This article is part of our Streaming Defenses series.
Week 6 was almost a complete whiff for this column, with only one of the five recommendations managing more than five points in Yahoo! standard scoring. In my defense (pun intended), I did include the Saints under 'honorable mentions', and the placement of Baltimore (No. 2) and Houston (No. 3) near the top of the rankings proved accurate. This week should turn out quite a bit better, as there are four strong options that are widely available on waivers.
Note: These recommendations are limited to D/ST units with under 60 percent ownership on Yahoo! as of Tuesday morning.
Top Streaming Options for Week 7
Buffalo Bills (vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
25% Yahoo ownership
The Buffalo defense has scored at least eight fantasy points in each game this season while also holding every opponent to 20 points or fewer. Ownership is only so low because the Bills are coming off a bye week and still seem to be underrated (at least on defense) by the general public. And it's not as if they've benefitted from an overly soft schedule, thus far facing the Jets, Panthers, Broncos, Falcons and Bengals.
The Buccaneers have allowed the third fewest fantasy points per game to opposing defenses, but they did surrender nine in their only similar matchup (at MIN in Week 3). With Jameis Winston (shoulder) potentially absent or at less than full strength, the Bucs figure to have some issues in Buffalo even if their offensive line continues to play at a high level.
Week 6 was almost a complete whiff for this column, with only one of the five recommendations managing more than five points in Yahoo! standard scoring. In my defense (pun intended), I did include the Saints under 'honorable mentions', and the placement of Baltimore (No. 2) and Houston (No. 3) near the top of the rankings proved accurate. This week should turn out quite a bit better, as there are four strong options that are widely available on waivers.
Note: These recommendations are limited to D/ST units with under 60 percent ownership on Yahoo! as of Tuesday morning.
Top Streaming Options for Week 7
Buffalo Bills (vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
25% Yahoo ownership
The Buffalo defense has scored at least eight fantasy points in each game this season while also holding every opponent to 20 points or fewer. Ownership is only so low because the Bills are coming off a bye week and still seem to be underrated (at least on defense) by the general public. And it's not as if they've benefitted from an overly soft schedule, thus far facing the Jets, Panthers, Broncos, Falcons and Bengals.
The Buccaneers have allowed the third fewest fantasy points per game to opposing defenses, but they did surrender nine in their only similar matchup (at MIN in Week 3). With Jameis Winston (shoulder) potentially absent or at less than full strength, the Bucs figure to have some issues in Buffalo even if their offensive line continues to play at a high level. The Buffalo defense will also be startable for Weeks 8 and 9, first drawing a home matchup with the struggling Oakland offense, and then traveling to the Meadowlands to face the Jets.
Tennessee Titans (at Cleveland Browns)
31% Yahoo ownership
This selection is strictly about matchup, as the Titans rank dead last among in Yahoo! standard scoring, averaging a meager 4.0 points per game. Tennessee's defense is the kind we'd only consider using in an absolute premium matchup, which happens to be the case this week against the Browns. No team has given up more fantasy points to opposing defenses, and it doesn't really seem to matter whether Kevin Hogan or DeShone Kizer is taking the snaps. Cleveland allowed an injury-decimated Houston defense to put up 22 fantasy points in Week 6. This is strictly a one-week pickup, as the Titans have a Week 8 bye.
Carolina Panthers (at Chicago Bears)
53% Yahoo ownership
The Carolina defense is owned a in a lot of leagues, but it doesn't quite meet the 60 percent threshold, coming off a string of difficult matchups against the Saints, Patriots, Lions and Eagles the past four weeks. The schedule has made production a difficult task, but this has still been a solid unit in non-fantasy terms, and it did reach double-digit points when it had favorable matchups back in Weeks 1 and 2 (at SF, vs. BUF).
Even with Luke Kuechly (concussion) potentially sidelined, the Panthers shouldn't have much trouble shutting down a one-dimensional Chicago offense led by a rookie quarterback who doesn't have any receivers to target. The only reason I don't have the Panthers listed higher is that the Bears' run-heavy game plan could limit turnover and sack opportunities unless Carolina grabs a multi-score lead in the second half. This is probably just a one-week streamer, as Jameis Winston (shoulder) should be ready for a Week 8 game against the Panthers in Tampa Bay.
Los Angeles Chargers (vs. Denver Broncos)
6% Yahoo ownership
While far from a defensive powerhouse, the Chargers have yet to allow more than 26 points in a game this season, and they're averaging three sacks per week thanks to Melvin Ingram (7.5 sacks) and Joey Bosa (5.5). This isn't a matchup that was initially on my radar, but I was forced to reconsider after the Broncos lost Emmanuel Sanders (ankle) and right tackle Menelik Watson (calf) during Sunday's ugly 23-10 loss to the Giants.
Coming off that hideous performance, the Broncos have allowed the ninth most fantasy points per game to team defenses this season, including eight points in a home contest against the Chargers in Week 1. Now facing the Chargers on the road with a banged up receiving corps and offensive line, the Broncos likely are in for a struggle. Of course, it'll be a different story in Week 8 when the Chargers travel to New England for the worst possible matchup.
Miami Dolphins (vs. New York Jets)
6% Yahoo ownership
The Miami defense seems to have found its footing the past two weeks, turning in a dominant performance against a Matt Cassel-led Titans team in Week 5, and then limiting the Falcons to 17 points in Atlanta on Sunday. The Dolphins probably don't have enough talent at cornerback and defensive end to keep it going for long, but they should at least get by just fine this week against Josh McCown and the Jets.
While better than expected to date, the Jets still fall in the bottom 10 when it comes to limiting team defense production, with every opponent managing at least five points. And two of the Jets' past three opponents reached double digits, including the much-maligned New England defense this past Sunday. As a bonus, the Dolphins could be worth using in Weeks 8 (at BAL) and 9 (vs. OAK), though it's something I'll probably want to re-evaluate next week.
Honorable Mentions: Philadelphia Eagles (vs. Washington Redskins), Indianapolis Colts (vs. Jacksonville Jaguars), New York Giants (vs. Seattle Seahawks)
Week 7 D/ST Rankings
1. Minnesota Vikings (vs. BAL)
2. Seattle Seahawks (at NYG)
3. Buffalo Bills (vs. TB)
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (at IND)
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. CIN)
6. Tennessee Titans (at CLE)
7. Carolina Panthers (at CHI)
8. Miami Dolphins (vs. NYJ)
9. Los Angeles Chargers (vs. DEN)
10. Arizona Cardinals (at LAR)
11. Philadelphia Eagles (vs. WAS)
12. Denver Broncos (at LAC)
13. Kansas City Chiefs (at OAK)
14. Indianapolis Colts (vs. JAC)
15. New York Giants (vs. SEA)
16. Baltimore Ravens (at MIN)
17. Los Angeles Rams (vs. ARI)
18. New Orleans Saints (at GB)
19. Cincinnati Bengals (at PIT)
20. New York Jets (at MIA)
21. Dallas Cowboys (at SF)
22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at BUF)
23. Cleveland Browns (vs. TEN)
24. Chicago Bears (vs. CAR)
25. New England Patriots (vs. ATL)
26. Washington Redskins (at PHI)
27. Oakland Raiders (vs. KC)
28. San Francisco 49ers (vs. DAL)
29. Green Bay Packers (vs. NO)
30. Atlanta Falcons (at NE)
Looking Ahead to Week 8
The Ravens host the Dolphins on Thursday Night Football — both defenses could be in play.
The Saints welcome Mitchell Trubisky and the Bears to the Superdome.
The Bengals host the Colts, though Andrew Luck (shoulder) may be back by then.
The Eagles welcome the Niners to town for a potential blowout.
