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 badly 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 every week.
Green Bay Packers Defense (30% owned) @ Denver Broncos
The number one streaming option at defense for me this week is the Green Bay Packers. This is not an endorsement of the Packers so much as a condemnation of the Broncos. The reason I have the Packers ahead of everyone else is that they have defensive talent. They give up the 9th fewest yards per play, have the 5th fewest offensive plays run against them, and have the 7th best third-down conversion rate in football. On the other hand, the Denver Broncos have the 4th most turnovers, the 6th most sacks, and give up the 7th most fantasy points to opposing defenses. The Green Bay Packers have a decent floor and ceiling for a streaming option.
Washington Commanders Defense (43% owned) @ New York Giants
Perhaps the most popular defensive streaming option of the week is the Washington Commanders against the New York Giants. And it isn’t hard to see why. The New York Giants are truly terrible this year. They average the fewest yards per play, have the 2nd most sacks, and score the fewest points per game. They also have given up the most fantasy points to opposing defenses. Let me caution you with one thought if you choose to stream the Commanders against the Giants. Just because the Giants are bad does not mean the Commanders are good.
Las Vegas Raiders Defense (35% owned) @ Chicago Bears
The Las Vegas Raiders are one of the most popular streaming options this week and as a Bears fan, it is hard not to see why. The Bears are giving up the 3rd most fantasy points to opposing defenses. They have the 3rd most sacks and the 4th most turnovers. And this week, they are starting a rookie quarterback who played Division II football. Everything about this match-up screams start the Raiders. If you want to stream them, the math checks out. Just remember that they are the Raiders. If anyone is going to fumble a layup, it is the Raiders.
***WALEED’S WILD CARD OF THE WEEK***
New York Giants Defense (43% owned) @ Washington Commanders
If you are looking for a potentially big performance, I’m about to shoot my shot here. On paper, the Washington Commanders have the best fantasy matchup of the week. But I like the Giants’ defense more this week. The Giants have nothing going for them but a propensity to blitz. However, Washington has a first-year quarterback on a struggling team. Washington gives up the 5th most fantasy points to opposing defenses. They have the 7th most turnovers, the 7th worst third-down conversion rate, and give up the most sacks to opposing defenses. This is the type of game the Giants could sneak away with. I will personally be streaming the Giants this week, so if you want to ride and die with me, (probably die) let’s go.
***I’M JUST SAYING***
Chicago Bears Defense (2% owned) @ Las Vegas Raiders
I want to be very clear. In no universe should you start the Chicago Bears against the Las Vegas Raiders. You have better options. I just think before we get hung up on how awful the Bears are, it is important to remember that the Raiders are equally terrible. They give up the 9th fewest yards per play, run the 10th fewest offensive plays, and have the 10th worst third-down conversion rate. They have the 9th fewest offensive drives end while 20.3% of their drives end in a turnover. They score the 5th fewest points per game and have the 2nd most turnovers. The Bears are coming off back-to-back double-digit fantasy performances against equally bad teams. There is a good chance the Bears are the better fantasy defense in week seven.
