Streaming Defenses Week 5: D/ST Picks for Fantasy Football This Week

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

Top Streaming Options for Week 5

1. Arizona Cardinals (vs. TEN)

• 17% Yahoo
• Team implied total: 25.0     Opponent implied total: 16.5
• Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 6: 21st (at IND),  Week 7: 19th (vs. GB)

Arizona's defense is competent, though unexciting. Tennessee's offense looks like not only the worst in the league but also a contender for worst of the decade (WOTD?), with 2025 Cam Ward giving 2023 Bryce Young a run for his money. Every D/ST to face the Titans so far has scored at least eight fantasy points; the Cardinals shouldn't be any different.

2. New York Giants (at NO)

• 2% Yahoo
• Team implied total: 19.75     Opponent implied total: 20.75
• Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 6: 20th (vs. PHI),  Week 7: 24th (at DEN)

The betting odds imply that these two teams are equally bad, but I don't buy it even with Malik Nabers out for the season. Jaxson Dart already appears very likely to be better than Spencer Rattler, for one thing, although that's a meaningless barometer in any other context. The Saints are basically just the Titans with 15 percent more effort and a shred of self-respect (just the one). 

The Giants are a tier or two higher on the totem pole of stink, as they at least have an interesting rookie QB and a loaded group of pass rushers. The Saints, meanwhile, appeared to finally get healthy along the offensive line this past week, only to then lose long-time starter Cesar Ruiz to an ankle injury (one that will keep him out for Week 5, at the very least).

3. Indianapolis Colts (vs. LV)

• 22% Yahoo
• Team implied total: 27.0     Opponent implied total: 20.5
• Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 6: 7th (vs. ARZ),  Week 7: 20th (at LAC)

The Raiders look downright terrible, with no distinct strength and an offense that doesn't appear to suit Geno Smith or Brock Bowers. They did finally get Ashton Jeanty going this past week, though mostly fueled by TDs and a couple long runs, not consistency in picking up positive yardage. The Colts rely on their offense more than their defense, but it's also a great spot for the latter, playing at home as a near-TD favorite.

4. Cleveland Browns (vs. MIN)

• 8% Yahoo
• Team implied total: 16.0      Opponent implied total: 20.5
• Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 6: 15th (at PIT),  Week 7: 14th (vs. MIA)

The Browns are 4.5-point underdogs, which usually would mean being far away from this list. In this case, however, we're talking about a London game with an over/under of 36.5, on a slate where every other game was at 40.5 or higher (as of Monday night). The number feels a bit exaggerated, but it's not entirely unreasonable for a matchup between Carson Wentz and Joe Flacco. 

We've also seen both teams trying to run the ball a lot more than they did in neutral/trailing situations last year, potentially setting up a slow-paced slog instead of the high-volume, pass-happy shootout that some might've projected for this game back in August. The hope here for fantasy is that the Browns can put up a fight and force Wentz into some passing situations where his shortcomings are impossible to hide.

5. Kansas City Chiefs (at JAX)

• 56% Yahoo
• Team implied total: 24.5     Opponent implied total: 21.0
• Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 6: 18th (vs. DET),  Week 7: 2nd (vs. LV)

I was surprised to see the Chiefs available in my 12-team league, but I guess that shouldn't be shocking after a matchup with Baltimore. It obviously worked out alright for the Chiefs, and they'll now head to Jacksonville as 3.5-point favorites against a team that's been surprisingly reliant on its defense. The Jaguars' running game is also much-improved, but the passing game still isn't clicking, in part because Trevor Lawrence and Brian Thomas simply aren't playing well.

Week 5 Rankings

1. Cardinals (vs. TEN)  
2. Vikings (at CLE)
3. Lions (at CIN) 
4. Eagles (vs. DEN) 
5. Ravens (vs. HOU) 
6. Bills (vs. NE)
7. Giants (at NO) 
8. Colts (vs. LV) 
9. Browns (vs. MIN)  
10. Chiefs (at JAX)
11. Saints (vs. NYG)  
12. Dolphins (at CAR)
13. Rams (vs. SF)
14. Cowboys (at NYJ) 
15. Seahawks (vs. TB)
16. Buccaneers (at SEA)
17. Jaguars (vs. KC)
18. Chargers (vs. WAS)
19. 49ers (vs. LAR)
20. Broncos (at PHI)

Looking Ahead to Week 6

1. Packers (vs. CIN)
2. Steelers (vs. CLE)
3. Eagles (at NYG)
4. Raiders (vs. TEN)
5. Broncos (at NYJ)
6. Patriots (at NO) 
7. Colts (vs. ARZ)
8. Bills (at ATL) 
9. Cowboys (at CAR)
10. Jaguars (vs. SEA)
11. Chargers (at MIA)
12. Seahawks (at JAX) 
13. Commanders (vs. CHI)
14. Buccaneers (vs. SF)
15. Browns (at PIT)
16. Saints (vs. NE)
17. Ravens (vs. LAR)
18. Chiefs (vs. DET)
19. Lions (at KC)
20. Giants (vs. PHI)

Rest-of-Season Rankings

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