Week 9 Fantasy Football Defensive Streaming: Backing the Bolts
San Diego Chargers
Owned: ESPN 15.4%, Yahoo 9%
numberFire Projected Rank: 25th
The San Diego Chargers host Marcus Mariota and the Titans Sunday. While the Titans are winners of three of their last four games, they've been a fantasy friendly defense on the season, ranking in the top five of points allowed to fantasy defenses.
Meanwhile, the Chargers defense checks in as the 7th best unit on the season, according to numberFire's schedule-adjusted metrics, and they enter this game as a 5.5-point favorite.
The Chargers have been a pretty opportunistic defense, ranking second in the league in interceptions (nine) and fifth in fumble recoveries (six). Further boosting San Diego's cause this week is the fact that Mariota has committed at least one turnover in six of eight games.
Additionally, DeMarco Murray, the centerpiece of the Titans offense, injured his toe in the Week 8 win over the Jaguars and his status for the game remains to be seen. No Murray, obviously, would be a boost to San Diego.
The Chargers pass rush has been bolstered by rookie Joey Bosa, who joined the team in Week 4 following a contract dispute and has notched four sacks in four games. On the season, the Chargers have been able to generate consistent pressure on the quarterback, ranking 11th in quarterback hits (43) and 12th in sacks (18).
