Streaming Defenses Week 1: D/ST Picks for Fantasy Football This Week

Welcome back to Streaming Defenses, your home for everything D/ST during the NFL season. With the help of this article and RotoWire's weekly projections, we should be able to rank near the top of our league in points scored from the Team Defense spot, without using a draft pick until the final round.

Those of you who anticipate streaming throughout the season may have already drafted/added a defense like Arizona, Washington or Los Angeles — teams outside the Top 10 of our season-long rankings, with fantasy appeal based almost solely on favorable matchups in Weeks 1-3. Streaming generally yields similar or better results (at minimal FAAB cost) to what other managers will get from a supposed top defense like Denver or Baltimore that had to be drafted before the final couple of rounds.

I'll continue to update this article throughout the week based on injuries and any other news, with major changes to the Week 1 rankings noted below in italics. I'll also discuss any major changes on twitter, where you can find me at @FootballMammal.

Note: These defense streaming recommendations are limited to team defenses that are rostered on less than 60 percent of teams on Yahoo or 45 percent on ESPN. Any references to fantasy points are based on Yahoo standard scoring, which doesn't include yards allowed.

Top Streaming Options for Week 1

1. Arizona Cardinals (at NO)

• 35% Yahoo, 43% ESPN
• Team implied total: 25.0     Opponent implied total: 18.5
• Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 2: 8th (vs. CAR),  Week 3: 21st (at SF)

The Cardinals are a popular final-round pick in fantasy drafts, and rightfully so, with games against New Orleans and Carolina to start the season. They also have good-looking matchups in Weeks 4 (vs. SEA), 5 (vs. TEN) and 6 (at IND), which can set up a platoon with another defense like KC or Houston that has favorable matchups in Weeks 3 and 7.

The Cardinals should be good for at least a handful of fantasy points this weekend, favored by 6.5 over a Saints team with the third-lowest implied total (18.5) on the slate. Quarterback Spencer Rattler took 22 sacks in his six starts last season, all losses, in which the Saints averaged 10.7 points per game. He also turned the ball over eight times, including three lost fumbles, with the only real positive from his starts being a competitive showing Week 18 at Tampa Bay. 

The Cardinals have the upper hand here, especially after improving their D-line this offseason with the signings of DE Josh Sweat and DTs Calais Campbell and Dalvin Tomlinson (knee). Unfortunately, first-round pick Walter Nolen (PUP / calf) won't join them until at least October.

2. Washington Commanders (vs. NYG)

• 31% Yahoo, 13% ESPN
• Team implied total: 25.75     Opponent implied total: 19.75
• Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 2: 17th (at GB),  Week 3: 10th (vs. LV)

The six-point spread for this game is fourth-largest of Week 1, with the Giants' implied total (19.75) being fourth-worst. QB Russell Wilson remains excellent at avoiding interceptions, but sacks are a different story, averaging at least three per start each of the past three years. He also lost 11 fumbles in that stretch, including four in 11 regular-season starts last year. The Giants' offensive line looks healthy right now — a rarity in the Brian Daboll area — but it could be in for a long afternoon if the Commanders jump out to a lead and force Wilson into obvious passing situations.

For up-to-the-minute updates on injuries, news and everything going on around the NFL, head to RotoWire's NFL Fantasy Football News Today or follow @RotoWireNFL on X.

3. Cincinnati Bengals (at CLE)

• 9% Yahoo, 3% ESPN
• Team implied total: 26.5     Opponent implied total: 21.0
• Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 2: 12th (vs. JAX),  Week 3: 20th (at MIN)

The Bengals were 25th in yardage and points allowed last season, but they ranked much higher in takeaways (22) and thus had some utility as a D/ST streamer in favorable matchups. They've got DE Trey Hendrickson practicing again, finally, just in time to face a Cleveland offense that allowed the most fantasy points to team defenses last year. QB Joe Flacco may be better than what the Browns had under center for much of 2024, but he's still a favorable matchup for D/ST purposes, having thrown 15 interceptions in 11 starts over the past two seasons. 

Note: You can move the Bengals down some in formats that put more emphasis on points/yards allowed, like a lot of ESPN leagues. My rankings and streaming picks are based on the industry-default scoring seen on Yahoo, DraftKings, etc., where yardage isn't part of the scoring and takeaways/sacks/TDs matter far, far more than point prevention.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. CAR)

• 1% Yahoo, 2% ESPN
• Team implied total: 25.0     Opponent implied total: 21.5
• Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 2: 25th (at CIN),  Week 3: 23rd (vs. HOU)

There's hope for Bryce Young after the way he finished last season, but there's also still a decent chance he'll be a bust. It's one of the key things to watch early in the year, especially for fantasy. For now, I'm not necessarily assuming Carolina's offense will be competent, just acknowledging the possibility. Jacksonville's defense obviously isn't one we expect to target much this season, but the Jags at least have some juice off the edge, and potentially now at cornerback as well, depending on what Travis Hunter contributes.

5. Los Angeles Rams (vs. HOU)

• 15% Yahoo, 7% ESPN
• Team implied total: 23.25     Opponent implied total: 20.25
• Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 2: 5th (at TEN),  Week 3: 27th (at PHI)

I'm actually optimistic that new Texans offensive coordinator Nick Caley will help C.J. Stroud get back to some of what we saw in 2023, but a road game against the Rams is a tough Week 1 draw for a team whose biggest weakness (at least on paper) is the offensive line. The Texans made changes this offseason, but it's hard to say if the result will actually be better, given that the biggest move was shipping out LT Laremy Tunsil, who was still better than Houston's other blockers during a down year in 2024. 

A pass rush led by Jared Verse, Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske should have the upper hand here, forcing Stroud into multiple sacks and at least one turnover. The Rams get another friendly matchup Week 2, traveling to Nashville to face rookie quarterback Cameron Ward.

Week 1 Rankings

1. Broncos (vs. TEN)
2. Steelers (at NYJ)
3. Eagles (vs. DAL)
4. Cardinals (at NO)
5. Commanders (vs. NYG)
6. Vikings (at CHI) 
7. Bengals (at CLE)
8. Jaguars (vs. CAR)
9. Rams (vs. HOU) 
10. 49ers (at SEA)
11. Texans (at LAR) 
12. Buccaneers (at ATL)
13. Patriots (vs. LV)
14. Jets (vs. PIT)
15. Chiefs (at LAC)
16. Seahawks (vs. SF)
17. Dolphins (at IND)
18. Raiders (at NE)
19. Ravens (at BUF)
20. Bills (vs. BAL)

Looking Ahead to Week 2

1. Ravens (vs. CLE)
2. Bills (at NYJ) 
3. 49ers (at NO) 
4. Broncos (at IND)
5. Steelers (vs. SEA)
6. Rams (at TEN)
7. Cardinals (vs. CAR)
8. Vikings (vs. ATL)
9. Lions (vs. CHI) 
10. Cowboys (vs. NYG)
11. Bengals (vs. JAX)
12. Miami Dolphins (vs. NE)
13. Chargers (at LV)
14. Patriots (at MIA)
15. Seahawks (at PIT) 
16. Packers (vs. WAS)
17. Texans (vs. TB)
18. Eagles (at KC)
19. Buccaneers (at HOU)
20. Commanders (at GB)

Rest-of-Season Rankings

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

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