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.
Chicago (31% Owned)
This first option isn’t just a streaming option, this should be a sit and start option for defense. Over the last four weeks of football, the Chicago Bears have been the third best fantasy defense. That ranking includes their bye week. The fact that they are available in over two-thirds of fantasy leagues is mind-boggling to me. They are a must-own defense in all formats, but especially this week, where they are playing the Brett Hundley led Green Bay Packers. The moment Brett Hundley stepped onto the football field, the Green Bay Packers were eliminated from playoff contention.
New Orleans DEF (46% owned)
You know how I said the Chicago Bears have been the third best fantasy defense over the last four weeks. Well, the New Orleans Saints have been the number one fantasy defense in football. If you are not surprised to read those words, you should be. I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that the Saints finally figured out how to play defense. And while Buffalo might not be the most favorable match-up, giving up the 10th fewest fantasy points to opposing defenses, this is still a matchup I like. When it comes to which will be more successful, I trust the Saints defense a lot more than I trust the Buffalo Bills offense.
Tennessee DEF (25% owned)
The Tennessee Titans are playing against known MMA enthusiast A.J. Green and the Cincinnati Bengals. When A.J. Green choked out cornerback Jalen Ramsey last week, you might have gotten the impression that the Cincinnati Bengals offense has some fight in them. They don’t. This season, they have given up the 6th most fantasy points to opposing defenses. The Tennessee Titans defense should have a very solid outing against the Bengals.
Bonus: Green Bay DEF (41% owned)
If you are looking for a Hail Mary play streaming defenses, the Green Bay Packers might seem like a tempting option. Everyone knows they have a higher success rate on Hail Mary’s than most. This week, they are playing the a Chicago Bears being led by Mitchell Trubisky. The Chicago Bears have given up the 4th most fantasy points to opposing defenses, and there is no reason to believe the Bears have figured out how to play offense after coming off their bye week.
