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: stop being concerned with finding good defenses, and find defenses that are playing against terrible offenses. Bad offenses are more likely to keep playing poorly because if they knew how to be good, they would already be good. Following this flawless logic, let’s find out who we should stream this week!
Minnesota Vikings Defense (48% owned) @ Washington Commanders
The Minnesota Vikings are coming off a bye week with former first-round pick T.J. Hockenson added to the fold. The Washington Commanders are coming off a week where it took everything they had to beat the Sam Ehlinger-led let Indianapolis Colts. I could point out that Washington has the lowest percentage of plays that end in a scoring drive. Maybe I could say that Washington has given up the third-most sacks to opposing defenses. I could even tell you that Washington gives up the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing defenses. But I don’t need to say all that. All I need to say is the Vikings are playing the Commanders and you should be excited to start Minnesota against them. Because if there is one thing we can count on, it is that Washington will be Washington Forever.
Cincinnati Bengals Defense (56% owned) @ Carolina Panthers
Last week, the Carolina Panthers offense showed some signs of life. D.J. Moore was finally fantasy relevant. D’Onta Foreman rushed for three touchdowns. Three! Hell, P.J. Walker threw for over 300 yards. This week will show that the Panthers’ week eight performance was a dead cat bounce. Because there is nothing deader than the Carolina Panthers offense. They are fourth in the NFL in total yards, they have the second-fewest first downs, have the second-lowest rating of expected points by their offense, the worst third-down conversion rate, the fifth-worst red zone conversation rate, and the third-fewest red zone opportunities. Oh, and they give up the tenth-most fantasy points to opposing defenses. There are two things you need to know about the Carolina Panthers. First, anything successful NFL offenses do well, the Panthers do poorly. Second, if you have a defense you can stream against the Panthers, you probably should.
Green Bay Packers Defense (55% owned) @ Detroit Lions
I much prefer the Bengals and the Vikings this week as streaming options, but if both are taken there is value to be had in the Green Bay Packers defense in week nine. The Packers’ defense has the fifth-highest pressure rate in the NFL, which is not good for teams that are starting Jared Goff at quarterback. The Packers has the second-best third-down defense in the NFL and the fourth-best red zone defense. They have one of the more talented defenses in football. The problem is they haven’t looked like it all year. The Lions have been incredibly inconsistent and they can turn the ball over. While I like this match-up, I do not love it. It is very boom or bust. And it relies on the Packers showing they can be competent at football. Something they haven’t really shown in the last month.
