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Welcome, RotoBallers, to our defensive streamers and starts piece. If you are one of the many fantasy managers who stream defenses every week, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will look at the best fantasy defenses managers should be picking up in Week 4 and beyond.
Some of the defenses on this list are only good for Week 4, while other defenses could be used for multiple weeks. Streaming defenses is never easy, and sometimes, choosing the wrong fantasy defense could end up costing you your week. However, if you plan accordingly for the weeks ahead, you could set yourself up nicely.
So, here are the best defensive streamers and starts for Week 4 through Week 7.
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- IDP fantasy football rankings
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D/ST Strength of Schedule: Weeks 4-7
When looking at which defenses fantasy managers should pick up and start every week, a good recipe for success is targeting defenses playing poor offenses. Through three weeks, offenses like the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears, and New York Giants have struggled to score points. As a result, opposing defenses are averaging over 10.5 fantasy points when facing those four offenses this season.
Targeting those offenses has worked well for some fantasy managers in the early going, and that shouldn't change over the next few weeks. So, let's dive in and analyze the best fantasy defensive options in Week 4, 5, 6, and 7.
Each defense on this list will be broken down into four categories (temporary streamer, part-time streamer, recruit streamer, and fool's gold streamer) to help you make the best decision. The description of each category can be found below, and all defenses on this list will be rostered in 50% or less of ESPN leagues.
- “Temporary” Streamer: D/ST with a good matchup in Week 4
- “Part-Time” Streamer: D/ST with multiple nice matchups in a row
- “Recruit” Streamer: D/ST with an easy upcoming schedule that you pick up earlier to stash on your bench
- “Fool’s Gold” Streamer: D/ST that on paper looks like a good option but should be avoided
Week 4 D/ST Streamers
Chicago Bears D/ST (Part-Time Streamer)
- Week 4 Opponent: Los Angeles Rams (25th)
- ESPN Rostership: 36.6.%
- Over-Under: 40.5 points
- Opponent’s Implied Total Points: 18.75
At this point in the season, the Bears defense deserves to be rostered in more leagues. It has scored the third-most fantasy points through three weeks and has yet to give up more than 21 points in a game this season.
Fantasy managers would like to see Chicago's sack numbers rise -- as it has totaled just four sacks over the past two games -- but this defense has season-long potential.
Per @PFF, the Bears secondary when targeted this season:
30-53, 363 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs, 60.5 rating. pic.twitter.com/NPdVqMurot
— Bill Zimmerman (@BillTZimmerman) September 24, 2024
The Bears defense also has a nice schedule upcoming, making it a part-time streamer for fantasy managers. In Week 4, it will face a depleted Rams offense at home that will be missing Cooper Kupp (ankle), Puka Nacua (knee), and multiple offensive linemen.
Then, Chicago has matchups against the Carolina Panthers (Week 5), Jacksonville Jaguars (Week 6), and New England Patriots (Week 10) over the next couple of weeks.
Given how Chicago has looked defensively to start the season, it is a strong pickup ahead of Week 4. It has forced six turnovers in the first three weeks while totaling seven sacks and two touchdowns.
Tennessee Titans D/ST (Temporary Streamer)
- Week 4 Opponent: Miami Dolphins (31st)
- ESPN Rostership: 3.2%
- Over-Under: 36.5 points
- Opponent’s Implied Total Points: 17.5
The Titans defense hasn't been a strong fantasy option this year, as it has scored five fantasy points or less in all three games. Last week, it only sacked Malik Willis three times and failed to force a turnover. However, expect better fantasy numbers for Tennessee's defense against the Dolphins in Week 4.
It remains to be seen if Skylar Thompson (chest) or Tyler Huntley will start for Miami on Monday night. Either way, though, the Titans defense should be a strong fantasy play. The Dolphins couldn't move the ball at all last week -- even with playmakers like Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and De'Von Achane -- and Thompson was sacked a whopping six times.
While Tennessee hasn't done much defensively through the first couple of weeks, it has a great chance to change that this week. However, after the team's Week 4 matchup against the Dolphins, it won't have much fantasy appeal.
The Titans have a Week 5 bye before facing the Colts (Week 6), Bills (Week 7), and Lions (Week 8) in the coming weeks.
Indianapolis Colts D/ST (Recruit/Part-Time Streamer)
- Week 4 Opponent: Pittsburgh Steelers (8th)
- ESPN Rostership: 7.8%
- Over-Under: 39.5 points
- Opponent’s Implied Total Points: 20.5
After struggling defensively in the first two weeks, the Colts looked much better on that side of the ball in Week 3 against the Bears. They held Chicago's offense to just 16 points, forced three turnovers, and sacked Caleb Williams four times. Now, they get a matchup against a Steelers offense that has scored only three offensive touchdowns so far this season.
There's some risk in starting Indianapolis' defense this week, which is why it is listed as a recruit/part-time streamer. The Steelers have only given up six sacks all season, and opposing defenses have scored the eighth-fewest fantasy points against Pittsburgh's offense so far in 2024. So, it's understandable if fantasy managers don't want to start this defense this week.
But the Colts defense should be picked up regardless ahead of Week 4. After the matchup against the Steelers, they will face the Jaguars (Week 5), Titans (Week 6), and Dolphins (Week 7) over the next three weeks.
With Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) still without a timeline for a return, there's a good chance he will not be ready for that game. That makes Indianapolis a strong fantasy option over the next month.
Houston Texans D/ST (Borderline Part-Time Streamer)
- Week 5 Opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars (27th)
- ESPN Rostership: 31%
- Over-Under: 45.5 points
- Opponent’s Implied Total Points: 19.5
Following Monday's blowout loss to the Buffalo Bills, it's fair to say that the Jaguars offense is not very good. They are averaging only 13.3 points per game through the first three weeks, and quarterback Trevor Lawrence has been sacked 12 times to start the season. That makes the Texans defense a strong fantasy option heading into Week 4.
Houston is coming off a subpar defensive game against the Vikings, giving up 34 points and forcing zero turnovers. However, it has totaled at least four sacks in back-to-back games, including seven sacks against the Bears in Week 2.
Not only are the Texans a solid defensive option this week against the Jaguars, but they could be used in the coming weeks as well. While Houston is a must-sit against the Bills in Week 5, it has a nice matchup against the Patriots in Week 6. So, essentially, if you grab the Texans for this week, you can start them in two of the next three games.
Minnesota Vikings D/ST (Recruit Streamer)
- Week 4 Opponent: Green Bay Packers (5th)
- Week 5 Opponent: New York Jets (6th)
- ESPN Rostership: 20.4%
- Over-Under: N/A
- Opponent’s Implied Total Points: N/A
The Vikings have been the best defensive team through the first three weeks, and it hasn't been quite close. They held the 49ers to just 17 points in Week 2 and the Texans to only seven points last week. On top of that, they have totaled at least five sacks and forced two turnovers in every game this season. As a result, they are currently the No. 1 fantasy defense heading into Week 4.
Vikings Defense Today:
- 7 Points Allowed
- 5 Sacks
- 2 Interceptions
- 3/13 3rd Down Conversions pic.twitter.com/LEsUwdXWsZ— MNMuse (@statmusewolves) September 22, 2024
While Minnesota has some tough matchups upcoming against the Packers and Jets, it should 100% be picked up. It has scored at least 13 fantasy points in all three games this season, and both the 49ers and Texans offenses struggled to move the ball against it. So, now is the perfect time to add the Vikings defense before the matchup against Green Bay.
The next couple of weeks aren't the most favorable matchups for the Vikings, considering they have the Packers (Week 4), Jets (Week 5), a bye (Week 6), and the Lions (Week 7) upcoming.
But after these four weeks, Minnesota will face the Rams (Week 8), Colts (Week 9), Jaguars (Week 10), Titans (Week 11), and Bears (Week 12). So, even if you don't plan to start this defense this week, add it for the middle of the season.
Recruit Streamers
If you have Week 4 already figured out, let's look ahead at some defensive options that you could start in Week 5:
- Seattle Seahawks (55.9% rostership)- Week 5 opponent: 28th-ranked Giants
- Miami Dolphins (50.9% rostership)- Week 5 opponent: 24th-ranked Patriots
- New England Patriots (3.4% rostership)- Week 5 opponent: 31st-ranked Dolphins
Fool’s Gold Streamers
Las Vegas Raiders D/ST vs. Cleveland Browns
- Week 5 Opponent: Cleveland Browns (29th)
- ESPN Rostership: 29.9%
There's no doubt the Browns have been one of the worst offensive teams across the first three weeks. Quarterback Deshaun Watson has been sacked a league-leading 16 times, and that Cleveland offense has yet to score over 18 points in a game so far this season. However, fantasy managers should stay away from the Raiders defense in this matchup.
Las Vegas only has five sacks on the season and just gave up 36 points to the Panthers last week. In the first three weeks, the Raiders defense has also only forced one turnover. On paper, this matchup seems like a nice one for a Maxx Crosby-led defense. But it's best to avoid this unit for Week 4, considering the team's early season struggles.
D/ST Streaming Action Plan
Planning out your fantasy D/ST might require some work, but it might be necessary to target the best matchups every single week. Here is how I would line up my defensive streams over the next four weeks.
- Week 4: Stream the Titans versus the 31st-ranked Dolphins
- Week 5: Stream the Seahawks versus the 28th-ranked Giants
- Week 6: Stream the Colts versus the 32nd-ranked Titans
- Week 7: Stream the Bills versus the 32nd-ranked Titans
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