3 Fantasy Football Defensive Streaming Options for Week 4
I'm one of the 10 or so weirdos on the planet who has a passion for D/STs. In truth, it's a difficult passion to explain to people. Fantasy football is already a niche within a niche, and defensive streaming adds a couple of layers of obscure on top of that. Indeed, even a certain chunk of the fantasy football community is vehemently opposed to defensive streaming.
Whether you share my passion for the D/ST position, or you're gritting your teeth and bearing with your league's decision to keep the spot in spite of your repeated requests to the contrary, I'm here to help.
A few housekeeping matters: lines are courtesy of NFL odds, and roster percentages and scores are according to Yahoo's fantasy platform. Assume that the listed order is the preferred order. I'll try for defenses on 40% or fewer of Yahoo rosters.
Worth A Look
The New Orleans Saints are a little above the roster percentage threshold (48%), but close enough where they might be available. If they are, grab them for their tilt with the New York Giants.
Green Bay Packers
vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Spread: Packers -7.0
Roster Percentage: 15%
With an implied point total of 19.25, the Pittsburgh Steelers actually project for fewer points than either of the more obvious teams on the list below. It's a tacit admission that Ben Roethlisberger is in full 2015 Peyton Manning mode, and it may be time to start streaming against him.
The Green Bay Packers should put the Steelers in catch-up mode, and with a top ten unit at -0.01 Offensive Net Expected Points (NEP) allowed per play, the Packers should be able to capitalize.
Cincinnati Bengals
vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Spread: Bengals -7.5
Roster Percentage: 3%
As a defensive streamer, I love seeing teams like the Cincinnati Bengals as big favorites.
People never draft units like this and, even in a plus streaming matchup, might look elsewhere. The Bengals are actually a surprising unit at -0.09 Offensive NEP allowed per play, good for sixth in the league. With the Jacksonville Jaguars led by Trevor Lawrence and his uninspiring -0.09 Passing NEP per dropback, this is a matchup that sets up nicely for the Bengals. Lawrence leads the NFL in turnover-worthy plays with nine.
Tennessee Titans
at New York Jets
Spread: Titans -7.5
Roster Percentage: 15%
Zach Wilson, the other struggling rookie, takes on the Tennessee Titans and that makes them a run-it-back option from this article last week.
The Titans have a lackluster defensive unit, but Wilson hasn't shown he belongs in the league yet with -0.23 Passing NEP per drop back. Wilson also has six turnover-worthy plays and two batted passes through just three weeks. Until he proves otherwise, keep streaming opponents of the New York Jets.
