 49ers fit the bill. Even though the Bears haven't had a takeaway or sack in two games, they recently had nine sacks in their two previous games against the Vikings and Bucs. They easily can get back in the sack column against a 49ers offense that's allowed Colin Kaepernick to be sacked 10 times in his last three games. San Francisco also has a propensity to turn the ball over, as it has done so at least once in every road game this season.

Houston Texans (at Green Bay Packers)
44% Yahoo ownership – 49.1% ESPN ownership

Streaming defenses playing at home are typically more preferential options, but the Packers' offense has struggled with consistency throughout the season. As they're coming off an extremely productive and efficient performance last week, it wouldn't be a surprise if they took a step back as again. Before that strong performance against the Eagles, the Packers turned the ball over six times while giving up 10 sacks in three games. Even though the Texans have been far from a strong unit since losing J. J. Watt to injury, they have at least one takeaway in three consecutive games.

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