This article is part of our Streaming Defenses series.
Last week was brutal for this space, ending a hot streak that had lasted nearly two months. Our top choice (New Orleans) scored seven fantasy points, but the other four defenses combined for only three points. We did include a warning that it would be a tough week for streaming, as seven of the top eight defenses in the weekly rankings were widely owned in fantasy leagues.
The upcoming slate looks far more friendly, albeit without much to offer in terms of multi-week streaming potential. But let's focus on the good news, with the Top 8 of the Week 9 D/ST rankings including five defenses that are commonly available on waivers in fantasy leagues.
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 9
1. Washington Football Team vs. NYG
18% rostered on Yahoo, 23% on ESPN
Team implied total: 23.25
Opponent implied total: 19.75
Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 10: 18th (at DET), Week 11: 9th (vs. CIN)
The Giants should be annoyed with the schedule-makers for this one. They're on a short week after a Monday game, traveling to Washington for a divisional game against a Football Team™ coming out of a bye. The oft-discussed Washington pass rush
Last week was brutal for this space, ending a hot streak that had lasted nearly two months. Our top choice (New Orleans) scored seven fantasy points, but the other four defenses combined for only three points. We did include a warning that it would be a tough week for streaming, as seven of the top eight defenses in the weekly rankings were widely owned in fantasy leagues.
The upcoming slate looks far more friendly, albeit without much to offer in terms of multi-week streaming potential. But let's focus on the good news, with the Top 8 of the Week 9 D/ST rankings including five defenses that are commonly available on waivers in fantasy leagues.
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 9
1. Washington Football Team vs. NYG
18% rostered on Yahoo, 23% on ESPN
Team implied total: 23.25
Opponent implied total: 19.75
Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 10: 18th (at DET), Week 11: 9th (vs. CIN)
The Giants should be annoyed with the schedule-makers for this one. They're on a short week after a Monday game, traveling to Washington for a divisional game against a Football Team™ coming out of a bye. The oft-discussed Washington pass rush hasn't exactly been consistent, but it is averaging 3.1 sacks per game overall, and the Giants have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points (9.0 per game) to team defenses.
2. Tennessee Titans vs. CHI
48% Yahoo, 39% ESPN
Team implied total: 26
Opponent implied total: 20.5
Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 10: 11th (vs. IND), Week 11: 17th (at BAL)
Coming off their worst performance of the Ryan Tannehill era, the Titans should get back on track as 5.5-point home favorites over the mediocre Bears. While 14 teams have allowed more fantasy points to team defenses, the Bears have been plenty generous in terms of sacks (2.5 per game) and interceptions (1.25 per game). They haven't lost any fumbles or given up any D/ST touchdowns, but that should come in due time if their struggles on offense continue. Nick Foles ranks 18th among qualified passers in sack rate (5.3) and 23rd in INT rate (3.0), once again showing that he's little more than a high-end backup.
Editor's Note (Thursday): Green Bay replaces Tennessee as the second-best streamer, after a slew of 49ers were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. The updated D/ST rankings for Week 9 put the Packers at No. 5, one spot ahead of the Titans.
3. Houston Texans at JAX
5% Yahoo, 3% ESPN
Team implied total: 28.75
Opponent implied total: 22.25
Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 10: 20th (at CLE), Week 11: 16th (vs. NE)
No need to waste any time making excuses for the Houston defense; this one is all about the potential for the Jaguars to collapse with sixth-round rookie Jake Luton making his first NFL start. Maybe Luton is the next Gardner Minshew (thumb), but it's more likely we see the usual level of incompetence associated with a rookie who was a late-round pick. Would anybody besides Deshaun Watson's fantasy managers be upset if the NFL just cancelled this game?
4. Arizona Cardinals vs. MIA
14% Yahoo, 19% ESPN
Team implied total: 26
Opponent implied total: 21.5
Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 10: 13th (vs. BUF), Week 11: 25th (at SEA)
On the one hand, Miami is a much better team than anyone expected, featuring an above-average defense and a half-decent running game. On the other, Tua Tagovailoa looked pretty shaky in his first NFL start, and the Dolphins would probably be better in the short term with Ryan Fitzpatrick taking snaps. In any case, the Arizona defense has also been a pleasant surprise this year, ranking 10th in fantasy scoring average (7.0) and ninth in DVOA (-5.7%). A home game against a rookie QB puts the Cardinals solidly in streaming territory, even with their best player (Chandler Jones) out for the year due to a biceps tear.
5. New York Giants at WAS
12% Yahoo, 17% ESPN
Team implied total: 19.75
Opponent implied total: 23.25
Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 10: 15th (vs. PHI), Week 11: Bye
The Giants would probably be a couple spots higher if not for the aforementioned scheduling disadvantage. Their defense has been surprisingly respectable this year, tied for 12th in fantasy scoring average (6.25) and allowing only 3.7 YPC on the ground. The secondary remains vulnerable, but Kyle Allen is far from a lock to take advantage, and he tends to make big mistakes even when he puts up yards and points. The Giants defense took advantage of one of those errors back in Week 6, scoring a season-high 14 fantasy points thanks to a scoop-and-score on an Allen fumble.
Week 9 Rankings
- Pittsburgh Steelers
at DAL - moved up from No. 2 with Andy Dalton out
- New England Patriots
at NYJ
- Washington Football Team
vs. NYG
- Kansas City Chiefs
vs. CAR
- Green Bay Packers
at SF - moved up from No. 12 due to SF's injuries and COVID-19.
- Tennessee Titans
vs. CHI
- Houston Texans
at JAX
- Arizona Cardinals
vs. MIA
- New York Giants
at WAS
- Baltimore Ravens
at IND
- Atlanta Falcons
vs. DEN
- Indianapolis Colts
vs. BAL
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
vs. NO
- Los Angeles Chargers
vs. LV
- Minnesota Vikings
vs. DET
- New York Jets
vs. NE
- Seattle Seahawks
at BUF
- Jacksonville Jaguars
vs. HOU
- Denver Broncos
at ATL
- San Francisco 49ers
vs. GB
Looking Ahead to Week 10
- Philadelphia Eagles
at NYG
- Pittsburgh Steelers
vs. CIN
- Green Bay Packers
vs. JAX
- Baltimore Ravens
at NE
- Chicago Bears
vs. MIN
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
at CAR
- New Orleans Saints
at SF
- Detroit Lions
vs. WAS
- Minnesota Vikings
at CHI
- Miami Dolphins
vs. LAC
- Tennessee Titans
vs. IND
- Los Angeles Chargers
at MIA
- Arizona Cardinals
vs. BUF
- New England Patriots
vs. BAL
- New York Giants
vs. PHI
- Las Vegas Raiders
vs. DEN
- Cleveland Browns
vs. HOU
- Washington Football Team
at DET
- Denver Broncos
vs. LV
- Houston Texans
at CLE
Rest-of-Season Rankings
Pittsburgh Steelers
Kansas City Chiefs
Baltimore Ravens
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
New England Patriots
Buffalo Bills
Los Angeles Chargers
Indianapolis Colts
Chicago Bears
New Orleans Saints
Los Angeles Rams
Washington Football Team
San Francisco 49ers
Green Bay Packers
Miami Dolphins
Philadelphia Eagles
Cleveland Browns
Tennessee Titans
Arizona Cardinals
Denver Broncos