Streaming Defenses: D/ST Picks for Week 2

Savvy fantasy players like ourselves make it harder and harder each year to stream defenses for Week 1, because teams like the Jaguars, Chargers (oops) and Steelers typically get drafted in the final round on a matchup basis even if they'll only be rostered for a week or two. In terms of scoring average, our Week 1 streaming picks did alright, but the group was carried by picks Nos. 3-5 (NYJ, LV, DET) rather than the top two selections (LAC, TEN).

I'm thinking we'll fare much better for Week 2, seeing as the defenses that face Cleveland and Miami are widely available across fantasy leagues. Those two make for an easy Top 2 on our Week 2 streaming list, followed by some sketchier selections with a considerable drop-off. For some, it's too early in the year to consider using FAAB on a kicker or defense. But if you're not in that camp, you might consider dropping a buck or three this week to secure one of our top two streaming options rather than settling for the fallbacks. There's a larger-than-usual gap in terms of both projections and rankings there.

Note: These recommendations are limited to team defenses that are rostered on less than 50 percent of teams on Yahoo or 60 percent on FFPC. Any references to fantasy points are based on Yahoo standard scoring, which doesn't include yards allowed.

Top Streaming Options for Week 2

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. CLE)

• 5% Yahoo, 19% FFPC
• Team implied total:  24.5    Opponent implied total: 16.0
• Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 3: 13th (vs. MIN),  Week 4: 14th (vs.GB)

I already have Tampa's defense stashed in a couple of leagues with deep benches in anticipation of this Cleveland matchup. For the most part, though, the Bucs D/ST is available on waivers and sure to attract plenty of attention this week. While likely a middling unit, it'll be hard to mess up a home matchup with Deshaun Watson. Tampa Bay opens as an 8.5-point favorite despite a disappointing, turnover-plagued Week 1.

2. San Francisco 49ers (vs. MIA)

• 11% Yahoo, 32% FFPC
• Team implied total: 29.5     Opponent implied total: 16.0
• Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 3: 5th (vs. ARZ),  Week 4: 13th (vs. DEN)

With streamers like these, why use a pick on Houston/Seattle/Denver? Two of those three took a beating in Week 1 anyway, while popular streamers like the Jaguars and Steelers took advantage of the matchups drafters had been eyeing. Some will be tempted to double down on Jacksonville or Pittsburgh, but you know better and will instead continue to target defenses facing the Browns, Dolphins or Titans. Quarterback injuries and other mishaps may add to that group throughout the season, but for right now we have a clear Not-So-Top 3 in terms of D/ST matchups. The Dolphins didn't look quite as bad as the other two last week, for what it's worth (probably not much).

3. Chicago Bears (vs. MIN)

• 8% Yahoo, 25% FFPC
• Team implied total: 27.5     Opponent implied total: 22.0
• Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 3: 19th (vs. PHI),  Week 4:  4th (vs. NYJ)

Minnesota's offense arguably looked better than Chicago's defense last weekend, but this is the kind of matchup where we may see multiple turnovers even if the Vikings successfully move the ball. That's how the Bears played it last year, leading the league in takeaways (33) while giving up the 10th-most points and fourth-most yards. It's a formula that works in most fantasy scoring formats, and a home matchup with Carson Wentz provides especially fertile ground for sacks and takeaways.

4. Kansas City Chiefs (vs. IND)

• 13% Yahoo, 30% FFPC
• Team implied total: 27.0     Opponent implied total: 20.5
• Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 3: 2nd (vs. MIA),  Week 4: 5th (at LV)

Daniel Jones has done a good job of avoiding sacks and turnovers under Shane Steichen, but the passing-game magic we saw last September and October may be forever gone. Both teams will want to run the ball after their RBs carried the entire offense in Week 1, and while I'm guessing they'll both find some level of success, the betting odds (KC -6.5) hint at risk of a blowout where the Colts would be forced to throw in clear passing situations. That's where Jones starts to get wobbly, when asked to carry the weight of an offense. Doing it at Arrowhead would be particularly difficult.

You won't actually want to keep the Chiefs D/ST up through Thanksgiving, but it's definitely a startable unit the Week 5 bye.

5. Green Bay Packers (at NYJ)

• 15% Yahoo, 46% FFPC
• Team implied total: 24.0     Opponent implied total: 20.5
• Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 3: 3rd (vs. ATL),  Week 4: 19th (at TB)

The Packers are favored by 3.5 on the road despite their ugly second-half meltdown in Minnesota on Sunday. So it goes when you're facing the Jets, whose Week 1 win over the Titans tells us more about the loser than the victor. I'm not buying the Packers as 3.5-point favorites here because they have issues of their own, but they're at least enough of a favorite to be a backup option for streamers.

Week 2 Rankings

Tier 1: TB, PHI, SF

Tier 2: BAL, LAC, SEA

Tier 3: NE, LAR, GB, KC

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. CLE)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (at TEN) 
3. San Francisco 49ers (vs. MIA) 
4. Baltimore Ravens (vs. NO)
5. Los Angeles Chargers (vs. LV) 
6. Chicago Bears (vs. MIN) 
7. Seattle Seahawks (at ARZ)  
8. New England Patriots (vs. PIT) 
9. Los Angeles Rams (vs. NYG) 
10. Green Bay Packers (at NYJ) 
11. Kansas City Chiefs (vs. IND)
12. Houston Texans (vs. CIN) 
13. Carolina Panthers (at ATL)
14. Atlanta Falcons (vs. CAR)
15. Jacksonville Jaguars (at DEN) 
16. Denver Broncos (vs. JAX) 
17. Pittsburgh Steelers (at NE) 
18. Dallas Cowboys (vs. WAS) 
19. Minnesota Vikings (at CHI)
20. Arizona Cardinals (vs. SEA)

Looking Ahead to Week 3

1. Giants (vs. TEN)
2. Chiefs (at MIA) 
3. Packers (vs. ATL) 
4. Panthers (at CLE)
5. Lions (vs. NYJ)
6. 49ers (vs. ARZ)
7. Seahawks (at WAS)
8. Texans (at IND)
9. Saints (vs. LV)
10. Colts (vs. HOU)
11. Rams (at DEN)
12. Jaguars (vs. NE)
13. Buccaneers (vs. MIN)
14. Vikings (at TB) 
15. Browns (vs. CAR)
16. Bills (vs. LAC)
17. Steelers (vs. CIN)
18. Broncos (vs. LAR)
19. Bears (vs. PHI)
20. Eagles (at CHI)

Rest-of-Season Rankings

1. Seattle Seahawks
2. Houston Texans
3. Philadelphia Eagles  
4. Los Angeles Rams 
5. Baltimore Ravens 
6. Minnesota Vikings 
7. Denver Broncos
8. Detroit Lions
9. New England Patriots
10. Pittsburgh Steelers  
11. Kansas City Chiefs
12. Jacksonville Jaguars 
13. Los Angeles Chargers 
14. Green Bay Packers
15. Buffalo Bills
16. San Francisco 49ers
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
18. Indianapolis Colts
19. Cincinnati Bengals
20. New York Giants