Streaming Defenses: Week 12 Options

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Published on November 19, 2019

Week 11 worked out favorably for streamers, with our top choice (Oakland) scoring 13 fantasy points and our second pick (New York) tallying nine. Nos. 3 and 4, Washington and Carolina, combined for just seven points, but the fifth and final streaming pick, Cleveland, came up big with 16.

The week ahead appears suboptimal for finding D/ST starters via waivers, but things should get a bit easier once byes are all out of the way. There also tends to be a bit less competition among fantasy managers late in the season, as teams with no shot at the playoffs often don't bother to add/drop defenses and kickers. It's probably a little early to burn top waiver priority on a D/ST, but don't be afraid to use FAAB if you've got plenty to work with.

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

Note: These recommendations are limited to team defenses with ownership of less than 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 12

1. Cleveland Browns (vs. Miami Dolphins)

50% Yahoo ownership, 29% ESPN

Team implied total: 27.25

Opponent implied total: 16.75

Upcoming Ranks — Week 13: No. 10 (at PIT), Week 14: No. 3 (vs. CIN)

On one side we have the walking dead — a Cleveland defense with no Myles Garrett (suspension), Larry Ogunjobi (suspension) or

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

Top Streaming Options for Week 12

1. Cleveland Browns (vs. Miami Dolphins)

50% Yahoo ownership, 29% ESPN

Team implied total: 27.25

Opponent implied total: 16.75

Upcoming Ranks — Week 13: No. 10 (at PIT), Week 14: No. 3 (vs. CIN)

On one side we have the walking dead — a Cleveland defense with no Myles Garrett (suspension), Larry Ogunjobi (suspension) or Morgan Burnett (Achilles), and, possibly, no Olivier Vernon (knee). On the other side we have a classic case of 'what is dead may never die' — a Miami offense that has given up six or more fantasy points to every D/ST opponent. It won't come as any huge surprise if Ryan Fitzpatrick is able to move the ball, but he nonetheless gives us a nice floor for streaming on the heels of four consecutive games taking three or more sacks. His seven starts have produced 24 sacks and eight interceptions, with the opposing defense averaging 9.6 fantasy points in five games since he took the starting job back (and I'm being generous in omitting the travesty of Weeks 1 and 2). The Dolphins are 10.5-point underdogs, and their implied total is third-lowest of the week. The Browns also have favorable matchups ahead, so this could be a multi-week starter.

2. Atlanta Falcons (vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

3% Yahoo ownership, 2% ESPN

Team implied total: 27.75

Opponent implied total: 23.75

Upcoming Ranks — Week 13: No. 27 (vs. NO), Week 14: No. 12 (vs. ATL)

I'm not quite sure what to make of Atlanta's post-bye-week revival on defense, but I do know that a home game against Jameis Winston is the perfect time to take a chance on the possibility it's something more than a small-sample illusion. Among 33 qualified passers, Winston is 25th in sack rate (8.1), 33rd in interception rate (4.4) and second in pass attempts per game (40.6). No wonder the Bucs have given up the fifth-most fantasy points to team defenses despite ranking No. 6 in both scoring (27.7 ppg) and yards (380.4). I discussed the Falcons defense in my Hidden Stat Line column, noting that new play callers and lower blitz rates have coincided with the improved results.

3. Detroit Lions (at Washington Redskins)

8% Yahoo ownership, 8% ESPN

Team implied total: 23.0

Opponent implied total: 19.5

Upcoming Ranks — Week 13: No. 13 (vs. CHI), Week 14: No. 30 (at MIN)

A defense as bad as the Lions' wouldn't normally be a streaming option on the road. Of course, a quarterback as bad as Dwayne Haskins wouldn't normally be a starter in the NFL, and a coach as clueless as Bill Callahan wouldn't normally be allowed to run a team. Such is the nature of dysfunction in Washington, where the stink starts at the very top. Haskins was a decent enough prospect, but he's a one-year college starter being thrown into the fire with lousy coaching and lousy players around him (apologies to Terry McLaurin). The rookie's sack rate (15.1) and INT rate (6.3) both would be worst in the league among qualified quarterbacks.

4. Tennessee Titans (vs. Jacksonville Jaguars)

17% Yahoo ownership, 33% ESPN

Team implied total: 22.25

Opponent implied total: 19.25

Upcoming Ranks — Week 13: No. 23 (at IND), Week 14: No. 21 (at OAK)

This matchup has an aura of rampant mediocrity, which actually is much better than what we've come to expect from the Jags-Titans battles. Nick Foles isn't a quarterback I'd necessarily target or avoid when streaming defenses, so why not take a shot on a home favorite in a game with a 41.5 over/under? (It's probably not a great week for streaming when my best argument for the No. 4 team essentially amounts to "eh, why not?".)

5. Jacksonville Jaguars (at Tennessee Titans)

53% Yahoo ownership, 56% ESPN

Team implied total: 19.25

Opponent implied total: 22.25

Upcoming Ranks — Week 13: No. 5 (vs. TB), Week 14: No. 10 (vs. LAC)

The Jaguars are terrible against the run and might be the worst tackling team in the league... both serious problems for a matchup with Derrick Henry. On the other hand, Jacksonville still boasts a formidable pass rush, creating potential for a big fantasy score if sack-prone Ryan Tannehill is forced to play from behind and air it out. The Jags are fourth in both QB pressure rate (28.0) and sack rate (9.0), while Tannehill's 11.1 sack rate ranks 33rd among 34 qualifiers (ahead of only Marcus Mariota). You might remember that Mariota absorbed nine sacks in the first meeting between these teams, a 20-7 victory for Jacksonville. The bonus here is a Week 13 home matchup with Tampa Bay, followed by another solid draw Week 14 (home against the Chargers).