If you read my article on playing the waiver wire game, you know that it is an essential part of winning your fantasy football league. If you haven’t read it, what are you waiting for? I just told you it’s an essential part of winning your fantasy football league! Why do you hate winning?
One of the best ways to maximize your weekly scoring is to stream defenses. This strategy is simple – we aren’t as concerned about good defenses, so much as finding defenses that are playing terrible offenses. Bad offenses are more likely to keep playing bad, because if they knew how to be good, they would already be good. Because of this flawless logic, I will be pointing out the best streaming options on a weekly basis.
New Orleans DEF (4% owned)
In the first two weeks of the season, the New Orleans defense was the same defense we have come to expect in the past few years – pathetic. There was no defending this defense. But in the last three weeks, New Orleans has quietly been one of the defenses in football. In that time period, they have 13 sacks, 9 turnovers and 3 touchdowns. And in week seven, they get to face the Brett Hundley Green Bay Packers. Is it possible the Packers have gone three for three on hall of fame quarterbacks? I think it is more likely that New Orleans gives Hundley a rude awakening to the NFL.
Buffalo DEF (25% owned)
I can only assume that the reason the Buffalo Bills defense is only owned in 25% of leagues is because they had a bye week. Otherwise, it makes no sense. They have been the best scoring defense in football and they are playing an up and down Tampa Bay team whose quarterback is prone to turning the ball over and who has a sprained shoulder. From a streaming standpoint, this is a very high risk/high reward play. But one that could pay off big.
New York Jets DEF (8% owned)
The New York Jets have been one of the most surprising teams in football. What will be really surprising is if nobody decides to stream them against the Miami Dolphins. In week three, the New York Jets defense dominated the Miami Dolphins, putting up the highest defense total in week three. Nothing we have seen from Miami since then should make us think they will be able to score on the Jets this time around.
Bonus: Tennessee DEF (31% owned)
Tennessee has been a very disappointing defense thus far into the season. The good news for them is that when you play the Cleveland Browns, things seem to work out. The Cleveland Browns have given up the 2nd most fantasy points to team defenses in standard scoring leagues. Think of this not so much as betting on Titans, so much as betting against the Browns.
