This article is part of our Streaming Defenses series.
Week 10 wasn't my best effort in terms of recommendations, though I did at least provide a warning that it was a tough slate for team defense streaming. The top pick (Detroit) did live up to everyone's lofty expectations with 14 fantasy points, and two of my other choices (Green Bay and Tennessee) also landed in the top half of performers. However, the Bears and Giants were both complete flops, producing only three fantasy points apiece.
Last week's effort really wasn't so bad upon further evaluation, but I'm nonetheless expecting a better performance in Week 11, as the pool of attractive streaming options runs three deep before my confidence begins to wane. The Saints and Cardinals are lingering around 50 percent ownership on Yahoo!, but the Chargers and Bengals at least should be available in the vast majority of leagues. For the few who are unable to secure one of those four teams, the Packers make for an acceptable fallback option.
Note: These recommendations are limited to D/ST units with under 60 percent ownership on Yahoo! as of Tuesday morning. All references to fantasy points are based on Yahoo! standard scoring.
Top Streaming Options for Week 11
Arizona Cardinals (at Houston Texans)
47% Yahoo ownership
Tom Savage is the only player who's lost more fumbles than the aforementioned Cousins, somehow already losing five despite attempting just 93 passes and two rushes this year. His complete lack of pocket presence is an amusing sight, and the switch from Deshaun Watson to
Week 10 wasn't my best effort in terms of recommendations, though I did at least provide a warning that it was a tough slate for team defense streaming. The top pick (Detroit) did live up to everyone's lofty expectations with 14 fantasy points, and two of my other choices (Green Bay and Tennessee) also landed in the top half of performers. However, the Bears and Giants were both complete flops, producing only three fantasy points apiece.
Last week's effort really wasn't so bad upon further evaluation, but I'm nonetheless expecting a better performance in Week 11, as the pool of attractive streaming options runs three deep before my confidence begins to wane. The Saints and Cardinals are lingering around 50 percent ownership on Yahoo!, but the Chargers and Bengals at least should be available in the vast majority of leagues. For the few who are unable to secure one of those four teams, the Packers make for an acceptable fallback option.
Note: These recommendations are limited to D/ST units with under 60 percent ownership on Yahoo! as of Tuesday morning. All references to fantasy points are based on Yahoo! standard scoring.
Top Streaming Options for Week 11
Arizona Cardinals (at Houston Texans)
47% Yahoo ownership
Tom Savage is the only player who's lost more fumbles than the aforementioned Cousins, somehow already losing five despite attempting just 93 passes and two rushes this year. His complete lack of pocket presence is an amusing sight, and the switch from Deshaun Watson to Savage has quickly turned the Texans into a top-five matchup for team defenses. Thanks to the three games Savage has started, Houston has given up the fourth most points per game to the position.
This isn't the Arizona defense of years past, but it's still a decent enough unit to take advantage of prime matchups, as seen Week 2 in Indianapolis (10 fantasy points) and Week 9 in San Francisco (13 points). Coming off back-to-back games with five sacks, the Cardinals finally seem to have figured out a way to get after the passer other than strictly relying on stud outside linebacker Chandler Jones (10 sack). Arizona could also be in play next week for a home game against Jacksonville, though I'd probably look in another direction in leagues with 12 or fewer teams.
New Orleans Saints (vs. Washington Redskins)
50% Yahoo ownership
The Redskins have been surprisingly generous to team defenses this season, giving up the 10th most fantasy points per game despite ranking in the top half of the league for yardage and points scored. Kirk Cousins is on pace to take 41 snaps, which would obliterate his previous career-high mark of 26 from two seasons ago. He's still doing a nice job avoiding picks, but he's tied with Josh McCown for the NFL lead at nine fumbles and is tied for second with four fumbles lost.
Meanwhile, the Saints have quietly morphed into a top-10 (borderline top-five) fantasy team defense, getting a sizable boost due to a highly efficient offense that's consistently providing multi-score leads. Of course, the real difference from previous seasons is strong play in the secondary, led by standout rookie cornerback Marshon Lattimore as well as the little-known man who lines up across from him, Ken Crawley. The Saints have recorded at least one takeaway in seven straight games, scoring eight or more fantasy points in six of those outings, including four games with 14 or more. Unfortunately, this is probably only a one-week streamer, as the Saints have a road game against the Rams in Week 12. There might be some argument for a playoff stash, if not for the fact the Saints face the Falcons in Weeks 14 and 16. Granted, Week 15 brings a home game against the Jets.
Los Angeles Chargers (vs. Buffalo Bills)
6% Yahoo ownership
The Bills aren't a team I typically target in this column, as Tyrod Taylor consistently does a good job of avoiding turnovers, albeit at the expense of taking quite a few sacks. He's actually on pace to take a career high of 50 this season, and the Buffalo offense is stuck in a slump as it prepares for a road game against a Chargers team that's tied for second in the NFL with 29 sacks.
Led by the prolific duo of Joey Bosa (9.5 sacks) and Melvin Ingram (8.5 sacks), the Chargers have yet to allow more than 26 points in a game this season, and they've scored double-digit fantasy points in three of their past five. This may be the league's most underrated defense, partially due to a lack of D/ST touchdowns and partially because the Chargers continue to lose close games in heartbreaking fashion. They do also struggle to stop the run, which makes this pick a bit risky if you aren't sold on the line (Chargers by 4.5, over/under 43.5). This is another one-week option, as the Chargers travel to Dallas for their next game.
Cincinnati Bengals (at Denver Broncos)
26% Yahoo ownership
The Broncos have now given up more fantasy points per game to defenses than any other team, allowing an incredible average of 18 over their past five games. That's what happens when you combine a shaky offensive line, poor quarterback play and terrible special teams. Brock Osweiler actually managed to avoid any sacks in Sunday's 41-16 loss to New England, but the Patriots D/ST still managed 13 fantasy points thanks to a return touchdown, a blocked kick and two takeaways.
While only a tick above average, the Cincinnati defense should at least be good enough to come away with six or seven fantasy points in this highly favorable matchup. The Bengals aren't great against the run and haven't forced many turnovers, but they're tied for seventh in the NFL with 26 sacks and have held opposing QBs to an 81.3 passer rating. Some big outings in the near future, with Sunday's matchup followed by a Week 12 home game against the Browns. This is arguably the best choice for a two-week streamer.
Green Bay Packers (vs. Baltimore Ravens)
39% Yahoo ownership
The Packers came through with eight fantasy points on the strength of a season-high five sacks in Sunday's 23-16 win over the Bears, also extending their streak of games with at least one takeaway to seven. They're still averaging only two sacks per game and are no better than mediocre from either a fantasy or real-life perspective, but the Packers at least have proven to be usable for favorable matchups like this one.
The Ravens actually haven't given up a ton of fantasy points to team defenses overall (16th most), but they did surrendered double digit points three times within a four-week stretch earlier this season when they ran into some tough matchups. Bookmakers project a close, low-scoring affair, with an implied score of Ravens 20-Packers 18. I still don't have a ton of confidence here, and the Green Bay defense definitely should be dropped before it faces the Steelers on the road in Week 12.
Honorable Mentions: Chicago Bears (vs. Detroit Lions), Houston Texans (vs. Arizona Cardinals)
Week 11 D/ST Rankings
1. Jacksonville Jaguars (at CLE)
2. Kansas City Chiefs (at NYG)
3. Arizona Cardinals (at HOU)
4. New Orleans Saints (vs. WAS)
5. Los Angeles Chargers (vs. BUF)
6. Denver Broncos (vs. CIN)
7. Baltimore Ravens (at GB)
8. Cincinnati Bengals (at DEN)
9. Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. TEN)
10. Houston Texans (vs. ARI)
11. Detroit Lions (at CHI)
12. Green Bay Packers (vs. BAL)
13. Seattle Seahawks (vs. ATL)
14. Philadelphia Eagles (at DAL)
15. Chicago Bears (vs. DET)
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at MIA)
17. Los Angeles Rams (at MIN)
18. Minnesota Vikings (vs. LAR)
19. New England Patriots (at OAK)
20. Miami Dolphins (vs. TB)
21. Dallas Cowboys (vs. PHI)
22. Atlanta Falcons (at SEA)
23. Buffalo Bills (at LAC)
24. Cleveland Browns (vs. JAC)
25. Tennessee Titans (at PIT)
26. Washington Redskins (at NO)
27. Oakland Raiders (vs. NE)
28. New York Giants (vs. KC)
Looking Ahead to Week 12
The Redskins host a lifeless Giants team in the late Thanksgiving game.
The Bengals welcome the Browns to Cincinnati — put a star next to this one.
The Titans travel to Indianapolis.
The Falcons host the Bucs, with Jameis Winston (shoulder) potentially still absent.
The Patriots host Jay Cutler and the Dolphins.
The Raiders welcome the Broncos to Oakland.
