This article is part of our Streaming Defenses series.
Week 2 was a top-notch showing for this space as well as a fine illustration of the benefits of streaming defenses. Four of the five teams highlighted finished among the top 10 for weekly scoring at the position, with our No. 1 option (Chicago) pacing the league at 17 fantasy points in Yahoo standard scoring. Meanwhile, the Jaguars, Vikings, Broncos, Ravens, Eagles and Texans – defenses that were drafted in nearly every league – combined for just 19 points.
It will admittedly be tough to repeat the feat in Week 3, as there's a pretty strong alignment between the top defensive units and the best matchups. With the exception of Denver, the list of teams mentioned above are all playing at home against vulnerable opponents. This means we'll need to dig a bit deeper, but it still shouldn't be too hard to find a defense that can reach 5-to-8 points with the upside for more.
Note: These recommendations are limited to D/ST units with under 60 percent ownership on Yahoo as of Tuesday morning. Any references to fantasy points are based on Yahoo standard scoring.
Top Streaming Options for Week 3
1. Cleveland Browns (vs. New York Jets)
8% Yahoo ownership
The Browns won't make it back to relevance in terms of playoff contention, but they've at least worked their way into the D/ST streaming conversation for the first time in recent memory. They followed a Week 1 shellacking of Ben Roethlisberger with a shockingly decent performance in the Superdome,
Week 2 was a top-notch showing for this space as well as a fine illustration of the benefits of streaming defenses. Four of the five teams highlighted finished among the top 10 for weekly scoring at the position, with our No. 1 option (Chicago) pacing the league at 17 fantasy points in Yahoo standard scoring. Meanwhile, the Jaguars, Vikings, Broncos, Ravens, Eagles and Texans – defenses that were drafted in nearly every league – combined for just 19 points.
It will admittedly be tough to repeat the feat in Week 3, as there's a pretty strong alignment between the top defensive units and the best matchups. With the exception of Denver, the list of teams mentioned above are all playing at home against vulnerable opponents. This means we'll need to dig a bit deeper, but it still shouldn't be too hard to find a defense that can reach 5-to-8 points with the upside for more.
Note: These recommendations are limited to D/ST units with under 60 percent ownership on Yahoo as of Tuesday morning. Any references to fantasy points are based on Yahoo standard scoring.
Top Streaming Options for Week 3
1. Cleveland Browns (vs. New York Jets)
8% Yahoo ownership
The Browns won't make it back to relevance in terms of playoff contention, but they've at least worked their way into the D/ST streaming conversation for the first time in recent memory. They followed a Week 1 shellacking of Ben Roethlisberger with a shockingly decent performance in the Superdome, putting up seven fantasy points against Drew Brees in what should've been an upset win. The Browns now return home to face Sam Darnold, who has thus far provided an entertaining mix of big plays (8.6 YPA) and big mistakes (three INTs). With 2017 draft picks Myles Garrett and Larry Ogunjobi combining for five sacks through two weeks, Cleveland shouldn't have much trouble making Darnold feel antsy behind a subpar offensive line. The Jets are three-point underdogs with an implied total of just 18 points.
2. Carolina Panthers (vs. Cincinnati Bengals)
50% Yahoo ownership
Typically not available on waivers, the Carolina defense meets our streaming criteria after a Week 2 matchup in Atlanta led to widespread drops. The Panthers eeked out just one fantasy point in the nightmare draw, but they did keep Julio Jones in check and were unlucky to see the Falcons recover each of their three fumbles. Carolina now returns home to face Cincinnati in a game with a modest over/under of 43.5 points, hoping to take advantage of a Bengals offense that won't have RB Joe Mixon (knee) and may also be missing starting center Billy Price (ankle).
3. Dallas Cowboys (at Seattle Seahawks)
14% Yahoo ownership
Dallas held the Panthers to 16 points in Week 1 and the Giants to 13 points in Week 2, with the latter managing just a single field goal while the outcome was still in question. The Cowboys already have eight players with at least one sack, and the Seahawks just so happen to lead the league in sacks allowed (12). Russell Wilson is surrounded by the worst supporting cast of his career, making Seattle an excellent matchup for opposing team defenses as the franchise quarterback is repeatedly forced to run for his life. The Cowboys are one-point underdogs on the road in a game with an over/under of 41.5, and they're also the only team on this list with a playable matchup Week 4 (vs. DET)
4. Cincinnati Bengals (at Carolina Panthers)
12% Yahoo ownership
This side of the matchup isn't quite as attractive as the Carolina side, but there's still reason to expect at least a handful of fantasy points after the Bengals reached double digits against both Baltimore and Indianapolis. It's no secret Cam Newton is playing behind an injury-riddled offensive line, essentially ruling out the possibility of an effective downfield passing attack. The Panthers did make a late charge against the Falcons on Sunday, but we need to note that the Atlanta defense has massive injury issues of its own. The Cincinnati defense is much healthier, led by the pass-rushing duo of Carlos Dunlap and Geno Atkins as well as the cornerback duo of William Jackson and Dre Kirkpatrick.The Panthers will be in serious trouble if the Bengals are able to contain Christian McCaffrey and force Newton to make tougher throws.
5. Miami Dolphins (vs. Oakland Raiders)
3% Yahoo ownership
This isn't a game I would've highlighted for streaming potential before the season, and we still need to tread carefully when dealing with schedule-driven success in a two-week sample. That said, the Dolphins at least have proven to be reasonably competitive, which is more than what I expected before the season. They're actually tied for the league lead with five interceptions and have surrendered just 3.3 yards per carry. This isn't a unit with enough to talent to be any better than average in the long run, but it least has the benefit of good health and another favorable matchup. The Raiders have scored just 32 points through two weeks, with Derek Carr tossing three picks and Marshawn Lynch averaging 3.7 yards per carry. Oakland is a three-point underdog with an implied total of 20.5.
Week 3 D/ST Rankings
1. Minnesota Vikings (vs. BUF)
2. Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. TEN)
3. Houston Texans (vs. NYG)
4. Philadelphia Eagles (vs. IND)
5. Baltimore Ravens (vs. DEN)
6. Cleveland Browns (vs. NYJ)
7. Carolina Panthers (vs. CIN)
8. Los Angeles Rams (vs. LAC)
9. Chicago Bears (at ARZ)
10. New England Patriots (at DET)
11. Denver Broncos (at BAL)
12. Dallas Cowboys (at SEA)
13. Cincinnati Bengals (at CAR)
14. Miami Dolphins (vs. OAK)
15. Seattle Seahawks (vs. DAL)
16. Arizona Cardinals (vs. CHI)
17. Kansas City Chiefs (vs. SF)
18. New York Jets (at CLE)
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. PIT)
20. Pittsburgh Steelers (at TB)
Looking Ahead to Week 4
1. Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. NYJ)
2. Green Bay Packers (vs. BUF)
3. Philadelphia Eagles (at TEN)
4. New England Patriots (vs. MIA)
5. Seattle Seahawks (at ARZ)
6. Chicago Bears (vs. TB)
7. Dallas Cowboys (vs. DET)
8. Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. BAL)
9. Los Angeles Chargers (vs. SF)
10. Denver Broncos (vs. KC)
11. Los Angeles Rams (vs. MIN)
12. New Orleans Saints (at NYG)
13. Houston Texans (at IND)
14. Atlanta Falcons (vs. CIN)
15. Minnesota Vikings (at LA)
16. Oakland Raiders (vs. CLE)
17. Baltimore Ravens (at PIT)
18. Arizona Cardinals (vs. SEA)
19. Tennessee Titans (vs. PHI)
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at CHI)
Rest-of-Season Rankings
1. Jacksonville Jaguars
2. Los Angeles Rams
3. Philadelphia Eagles
4. Minnesota Vikings
5. Baltimore Ravens
6. Houston Texans
7. Los Angeles Chargers
8. New England Patriots
9. Carolina Panthers
10. Denver Broncos
11. Chicago Bears
12. Washington Redskins
13. Tennessee Titans
14. Cincinnati Bengals
15. Dallas Cowboys
16. New Orleans Saints
17. Atlanta Falcons
18. Green Bay Packers
19. Pittsburgh Steelers
20. Miami Dolphins
