X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Week 4 Defense (DEF) Streamers and Starts - 2019 Fantasy Tiers, Rankings

Bill Dubiel breaks down all 2019 fantasy football Week 4 defenses (DEF) -- draft targets, streamers, sits/starts, and D/ST waiver wire pickups to add. His Week 4 rankings and tiers for all of the NFL defenses.

The main story of Week 3 was the fill-in quarterbacks...and how effective some of them were. That's going to throw a lot of our analysis of defenses into turmoil, and we've gotta be ready for Week 4.

Below are RotoBaller's Week 4 defense tiers and rankings, or which defenses to stream, start and target off the waiver wire for Week 4 of the NFL and fantasy football season. In case you missed it, this is our seventh year now writing this weekly column. Our weekly tiered defense rankings are a guide to making waiver wire pickups to improve your lineups, and to decide which defenses to start, sit, target, avoid or stream for Week 4.

Starting the right defense every week can be a difference-maker. Below we have broken out our defense rankings into tiers with analysis on each matchup. Some of these Week 4 defenses have good matchups and are not widely-owned, representing fantasy scoring opportunities if they are available on your league's waiver wire for a Week 4 pickup or add. Good luck in Week 4 RotoBallers!

Editor's Note: Access RotoBaller’s trusted fantasy football rankings for PPR, Standard, Dynasty, Super Flex, and Best Ball formats. Get tiered cheat sheets, expert analysis, and player outlooks to dominate your draft from every angle.

 

Week 4 Defenses To Start & Stream: Tiers & Rankings

Typically the top three tiers will be DSTs you should target, with Tier 4 being options in deep leagues and Tier 5 being desperation plays or good defenses in horrendous matchups.

Returning for this year: Confidence Ratings - since every league's DST scoring is different, projections don't always make a ton of sense. The confidence rating is a guideline for how much more I like one team over another instead of a straight point projection. A zero means "do not start," then the confidence rises from there. I take a lot of factors into account here--opponent injuries, home field advantage, weather, etc. The first few weeks I obviously have less data to work with, so the defense's personnel and matchups matter more significantly.

On bye this week: San Francisco 49ers, New York Jets

 

Tier 1 Defenses

Rank Tier DST Opponent Confidence Rating
1 1 Los Angeles Chargers Defense @ MIA 12.75
2 1 Jacksonville Jaguars Defense @ DEN 11.6
3 1 Baltimore Ravens Defense vs. CLE 11.2
4 1 Minnesota Vikings Defense @ CHI 10.6

For all the weapons and the hype, the Browns are the 26th-ranked scoring offense in the NFL. Baker Mayfield has played poorly so far, with a 3:5 TD-INT ratio and some brutal completion numbers. Put simply, I don't fear them this week, especially when they're on the road against a Ravens defense that was shredded by Patrick Mahomes in Week 3. In an intra-divisional early-season matchup, I'll take the defense here and bet against Baker figuring things out.

I have to include the Vikings in this tier despite Mitch Trubisky showing he still knows how to play football on Monday night. That was the Redskins Defense--he BETTER be able to step up against them. I don't see him having anywhere near as much luck against the fearsome Vikings D. Matt Nagy's play-calling is brutal from what we've seen through three weeks, and despite the offense scoring on Monday he didn't dissuade that opinion. The Vikings are tied for fifth in sacks (10), sixth in takeaways (6) and are averaging just over 15 points per game allowed. This should be a fruitful outing for Minnesota.

 

Tier 2 Defenses

Rank Tier DST Opponent Confidence Rating
5 2 New England Patriots Defense @ BUF 10.15
6 2 Los Angeles Rams Defense vs. TB 9.9
7 2 Chicago Bears Defense vs. MIN 9.15
8 2 Carolina Panthers Defense @ HOU 8.75

The Patriots are far and away the best fantasy DST so far, which is a big reason why I still have them in my top five. The reason they're not in Tier 1 is because we haven't seen them step up against a "good" team yet. They beat up on an incredibly out-of-sync Steelers offense in Week 1, had the Dolphins debacle in Week 2 and then got handed Jets' third-string QB Luke Falk on a silver platter in Week 3. Not to take away from what they've done, but if that's what your opponents have looked like, you BETTER come away with big outings. They now have to travel to Orchard Park, where they will find a hot and hungry Bills team that is not going to be a pushover. This is the first real test for the Patriots, and while I think they'll still come out of it with a W and some fantasy points given that Josh Allen will play hero ball from time-to-time, I don't think another monster game is in store here.

The Panthers have yielded at least 20 points in each of their first three games, but last week they impressed with a whopping eight sacks against the Arizona Cardinals. They generated an effective pass rush on a mobile quarterback, a feat which they'll need to replicate in Week 4 against Deshaun Watson and the Texans. Fortunately, the Texans have yielded 12 sacks already this season, and therefore the Panthers can be started with confidence given that their floor is going to be high.

 

Middle and Lower Tier Defenses

Tier 3 Defenses

Rank Tier DST Opponent Confidence Rating
9 3 Green Bay Packers Defense vs. PHI 8.1
10 3 Atlanta Falcons Defense vs. TEN 7.55
11 3 Indianapolis Colts Defense vs. OAK 7.2
12 3 Seattle Seahawks Defense @ ARI 6.8
13 3 Kansas City Chiefs Defense @ DET 6.45
14 3 Houston Texans Defense vs. CAR 6.1

The Green Bay Packers are 3-0, but it has very little to do with Aaron Rodgers. This defense has been outstanding through three weeks, and it's yielding some really juicy returns from a fantasy perspective. They're allowing just over 11 points per game, and while two of their opponents have been the Bears and the Broncos, their win over Minnesota in Week 2 was legitimately dominant. The Packers are tied for third in the NFL in sacks (12) and have forced an NFL-best eight turnovers through three games, and I'll continue to trust them until I see any signs that this breakout isn't real. They're still in my top 10, but given that their opponent is Carson Wentz and the ninth-ranked Eagles offense, my expectations are mildly tempered.

I had the Colts in my top 10 facing the Raiders' bottom-five offense, but with Malik Hooker now on the shelf for an extended period and Darius Leonard currently in the concussion protocol, I bumped them down a spot. This is a talented defense, but they haven't put it all together for a full game yet. In Week 1 they had four sacks and two turnovers, but yielded 30 points; Week 2 was four sacks and only 17 points allowed, but no turnovers, etc. They should find some success here against the weak Raiders offense, but my expectations are tempered given Derek Carr's conservative play and the Raiders' average offensive line.

I admit I struggled to rank the Seahawks for this road matchup against Arizona. From a fantasy perspective, there hasn't been much of anything to talk about for the Seahawks defense--just six total sacks (five of which came in Week 1), one interception, and at least 20 points allowed in every game. Kyler Murray has been impressive in the early goings, but he has thrown three picks already. The big factor at play here is the Cardinals' abysmal offensive line--they're second in the NFL for most sacks allowed (16). The Seahawks just barely make it into "startable" range, but they are in fact there thanks to the high sack floor.

 

Tier 4 Defenses

Rank Tier DST Opponent Confidence Rating
15 4 Pittsburgh Steelers Defense vs. CIN 5.95
16 4 Cincinnati Bengals Defense @ PIT 5.5
17 4 New Orleans Saints Defense vs. DAL 4.7
18 4 Buffalo Bills Defense vs. NE 4.25
19 4 New York Giants Defense vs. WAS 3.8
20 4 Denver Broncos Defense vs. JAC 3.4

This Bengals/Steelers matchup has that "9-6 Final" stink all over it. Mason Rudolph didn't impress anybody filling in for Ben Roethlisberger last week, and the 0-3 Bengals have only brief flashes of competence. I think you can start either DST in a deeper league, but I also don't think there are a ton of turnovers or sacks--just a lot of futile offensive drives.

The Bills defense has been playing extremely well, and should find themselves in the top three tiers in many upcoming weeks. With Tom Brady and company coming to town though, you'd have to be a fool to think you're going to get a useful fantasy day out of them. Somebody screenshot that, because now it'll definitely happen.

It's insane to think that a defense with Von Miller and Bradley Chubb can have zero sacks and zero turnovers through three games, but here we are. The Broncos will host the ascendant Gardner Minshew and the Jaguars in Week 4, and it's incredibly difficult to trust them in any capacity right now.

 

Tier 5 Defenses

Rank Tier DST Opponent Confidence Rating
21 5 Tennessee Titans Defense @ ATL 2.65
22 5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defense @ LAR 2.1
23 5 Dallas Cowboys Defense @ NO 1.9
24 5 Philadelphia Eagles Defense @ GB 1.55
25 5 Cleveland Browns Defense @ BAL 1.2

More Fantasy Football Analysis


Check out all of RotoBaller's fantasy football rankings. Staff rankings are updated regularly for all positions and include standard formats, PPR scoring, tiered rankings and dynasty leagues.




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

NBA

Bronny James Scores 10 Points
Harrison Ingram

Limited on Sunday
NBA

Isaiah Mobley Drops 16 Points
NBA

Ryan Rollins Staying with Bucks
T.J. Watt

Pittsburgh Still Not Close on New Contract
Terry McLaurin

Still Not Pleased with Contract Situation
Sonny Milano

on Track to Be Ready for Training Camp
Yu Darvish

to Make Season Debut on Monday
MLB

Nationals Fire Dave Martinez, Mike Rizzo
Jakub Dobes

Signs Two-Year Deal with Canadiens
KaVontae Turpin

Arrested on Two Charges
Cole Ragans

to Begin Throwing on Monday
Theo Johnson

Prioritizing his Health this Offseason
Andrés Giménez

Andres Gimenez Hits 10-Day Injured List
Jermaine Burton

Continues to Show Growth
NHL

Hendrix Lapierre Signs One-Year Deal with Capitals
Carson Hocevar

Should DFS Players Consider Carson Hocevar for Chicago Lineups?
Tye Kartye

Kraken Re-Sign Tye Kartye for Two Years
Ross Chastain

May be A Decent DFS Option for Chicago Lineups
Dmitri Voronkov

Signs Two-Year, $8.35 Million Extension with Blue Jackets
Ryan Preece

Should DFS Players Roster Ryan Preece at Chicago?
Austin Dillon

Is Too Great of A Risk to Add to Chicago Lineups
Zane Smith

Is A Value Play Worth Rostering At Chicago
Austin Hill

is A Favorable Value Option for Chicago DFS Lineups
Ty Dillon

Is Ty Dillon A Decent Driver to Add For NASCAR DFS At Chicago?
William Byron

Qualifying Crash Makes William Byron a Likely DFS Must-Have
Alex Bowman

Should Finish Well, but Probably Costs Too Much for Serious DFS Consideration
Joey Logano

Has Been Relatively Mediocre on Road Courses Lately
Ryan Blaney

Doesn't Really Fit Neatly into Optimal DFS Lineups
Austin Cindric

Remains an Overrated Road Racer
Brad Keselowski

Likely to Brush Past Chicago Street Course to Focus on Daytona
NASCAR

John H. Nemechek One of the Best Underdog Options After Strong Runs at Mexico City and Last Year
Cole Custer

Strong Mexico City Run and Xfinity Series Chicago Win Make Him a Solid DFS Option
Erik Jones

Likely Not Good Enough on Road Courses for DFS Consideration Despite Poor Qualifying Result
Noah Gragson

May Be Better Than Other Cheap DFS Options
Riley Herbst

Despite Decent Mexico City Run, Don't Expect Riley Herbst to Contend at Chicago
Cody Ware

Is a Road Course Veteran, but It's Rarely Helped Him in NASCAR
Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen Is The Heavy Favorite to Win at Chicago Street Course
Christopher Bell

Should Be Strong Despite Practice Struggles at Chicago Street Course
Cam Ward

"Not Expecting" to be handed Starting Job
Chase Claypool

Eager to Get Back on the Field
Wyatt Langford

Activated, Playing on Saturday
Jay Huff

on the Move to Indiana
Cam Whitmore

Wizards Acquire Cam Whitmore from the Rockets
LaJohntay Wester

Stands out on Special Teams
Clarke Schmidt

Likely to Undergo Tommy John Surgery
Nolan Arenado

Scratched from Saturday's Lineup
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Starting on Saturday
Corbin Carroll

Activated from 10-Day Injured List
Cincinnati Bengals

Shemar Stewart, Bengals Continue Contract Talks, No Progress Made
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Potential Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade may not Happen Until "August, September"
Ha-Seong Kim

Removed Early During Season Debut
ARI

Christian Fischer Retires From NHL at 28
NHL

Spencer Martin Moves to Russia
WAS

Anthony Beauvillier Re-Signs With Capitals for Two Years
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Sitting Out With Foot Issue
Isaiah Neyor

Impresses at Minicamp
Houston Rockets

Jock Landale Waived by Rockets
Bo Bichette

Back in Blue Jays Lineup
Jonas Valančiūnas

Jonas Valanciunas Considering Returning to Europe
Miles Sanders

Works With Starters During Mandatory Minicamp
Jabari Walker

Signs Two-Way Deal With Sixers
Chimere Dike

Titans Could Move Chimere Dike Inside
Keandre Lambert-Smith

KeAndre Lambert-Smith not Guaranteed Roster Spot
Anthony Bradford

Working Hard to Win Back Starting Job
Byron Young

Still Improving?
Cody Simon

Jonathan Gannon has Been Impressed With Cody Simon
SirVocea Dennis

has Impressive Offseason
Trevor Penning

Could Still Have a Role in New Orleans
Jonathan Kuminga

Warriors Decline Recent Offer for Jonathan Kuminga
Orlando Magic

Moritz Wagner, Magic Agree to One-Year Deal
Clarke Schmidt

Placed on Injured List
José Soriano

Jose Soriano Throws Gem Against Braves
Robbie Ray

Earns Ninth Win in Complete Game
T.J. Watt

Likely to Reset the Edge-Rush Market
George Springer

Blasts Two Homers, Drives in Four
James Wood

Goes Yard in Five-Hit Night
Bradley Beal

Suns Discussing Potential Buyout
Los Angeles Lakers

Jaxson Hayes Staying with the Lakers
NBA

Damian Lillard "Open" to Signing With a Team This Offseason
Max Muncy

Out at Least Six Weeks
Clarke Schmidt

Leaves Start with Forearm Tightness
Colson Montgomery

Promoted to the Major Leagues
Pittsburgh Steelers

Omar Khan, Steelers Agree to Three-Year Contract
Max Muncy

Goes on Injured List With Knee Bruise
SJ

Sharks Claim Nick Leddy Off Waivers
SJ

Sharks Sign Dmitry Orlov to Two-Year, $13 Million Contract
CAR

Nikolaj Ehlers Joins Hurricanes on Six-Year Contract
Chau Smith-Wade

Having Stellar Offseason
Ace Bailey

Inks Rookie Contract With Jazz
Boston Celtics

Josh Minott Inks Deal With Celtics
Sandro Mamukelashvili

Heading to Toronto
Jared McCain

Not on 76ers Summer League Roster
Dylan Harper

Unavailable for California Classic
COL

Brent Burns Inks One-Year Deal with Avalanche
STL

Blues Land Pius Suter on Two-Year Deal
Morgan Frost

Agrees to Two-Year Extension with Flames
WPG

Gustav Nyquist Moves to Winnipeg
Cody Glass

Devils Re-Sign Cody Glass to Two-Year Deal
PIT

Anthony Mantha Joins Penguins
Cleveland Cavaliers

Larry Nance Jr. Headed Back to Cavaliers
Emil Heineman

Signs Two-Year Deal with Islanders
Simon Holmstrom

Re-Signs with Islanders for Two Years
UTA

Nate Schmidt Signs Three-Year Deal with Mammoth
UTA

Brandon Tanev Moves to Utah on Three-Year Contract
Bud Cauley

in Great Form Ahead of John Deere Classic
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

a Player to Avoid at John Deere Classic
Jake Knapp

Riding Momentum Ahead of John Deere Classic
PGA

Sungjae Im Looking for Consistency at John Deere Classic
Ryan Gerard

a Solid Option at John Deere Classic
Rickie Fowler

Looking to Rebound at John Deere Classic
Cameron Champ

a Volatile Option at John Deere Classic
Jackson Suber

Staying Below 70 is Key to Success for Jackson Suber
Kevin Roy

Playing Better Heading into John Deere Classic
Justin Lower

Hoping for Something Positive in Illinois
Ben Kohles

a Long Shot at John Deere Classic
Stephan Jaeger

Attempts to Stop Roller-Coaster Ride
Beau Hossler

Needs a Challenge in Illinois
Harry Higgs

Has Potential at John Deere Classic
Nick Dunlap

Keeps Plugging Through Tough 2025 Season
Kevin Yu

a Near Must-Play at TPC Deere Run
PGA

J.T. Poston Returns to John Deere Classic Looking for Another High Finish
Thriston Lawrence

a Decent Fit For John Deere Classic
Tom Kim

Not Finding Much to be Happy About Ahead of John Deere Classic
Si Woo Kim

is a Prohibitive Fade at John Deere Classic
Ben Griffin

is the Appropriate Favorite at TPC Deere Run
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF