Streaming Defenses: Week 2 Options

Written by

Jerry Donabedian

Published on September 14, 2021

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As of Tuesday morning, the Week 2 slate features six teams with implied totals under 20 and a point spread of three or more. Their opponents are the top six defenses in our Week 2 rankings, starting with the Browns as a 12.5-point home favorite against the (p)lucky Texans. The other elite plays this week are Green Bay (vs. DET), New England (at NYJ), Tampa Bay (vs. ATL), Washington (vs. NYG) and Denver (at JAX).

If you can get one of those six, do it. If not, we've got you covered with fallbacks.

For injury/ranking updates throughout the week, follow me on Twitter (@JerryDonabedian).

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. Green Bay Packers (vs. DET)

22% Yahoo, 25% ESPN

Team implied total: 29.25

Opponent implied total: 18.75

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 3: 19th (at SF), Week 4: 16th (vs. PIT)

This game perhaps looks a bit more interesting than we would've thought last week, but the Packers are still favored by double digits (-10.5) for their home opener. And while the Lions put up yards and points in Week 1, they also gave up a pick-six and three sacks, with Jared Goff producing 5.9 YPA.

2. New Orleans Saints

If you can get one of those six, do it. If not, we've got you covered with fallbacks.

For injury/ranking updates throughout the week, follow me on Twitter (@JerryDonabedian).

Top Streaming Options for Week 2

1. Green Bay Packers (vs. DET)

22% Yahoo, 25% ESPN

Team implied total: 29.25

Opponent implied total: 18.75

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 3: 19th (at SF), Week 4: 16th (vs. PIT)

2. New Orleans Saints (at CAR)

32% Yahoo, 27% ESPN

Team implied total: 23.75

Opponent implied total: 20.25

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 3: 10th (at NE), Week 4: 3rd (vs. NYG)

While we shouldn't put too much weight on one game, we also can't totally ignore it when the extent of the beatdown is so thorough. The Saints deserve credit, and a bump in the rankings compared to where we expected them to land at this time last week. Sam Darnold's Week 1 was a bunch of early highlights followed by a slew of second-half punts. Carolina has more than enough weapons, true, but Darnold doesn't inspire confidence and Cam Erving is a likely liability at left tackle.

3. Chicago Bears (vs. CIN)

22% Yahoo, 10% ESPN

Team implied total: 24

Opponent implied total: 21.0

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 3: 26th (at CLE), Week 4: 2nd (vs. DET)

The Bengals looked much better than the Bears in Week 1, but that's largely because they had a home game against Minnesota rather than a road date with the Stafford-led Rams. Even if a three-point spread seems like too much here, Chicago's defense should be good for a handful of fantasy points, playing at home against a QB who took five sacks last week. While Joe Burrow and Joe Mixon mostly looked good, the Bengals offense completely shut down throughout the fourth quarter and overtime, nearly blowing a 24-14 lead against the Vikings. Both defenses from this Bengals-Bears game are playable.

4. New York Giants (at WAS)

5% Yahoo, 8% ESPN

Team implied total: 19

Opponent implied total: 22.0

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 3: 8th (vs. ATL:), Week 4: 21st (at NO)

This game has the lowest over/under (41) of Week 2, a slate that includes the first of many battles between Mac Jones and Zach Wilson (O/U 43, Pats -5.5). On the other hand, Daniel Jones and Taylor Heinicke might not meet again, which is probably for the best unless you're a Dallas or Philadelphia fan. Even as road dogs, the Giants get a little bump up for playing on a short week against a shaky-looking offense with a new starting quarterback. And then another little bonus for being startable again Week 3, playing at home against Atlanta on 10 days' rest.

5. Arizona Cardinals (vs. MIN)

8% Yahoo, 5% ESPN

Team implied total: 27.5

Opponent implied total: 23.5

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 3: 6th (at JAX), Week 4: 22nd (at LAR)

The Cardinals opened their year with a blowout road win over a 2020 playoff team, while the Vikings kicked things off with an OT loss to the Bengals. This nonetheless figures to be a close game, and possibly a shootout (O/U 51), with both teams looking stronger on offense than defense again. While the Cardinals figure to give up some points, they should also come up with a few sacks and at least one takeaway, likely dialing up frequent blitzes against Kirk Cousins. Granted, the Cardinals will be a better play Week 3 against Trevor Lawrence and the Jags.