3 Fantasy Football Defensive Streaming Options for Week 3
Hey, it's your friendly neighborhood D/ST streaming specialist here again, giving you weekly streaming recommendations. Reminder that lines are courtesy of the FanDuel Sportsbook, and roster percentages are according to ESPN's fantasy platform. Assume that the listed order is the preferred order.
Week 2 went relatively well, with both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Arizona Cardinals offering strong performances, though the Tennessee Titans struggled versus Gardner Minshew and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Hang on to:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs have graduated from the streaming tier, but keep them around as they take on the Denver Broncos with Jeff Driskel at the helm. Play them over any of the actual streamers if you already have them or are able to scoop them off waivers. And the Bucs get the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4, which is another decent matchup. Now for the actual streamers:
Cleveland Browns
vs. Washington Football Team
Spread: Browns -7
Implied Points Allowed: 18.75
ESPN Roster Percentage: 9%
The Cleveland Browns were an honorable mention last week, but they are the top streamer this week. With WFT (Washington Football Team) looking more like the team we expected them to be in Week 2, it's time to keep plugging their opponents in your lineup. Don't make this any harder than it has to be. The game script should lead to plenty of Dwayne Haskins drop backs, and that's very good for the Cleveland D.
Los Angeles Chargers
vs. Carolina Panthers
Spread: Chargers -7.5
Implied Points Allowed: 18.25
ESPN Roster Percentage: 26%
Coming off a performance in which they held the Kansas City Chiefs to 20 points in regulation, the Los Angeles Chargers are 7.5-point favorites against the Carolina Panthers. The Chargers look to tell a story similar to what the Bucs did last week: lots of opportunities for sacks and turnovers with positive gameflow. Teddy Bridgewater showed an unfortunate knack for both in Week 2, and the Bolts are a solid play this week.
Philadelphia Eagles
vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Spread: Eagles -6.5
Implied Points Allowed: 19.75
ESPN Roster Percentage: 24%
Sometimes you just have to ignore the team name when you're D/ST streaming, and that's the case with the perpetual streaming disappointment that is the Philadelphia Eagles, who have a favorable matchup once again in Week 3. Granted, Joe Burrow hasn't been sacked as much as we figured he would be, but that's still subject to change only two games into his career.
Having a short memory usually pays off with D/ST streaming, and if we take a step back and think about playing a defense that is favored by nearly a touchdown, implied to allow fewer than 20 points, has the potential for a lot of sacks, and is widely available, you'll pounce on that defense even if they've burned you in the past.
That's it this week, folks. Stay streaming!
