FanDuel Defenses to Target in Week 5
There is a good option for each price range this week, so it's not a bad idea to start building your lineups with other positions first and fill in the defense that best fits the cap.
The top two fantasy defenses are both in line to put up significant points again this week, and the team that gives up the most fantasy points to opposing defenses looks in line to continue their trend.
Here are four defenses to consider for your Week 5 FanDuel lineups.
Arizona Cardinals (at Detroit Lions)
FanDuel Price: $5,200
numberFire Projected Points: 10.02
Arizona has the second most fantasy points of any defense this season, and this week they travel to Detroit, who has allowed the 10th most fantasy points to opposing defenses. The Cardinals are looking to rebound after their defense had its worst fantasy performance of the season.
They failed to get an interception for the first time all season after getting four in Week 3. Expect that to change against Matthew Stafford, who has thrown two interceptions twice this season and five total on the year.
Arizona has been taking advantage of opposing quarterback mistakes and has already returned three interceptions for touchdowns.
After giving up four sacks to Denver in Week 3, the Lions offensive line will be under heavy pressure again from the Cardinals defense that has multiple sacks in three out of four games.
The Lions will be relying heavily on their passing game with Joique Bell battling an ankle injury and Ameer Abdullah leading the rushing attack. Abdullah hasn’t found the end zone via the ground since Week 1 and is averaging 2.41 yards per carry over the past three games.
Arizona is the most expensive option this week, but they are well worth the steep price tag.
Denver Broncos (at Oakland)
FanDuel Price: $4,900
numberFire Projected Points: 10.36
Denver has the most fantasy points of any defense on the season, leads the league with 18 sacks, and has forced the second most turnovers. With stats like that, they are good enough to be rolled out every week until someone can contain them.
| Week | Fantasy Points | Sacks | Interceptions | Fumble Recoveries | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16.00 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 2 | 22.00 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 3 | 16.00 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | 10.00 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Although they are on the road against a division rival in Week 5, this doesn’t look like the week they will slow down. Through the first four games Oakland has given up five sacks, thrown three interceptions, and lost three fumbles. Those numbers aren’t terrible, but they were against lesser opponents and Denver will certainly take advantage of the opportunities.
Chicago’s defense has only scored 10 fantasy points this year, and seven of them came last week against Oakland.
We project Denver to score the most fantasy points among all defenses this week, and you can save $300 going with them over Arizona.
Cincinnati Bengals (vs. Seattle)
FanDuel Price: $4,700
numberFire Projected Points: 7.76
It seems odd to be targeting a defense against a team that has been in the Super Bowl the past two seasons, but this isn’t the same Seattle offense that won the NFC last year. In fact Seattle has given up the third most fantasy points to opposing defenses this season.
The Seahawks have some serious problems with their offense. Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson are both hurt, and Thomas Rawls didn't run away with the show as the lead running back. That has put a lot of pressure on Russell Wilson, and with the offensive line struggling and Jimmy Graham not caring to block anyone, Wilson has been sacked a league high 18 times in four games.
Eight months after playing in the Super Bowl, he has the 27th best Passing Net Expected Points (NEP) per drop back this season, which measures the value added or lost on a per drop back basis (including sacks).
Things won’t get any easier for them this week against the Bengals who have racked up four or more sacks twice this year and have 11 sacks total. Cincinnati also added an interception in each of their first three games and have four fumble recoveries.
New York Giants (vs. San Francisco)
FanDuel Price: $4,300
numberFire Projected Points: 9.02
The 49ers have lost three games in a row, and it doesn’t look like that streak will end this week. They have the third lowest projected point total and are 6.5-point underdogs going into New York.
The Giants defense hasn’t put up fantasy numbers anywhere close to the first two teams on this list, but no team has allowed more fantasy points to opposing defenses this year than San Francisco.
The 49ers succeeded in their Week 1 win by relying on the run, but they will have a tough time doing that this week against the Giants who rank first in Adjusted Defensive Rushing NEP. If the run game gets shut down early, San Francisco will have to lean on their passing game, which has not looked good this year.
Only three quarterbacks who have attempted a pass this season have a worse Passing NEP per drop back than Colin Kaepernick.
He threw four interceptions in Week 3 against Arizona and has been sacked 5 or more times in two games already this season.
The Giants have recorded either two sacks or two interceptions in each game so far and have scored double digit fantasy points in three out of the four games.
If you want to fit some of the more expensive players into your lineup this week, the Giants are a great option to save money at only $4,300.
