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 poorly 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.
Los Angeles Chargers D/ST (54% owned) at Carolina Panthers
The more things change, the more they stay the same. While this is over my normal 50% threshold, it is close enough that if the Chargers are on your waiver wire, you need to grab them for week two. This is a top-three defensive match-up for week two. Last week, the Panthers had the most turnovers, the third-most sacks, and the fewest first downs. If there is a defense on the waiver wire playing the Panthers, you want to start that defense.
Indianapolis Colts S/ST (13% owned) at Green Bay Packers
If you want a high-risk/high-reward option for week two, the Indianapolis Colts against the Green Bay Packers is it. On the one hand, Matt LaFleur is one of the best offensive signal callers in football. Theoretically, he should be able to create a game plan that minimizes the risk of starting Malik Willis. On the other hand, he is starting Malik Willis so theory-crafting has to go out the window. In 3 career starts, Malik Willis has a record of 1-2 going 25/49 with 234 yards, 0 TDs, 3 interceptions, and 10 sacks. That is not his average stats throughout those games. Those are combined numbers. I love the Colts because I love to always bet against bad. And ain’t nothing badder (as in not good at all) than Malik Willis.
Tennessee Titans D/ST (1% owned) at New York Jets
This last pick is a pure gut pick by me. Rewatching the Bears/Titans game, I was struck by just how disruptive the Titans’ defense was. They might have the best interior tackle duo in the league in Jeffrey Simmons and T’Vondre Sweat. If you watched Aaron Rodgers on Monday Night, you saw a 40-year-old quarterback recovering from a torn Achilles. I’m not sure how successful he will be in trying to escape interior pressure this week. Since we have limited data, I’m going by the eye test and I think the Titans could end up generating a lot of sacks and turnovers. If you can’t get those other two defenses, the Titans are a solid upside play.
