Streaming Defenses Week 2: D/ST Picks for Fantasy Football This Week

Find top fantasy D/ST streamers for Week 2, with matchup-based analysis, waiver targets and sneaky plays to help you with your fantasy football roster.

Updated on September 9, 2025 2:07PM EST

Streaming Defenses Week 2: D/ST Picks for Fantasy Football This Week

By:

Jerry Donabedian

Updated on September 9, 2025 2:07PM EST

Streaming Defenses

We started the year strong here at Streaming Defenses, with each of the five picks for Week 1 scoring at least a handful of fantasy points and finishing in the top half of the league for D/ST scoring. The only bad part was that our No. 1 pick, Arizona, was the lowest-scoring of the bunch, while Nos. 4 and 5 (LAR, JAX) hit double digits.

All five had similar projections heading into Week 1, which isn't the case for Week 2. There's a considerable value drop-off between our No. 3 pick (Dallas) and No. 4 (Miami), which means it may be worth spending a dollar or two of FAAB to secure one of the higher-ranked options this week.

Note: These recommendations are limited to team defenses that are rostered on less than 60 percent of teams on Yahoo or 45 percent on ESPN. Any references to fantasy points are based on Yahoo standard scoring, which doesn't include yards allowed.

Top Streaming Options for Week 2

1. Los Angeles Rams (at TEN)

29% Yahoo, 7% ESPN
Team implied total: 23.5 Opponent implied total: 18.0
Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 3: 27th (at PHI), Week 4: 5th (vs. IND)

It's hard to say how much was actually Cam Ward's fault — as opposed to a product of poor coaching and mediocre teammates — but there's no question Tennessee's passing game is in a bad place after the hideous showing Week 1 at Denver. The Titans now have to face another strong pass rush, with the Rams featuring Jared Verse, Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske and Byron Young, a quartet that combined for 28.5 sacks and 54 QB hits last year.

Making matters worse, the Titans may not have RT JC Latham, who exited early Week 1 with a hip injury. Latham's replacement, Olisaemeka Udoh, promptly allowed a sack and two pressures, which shouldn't be surprising given that he played a grand total of 325 offensive snaps from 2022 to 2024. Even if Latham plays, Ward should be good for a few sacks and at least one turnover.

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2. San Francisco 49ers (at NO)

35% Yahoo, 19% ESPN
Team implied total: 23.0 Opponent implied total: 18.5
Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 3: 12th (vs. ARZ), Week 4: 8th (vs. JAX)

After scoring nine fantasy points in a 17-13 win at Seattle, the San Francisco defense draws one of the best possible matchups for Week 2, facing Spencer Rattler and his subpar offensive line. The Saints have decent weapons, but the O-line was a major concern even before LG Trevor Penning and RT Taliese Fuaga (both first-round picks) suffered injuries. Penning missed Week 1 with a toe injury, while Fuaga left early after hurting his knee. Their status impacts this matchup, although the 49ers make for a strong play against Rattler even if he ends up having all five O-line starters healthy. You can move the Niners up even further if you're looking for a multi-week option, as they have home games against mediocre-looking teams ahead in Weeks 3-4.

3. Dallas Cowboys (vs. NYG)

8% Yahoo, 4% ESPN
Team implied total: 25.25 Opponent implied total: 19.25
Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 3: 17th (at CHI), Week 4: 20th (vs. GB)

The Cowboys are in a good spot here, favored by six points at home after a strong showing at Philadelphia. The Giants laid a Week 1 egg in the other NFC East battle, with Russell Wilson looking ready to transition to a backup role. My only concern here is that Wilson tends to avoid turnovers even when he doesn't play well, arguably refusing to take risks even when he should. Combining his tendencies with a punch-less Dallas pass rush does create some risk for things to go wrong, but there's also a lot that can go right when heavily favored over a bad team.

4. Miami Dolphins (vs. NE)

3% Yahoo, 6% ESPN
Team implied total: 23.0 Opponent implied total: 21.5
Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 3: 31st (at BUF), Week 4: 9th (vs. NYJ)

As awful as Week 1 went, the Dolphins are still slight favorites in Week 2, returning home to face a New England outfit that also played poorly on opening weekend. I love Drake Maye, but he still needs to be treated as a favorable D/ST matchup, surrounded by subpar talent while playing in an aggressive, scramble-happy manner that adds risk for sacks and turnovers. The Raiders brought him down four times and picked him off once in Week 1, netting 10 fantasy points on the road. Miami could find similar success despite the ongoing injury woes at cornerback, thanks to a talented group of pass rushers led by Zach Sieler, Chop Robinson, Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips.

5. New England Patriots (at MIA)

14% Yahoo, 70% ESPN
Team implied total: 21.5 Opponent implied total: 23.0
Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 3: 14th (vs. PIT), Week 4: 4th (vs. CAR)

The other side of this game also has a limited degree of D/ST streaming appeal, considering New England's defense wasn't as bad as Miami's offense in Week 1. This is another one where O-line injuries can be monitored, after Dolphins RG James Daniels (pectoral) and RT Austin Jackson (toe) made early departures from the Week 1 blowout loss at Indianapolis. Daniels isn't expected to play this week, while Jackson's status is less clear. I'll probably move the Patriots down below the Bucs later this week if it appears Jackson will play or that Pats CB Christian Gonzalez (hamstring) will be out another week.

James Daniels' pec injury is not season-ending. But he's out probably a couple of weeks, Mike McDaniel said.
Storm Duck's ankle injury will also be a couple of weeks.
Austin Jackson still needs more evaluation.
Benito Jones not yet ruled out for next game.
— David Furones (@DavidFurones_) September 8, 2025