Week Three Defense Fantasy Football
Time to discuss the fantasy football week three defense options that are probably on your league’s waiver wire. 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.
Miami DEF (11% owned)
The Miami Dolphins are my top week three defensive streaming option this week. It might come as a surprise to some of you, but the Dolphins are the number one team in the AFC East right now. (Until they play the Patriots, but let’s let them have this one.) They have also quietly put up a pretty solid defensive performance the first two weeks of the season. They are the fourth-ranked fantasy defense in standard scoring leagues. While some of you might think that is only because they have played the Titans and the Jets, I would respond with a resounding “Who cares?” This week, they are playing an Oakland Raiders team that has given up the 4th most fantasy points to team defenses this season. Heck, they are playing a Raiders team that might have already just given up. Moreover, the Oakland Raiders have to fly from the west coast to the east coast in an early game, which studies have shown will hurt their chances of winning. All in all, this is an ideal week three defense streaming matchup for the Dolphins to exploit.
Dallas DEF (13% owned)
The Dallas Cowboys are a more interesting prospect as a streaming option in week three. This season, they are the fifth-ranked fantasy defense in standard scoring leagues. The Seattle Seahawks will be playing on a short week since they spent this past Monday getting beat by the defense with the most sacks in football through two weeks. Unfortunately, they will now have to face a Cowboys defense that has produced the 2nd most sacks in the NFL. If you think the Seahawks offensive line is up to the challenge, you haven’t been paying attention to Seattle the past few years. Most interesting of all, the Dallas Cowboys have given up the third fewest points in football through two weeks, making them a solid week three defense to rely on.
Cleveland DEF (8% owned)
I know what you are thinking. Is this guy really suggesting that I stream Cleveland’s defense? Haven’t I been hurt enough? I understand. I am struggling to type the words. But truth be told, the Cleveland Browns are a legitimate week three defense to stream. They are the sixth-ranked fantasy defense in standard scoring leagues. The Cleveland Browns defense currently leads the NFL in turnovers. They are tied for fourth in sacks in the NFL, with seven sacks on the year. They are a young, aggressive defense who happens to be playing a New York Jets team that has given up the eighth most fantasy points to defenses this season. A Jets team that is led by a rookie quarterback. Match-ups don’t get any better than this. If you don’t have a top-tier defense and can’t get either Dallas or Miami, you could do much worse than using the Cleveland Browns as your week three defense.
For more waiver wire & streaming options, check out these:
Week Three Waiver Wire: Quarterback
Week Three Waiver Wire: Running Back
