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 with good defenses as we are with finding defenses 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. Based on this flawless logic, I will highlight the best streaming options each week.
Cleveland Browns DEF (31% owned) @ New York Jets
If Justin Fields starts in week 10, Cleveland has to be the number one defense of the week. The Browns have the 10th-most sacks, while the Jets are giving up the 4th-most. In two games against the Browns, Justin Fields has 12 sacks, four turnovers, and only one passing touchdown. Fields threw for a combined 234 passing yards while only having 42 combined rushing yards in that two-game stretch. Although the sample size is small, those games were revealing. Cleveland has Justin Field’s number. On the off-chance Tyrod Taylor starts, do we really think he is going to do better against Myles Garrett?
Buffalo Bills DEF (46% owned) @ Miami Dolphins
The top defensive streaming option available in under 50% of leagues is the Buffalo Bills. While Cleveland is my preferred defense of the week, the Bills are a very close second, and most projections would say they are the best. The Dolphins are giving up the most turnovers in football and score the 7th fewest points per game. In their last five games against the Dolphins, the Buffalo Bills are 5-0 and, in that span, are averaging 18 points allowed, 1.6 sacks, and 1.8 turnovers. Considering this is the worst Dolphins lineup the Bills are facing during that stretch, there is a lot to like about the Buffalo Bills this week.
Carolina Panthers DEF (6% owned) @ New Orleans Saints
Last week, the Los Angeles Rams were the DST7 against the Saints. The Saints have the 2nd-most turnovers in football while scoring the 2nd-fewest points. While it is unlikely the Panthers have a blow-up performance against the Saints, they should have a very high floor. This is a safe, steady matchup if you aren’t looking for a big play from your defense. The opportunity will be there for a big game, but this matchup also won’t hurt you because of how bad and boring the Saints’ offense is.
