Streaming Defenses: Week 17 Options

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Updated on December 28, 2021 10:38AM EST

We should see some big D/ST scores for fantasy Super Bowl week, with a number of attractive streaming picks in addition to some of the top defenses (NE, SF, BUF, TB, NO) drawing favorable matchups. Of course, there's also a good chance a lot will change throughout the week, after Monday featured a new league record of 106 NFL players placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

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

Note: These 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 17

1. Chicago Bears (vs. NYG)

17% Yahoo, 13% ESPN

Team implied total: 21.75

Opponent implied total: 15.75

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 18: 21st (at MIN)

This game has the lowest over/under (37.5) we've seen the past few weeks, in large part because the Giants have averaged only 11.5 points per game since their Week 10 bye. Jake Fromm is apparently even worse than Mike Glennon, but the Bears will still be a strong play if the G-Men turn back to their veteran backup. Glennon, after all, has been miserable in his own right, with five total TDs and nine turnovers in five starts. He hasn't taken many sacks (five), but the propensity for throwing picks (eight) has more than made up for it.

Also

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

Top Streaming Options for Week 17

1. Chicago Bears (vs. NYG)

17% Yahoo, 13% ESPN

Team implied total: 21.75

Opponent implied total: 15.75

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 18: 21st (at MIN)

Also note that the Chicago defense will be relatively healthy this week if Akiem Hicks makes it back from the reserve/COVID-19 list (he was placed on it last Thursday) in time for Sunday's game. Not too long ago, the Bears had Hicks, CB Jaylon Johnson and LB Roquan Smith all battling injuries, on top of OLB Khalil Mack (foot) out for the season. All besides Mack may be healthy this Sunday, and the Bears are starting to look feisty now that they know it won't be enough to save Matt Nagy's job.

2. Seattle Seahawks (vs. DET)

49% Yahoo, 38% ESPN

Team implied total: 24.5

Opponent implied total: 18.0

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 18: 26th (at ARZ)

As we saw last week, the Seattle defense is perfectly capable of disappointing in a favorable matchup. However, the bird's eye view still shows a solid unit overall, with the 25 points to Chicago being the most the Seahawks have allowed in a game since Week 5. QB Jared Goff is back from the COVID list for Detroit this week, but WR Josh Reynolds is now on it, while TE T.J. Hockenson (hand) is done for the season and RB D'Andre Swift (shoulder)is uncertain for Sunday. Despite their respectable form of late, the Lions head to Seattle with a glaring lack of talent on offense, apart from the incomparable* Amon-Ra St. Brown.

3. Indianapolis Colts (vs. LV)

55% Yahoo, 56% ESPN

Team implied total: 26.25

Opponent implied total: 18.75

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 18: 3rd (at JAX)

The Colts are the proverbial 'playing their best football at the right time' team, while the Raiders are hanging on by a thread in the AFC wild-card race, with opponent-QB injuries allowing them to eek out back-to-back wins the past two weeks without actually playing any better. In fact, the Raiders have scored 17 or fewer points in seven of eight games since a Week 8 bye, including each of the past four. It's a minor miracle they're technically still alive for a playoff spot, and perhaps a greater miracle that they put up 36 points on the Cowboys on Thanksgiving (remember that?).

Anyway, this initially looked like a huge mismatch and easy win for Indy on paper, but a COVID-19 outbreak now forces us to approach the matchup with more caution. LB Darius Leonard is reportedly unvaccinated and thus set to miss a second straight game, while a number of other Colts' defenders (and offensive linemen) are up in the air. Of course, the Raiders have COVID issues of their own, but mostly on the defensive side.

4. Cleveland Browns (at PIT)

39% Yahoo, 39% ESPN

Team implied total: 22.0

Opponent implied total: 19.0

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 18: 22nd (vs. CIN)

Aaron Rodgers was too much last week, but the Browns' defense has mostly kept them in the playoff hunt during the second half of the season, giving up 24 or fewer points in eight of the past nine games. And, for once, the Browns are in better shape than the rest of the league when it comes to the reserve/COVID-19 list... perhaps because so many of their many players already have had it? Whatever the case, the Browns head to Pittsburgh as three-point favorites in a battle between two teams with lifeless offenses and talented-but-somewhat-inconsistent defenses.

5. Tennessee Titans (vs. MIA)

41% Yahoo, 38% ESPN

Team implied total: 22.0

Opponent implied total: 19.0

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 18: 6th (at HOU)

The Titans are a solid choice if you need coverage for the next two weeks, but they're at the bottom of the list for two reasons. First, they're facing a relatively healthy Miami offense with QB Tua Tagovailoa playing the best football of his young career, while other teams on this list are facing offenses that have looked miserable of late. Second, the Titans had a bunch of guys added to the COVID list Monday, including OLB Bud Dupree. The list isn't terrible as of Tuesday morning, but don't be surprised if it grows throughout the week.

#Titans COVID-19 list at the moment:
Julio Jones
Buster Skrine
Bud Dupree
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
Taylor Lewan
Nate Davis
Kendall Lamm
Caleb Farley (IR)
— Ben Arthur (@benyarthur) December 27, 2021