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 a necessary 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. Due to this flawless logic, I will highlight the best streaming options every week.
Los Angeles Chargers DEF (38% owned) @ New York Giants
This is going to be a tough week if you like to stream defenses. All of the optimal matchups are rostered, so we have to be clever. By far the best option of the bunch is the Los Angeles Chargers. Giants have scored the 6th fewest points per game, whereas the Chargers are allowing the 4th fewest points per game. On top of that, you have a very raw rookie in Jaxson Dart starting his first NFL game. I will have a lot of Chargers exposure where I can get it.
Washington Commanders DEF (33% owned) @ Atlanta Falcons
This one is a lot tougher. The Commanders’ defense has not been particularly good. They haven’t been bad; they just haven’t distinguished themselves statistically. The Falcons offense, on the other hand, has shown quite conclusively that they are not interested in scoring points. The Falcons have the 10th most drives ending in a turnover, the 5th fewest drives ending in a score, and the second-fewest points per game. Commanders are a solid floor option if you need a streaming option.
New England Patriots/Carolina Panthers DEF (13%/1% owned) @ Carolina Panthers/New England Patriots
After the first two options, the pickings become noticeably slimmer. If Washington and Los Angeles are not available, this is the game I would target. The Patriots and Panthers have the second-most turnovers in football. The Patriots also have the second-most sacks. In my opinion, one of these defenses is going to be a top-ten defense, and it will be the team that wins this game. Personally, I think it will be New England, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Carolina pulls this one out. Both these teams are mediocre, and one of these defenses is going to thrive because of it.
