Streaming Defenses: Week 4 Options

Week 3 brought mixed results for our streaming picks, with the top-ranked Packers coming up big to the tune of 13 fantasy points, followed by solid performances from the 49ers (seven) and Bucs (eight), while the Seahawks (two) and Titans (one) were clear disappointments.

The upcoming week looks tricky for D/ST streaming, and not just because the Jets are on bye. The best matchups mostly belong to units that are already owned in most leagues — the Rams, Chargers, Patriots, Bears and Vikings. Fortunately, all is not lost. We still have a couple solid choices, along with a few others that are tolerable.

For injury/ranking updates throughout the week, follow me on Twitter (@RotowireNFL_JD).

Note: These recommendations are limited to team defenses with ownership under 60 percent on Yahoo or 30 percent on ESPN as of Tuesday morning. Any references to fantasy points are based on Yahoo standard scoring, which doesn't include yards allowed.

Top Streaming Options for Week 4

1. Indianapolis Colts (vs. Oakland Raiders)

15% Yahoo ownership, 21% ESPN

Team implied total: 26.0 (6th of 30)

Opponent implied total: 19.0 (26th)

Upcoming Ranks — Week 5: 30th (at KC), Week 6: Bye

Twenty teams have allowed more fantasy points (18) to team defenses, but it's probably just a matter of time before the Raiders move up (or down?) the ladder. They allowed the fourth-most (10.0 per game) in Year 1 under Jon Gruden, with only three quarterbacks taking more sacks than Derek Carr (51). The Raiders scored just 24 points the past two weeks, unable to gain any momentum from their strong Week 1 showing against Denver. They'll now face a tough team on the road for a second straight week, though I'd feel better about the matchup if safety Malik Hooker was healthy and I knew Colts linebacker Darius Leonard (concussion) would be able to play. Even so, a seven-point home favorite against the Raiders will always be a top streaming choice.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Cincinnati Bengals)

19% Yahoo ownership, 16% ESPN

Team implied total: 23.75 (14th)

Opponent implied total: 19.75 (24th)

Upcoming Ranks — Week 5: 21st (vs. BAL), Week 6: 19th (at LAC)

The Bengals don't have a bottom-five quarterback and haven't been totally inept on offense, but their pass-heavy approach makes them a perfect target for D/ST streaming. They've allowed the fifth-most fantasy points (10 per game) to the position after three weeks, with Andy Dalton taking 11 sacks while throwing the second-most passes (129) in the league. I don't expect the Steelers to totally shut down the Cincinnati offense, but it's a safe bet they'll find a few sacks and at least one turnover along the way. While the secondary remains problematic, Pittsburgh holds PFF's No. 4 team grades for both pass rushing and run defense.

3. Seattle Seahawks (at Arizona Cardinals)

56% Yahoo ownership, 16% ESPN

Team implied total: 26.25 (5th)

Opponent implied total: 21.25 (17th)

Upcoming Ranks — Week 5: 20th (vs. LAR), Week 6: 23rd (at CLE)

If you've watched the Seahawks attempt to play defense this season, you might be surprised to find them in this space. Such is the power of a matchup with Arizona, a team that's thrown the ball on 73 percent of snaps while giving up the ninth-most fantasy points (eight per game) to team defenses. Kyler Murray leads the league in pass attempts (137) and has taken the second-most sacks (16), producing just 6.1 YPA (30th of 35 qualified QBs). The Cardinals also have no running game apart from Murray's scrambles, with David Johnson stuck at 3.7 YPC in an offense ranked 30th in PFF's grades for run blocking, 

4. Atlanta Falcons (vs. Tennessee Titans)

3% Yahoo ownership, 4% ESPN

Team implied total: 24.75 (t-10th)

Opponent implied total: 20.75 (t-19th)

Upcoming Ranks — Week 5: 25th (at HOU), Week 6: 10th (at ARZ)

Marcus Mariota isn't a quarterback I've frequently targeted with team defenses, because for all his faults, he at least does a pretty good job avoiding interceptions. Fortunately for us, he's found a new way to hand out fantasy points, taking 17 sacks in three games this season, after absorbing 42 in 14 games (13 starts) last year. Mariota is on track for a second straight season with the highest sack rate (15.6 percent) among qualified passers. The Falcons don't have a scary pass rush or even a decent defense, but they're in an excellent spot as four-point home favorites against a subpar, sack-prone QB.

5. Denver Broncos (vs. Jacksonville Jaguars)

35% Yahoo ownership, 28% ESPN

Team implied total: 20.75 (t-19th)

Opponent implied total: 17.75 (t-27th)

Upcoming Ranks — Week 5: 24th (at LAC), Week 6: 9th (vs. TEN)

This is where I run out of confidence, relying on Vegas odds as the tiebreaker between a bunch of sketchy options. Jacksonville has the fourth-lowest implied total of the week, so really, one might argue that Denver belongs higher than 13th in my weekly rankings. I won't be the one making that argument, because I'm skeptical of the Broncos being listed as three-point favorites. Struggling to get any production from vaunted edge rushers Von Miller and Bradley Chubb, the Broncos are the only team in the NFL without a sack through three games. I'm not even sure how that's possible, but I do know it's true. (Have I talked you out of using the Broncos yet?)

Week 4 Rankings

1. Los Angeles Chargers (at MIA)

2. Los Angeles Rams (vs. TB)

3. New England Patriots (at BUF)

4. Chicago Bears (vs. MIN)

5. Indianapolis Colts (vs. OAK)

6. Minnesota Vikings (at CHI)

7. Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. CIN)

8. Baltimore Ravens (vs. CLE)

9. Seattle Seahawks (at ARZ)

10. Jacksonville Jaguars (at DEN)

11. Atlanta Falcons (vs. TEN)

12. Green Bay Packers (vs. PHI)

13. Denver Broncos (vs. JAX)

14. Houston Texans (vs. CAR)

15. New York Giants (vs. WAS)

16. Kansas City Chiefs (at DET)

17. Carolina Panthers (at HOU)

18. Dallas Cowboys (at NO)

19. Arizona Cardinals (vs. SEA)

20. Washington Redskins (at NYG)

Looking Ahead to Week 5

1. New England Patriots (at WAS)

2. Philadelphia Eagles (vs. NYJ)

3. Chicago Bears (at OAK)

4. Los Angeles Chargers (vs. DEN)

5. Buffalo Bills (at TEN)

6. Baltimore Ravens (at PIT)

7. New Orleans Saints (vs. TB)

8. Tennessee Titans (vs. BUF)

9. Carolina Panthers (vs. JAX)

10. San Francisco 49ers (vs. CLE)

11. Minnesota Vikings (at NYG)

12. Cincinnati Bengals (vs. ARZ)

13. Kansas City Chiefs (vs. IND)

14. Cleveland Browns (at SF)

15. Los Angeles Rams (at SEA)

16. Jacksonville Jaguars (at CAR)

17. New York Giants (vs. MIN)

18. Dallas Cowboys (vs. GB)

19. Oakland Raiders (vs. CHI)

20. Houston Texans (vs. ATL)

Rest-of-Season Rankings

1. New England Patriots

2. Los Angeles Rams

3. Chicago Bears

4. Minnesota Vikings

5. Baltimore Ravens

6. Buffalo Bills

7. Green Bay Packers

8. Dallas Cowboys

9. Cleveland Browns

10. Jacksonville Jaguars

11. Indianapolis Colts

12. Philadelphia Eagles

13. San Francisco 49ers

14. Detroit Lions

15. Los Angeles Chargers

16. Tennessee Titans

17. Houston Texans

18. Kansas City Chiefs

19. New Orleans Saints

20. Denver Broncos