Welcome back to the latest edition of Defensive Streamers! We are now in Week 8, and the fatigue is starting to set in. Managers who have zero wins or one win are beginning to check out.
The injuries have only gotten worse as the season rolls, including the recent injuries of Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, and Jayden Daniels. With weakened fantasy rosters, it has become even more imperative to have a successful D/ST.
Last week was yet another massive success. The Colts, Rams, and Commanders finished inside the top 10 in standard scoring for Yahoo leagues. Unfortunately, I did also recommend the Patriots, and they laid a goose egg. I have full confidence that we will have another 100-percent success rate week soon.
This week is a unique week for defensive streaming. There are no teams on bye, but offenses that we would normally shy away from may be vulnerable now that stars are injured. Meanwhile, some bad offenses that had poor quarterback play will now be forced to use a new quarterback.
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Fantasy Football Defensive Streamers Week 8
Note: All defenses listed are available in 60% or more of Yahoo Leagues.
Miami Dolphins (71% available) vs. Arizona Cardinals
Both teams in this matchup were considered to be listed, but Tua Tagovailoa appears ready to roll this Sunday. That means the Dolphins are no longer a target for opposing defenses. However, the Cardinals’ offense has been disappointing as of late. Over the past five weeks, the Arizona offense has eclipsed 330 total yards only once. Miami sneakily has a top 10 EPA per play on defense. This is also a vibes-based selection. In Miami, a star quarterback is returning to the line-up, and an unfamiliar opponent is traveling cross-country to play in Florida. There aren’t many home run options this week, but this is my favorite option of the weekend.
Atlanta Falcons (90% available) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I am not sure how to approach this one. The last time the Falcons and Bucs met, it was a Thursday Night Football shootout. Atlanta’s defense was especially porous, finishing with one sack and one turnover. But how can this offense function without its top two stars, Chris Godwin and Mike Evans? The Falcons just gave up 34 points to Seattle, so this is an incredibly risky play. But this is about how sharp Baker Mayfield will look without his All-Pro receivers. The Bucs have a modest team total of 21, which isn’t too imposing. The Falcons aren’t my favorite option this weekend, but I also wouldn’t be surprised to see the Buccaneers struggle mightily with their personnel changes.
New York Giants (95% available) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Giants’ pass rush, led by Dexter Lawrence, is a force to be reckoned with. New York is averaging four sacks per game, and the Steelers come into town. Russell Wilson cooked in spectacular fashion last Sunday, but the Giants’ pass rush is much more formidable than the Jets’. The Steelers have multiple offensive line injuries, making this another strong opportunity for the Giants. This is the safest option of all the streamers.
The Not-in-My-Leauge Option: Washington Commanders (87% available) vs. Chicago Bears
We can’t have nice things, can we? The NFL world was looking forward to the matchup between Jayden Daniels and Caleb Williams, but Daniels is trending in the wrong direction. Chicago’s offense has been rolling lately and is now rested coming off a bye week. Washington’s defense was a top-five option last week, and we all need to accept the fact that they are better than the expectations we had for them at the beginning of the season. Remember, this is only for those most desperate for a defense, because the Bears could very well light up this defense.
Week 9 Options to Stash:
- New England Patriots vs. Tennessee Titans: Tennessee is an offense to target when looking for a streaming defense.
- New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers: This suggestion could put me on a blacklist, but the Panthers are historically bad.
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