This article is part of our Streaming Defenses series.
Week 4 continued the trend of points aplenty around the NFL, putting us on pace for the highest-scoring season in league history. It was another rough week for team defenses, which made it all the more advantageous for anyone that used our top streaming recommendation.
The Packers came through with 23 fantasy points in a shutout of the Bills, finishing nine points ahead of the second-place Bears in a week that saw just five defenses reach double digits. Unfortunately, the rest of our streaming recommendations weren't so great, finishing t-18 (Seattle), t-18 (Pittsburgh), t-7 (Indianapolis) and t-20 (Dallas) in weekly scoring.
There are three defenses I'm confident about using in Week 5, along with two others that should suffice in a pinch.
Note: These recommendations are limited to D/ST units with under 60 percent ownership on Yahoo as of Tuesday morning. Any references to fantasy points are based on Yahoo standard scoring.
Top Streaming Options for Week 5
1. Tennessee Titans (at Buffalo Bills)
19% Yahoo ownership
The Titans wins the Josh Allen lottery this week, facing a Bills team that's allowed an average of 13.2 fantasy points and 5.3 sacks to team defenses, including the aforementioned 23-spot in Sunday's 22-0 loss to the Packers. Buffalo's shocking upset of the Vikings already feels like a distant memory, with Allen carrying a 53.4 completion percentage into Week 5 after tossing a pair of picks during the shutout. The Tennessee defense has yet to come through with a blow-up performance, but it
Week 4 continued the trend of points aplenty around the NFL, putting us on pace for the highest-scoring season in league history. It was another rough week for team defenses, which made it all the more advantageous for anyone that used our top streaming recommendation.
The Packers came through with 23 fantasy points in a shutout of the Bills, finishing nine points ahead of the second-place Bears in a week that saw just five defenses reach double digits. Unfortunately, the rest of our streaming recommendations weren't so great, finishing t-18 (Seattle), t-18 (Pittsburgh), t-7 (Indianapolis) and t-20 (Dallas) in weekly scoring.
There are three defenses I'm confident about using in Week 5, along with two others that should suffice in a pinch.
Note: These recommendations are limited to D/ST units with under 60 percent ownership on Yahoo as of Tuesday morning. Any references to fantasy points are based on Yahoo standard scoring.
Top Streaming Options for Week 5
1. Tennessee Titans (at Buffalo Bills)
19% Yahoo ownership
The Titans wins the Josh Allen lottery this week, facing a Bills team that's allowed an average of 13.2 fantasy points and 5.3 sacks to team defenses, including the aforementioned 23-spot in Sunday's 22-0 loss to the Packers. Buffalo's shocking upset of the Vikings already feels like a distant memory, with Allen carrying a 53.4 completion percentage into Week 5 after tossing a pair of picks during the shutout. The Tennessee defense has yet to come through with a blow-up performance, but it has managed at least six fantasy points in every contest to rank fifth in the NFL at nine points per game. Buffalo once again has the lowest implied total in the league at 17.75, with the Titans installed as 3.5-point favorites in a game with the lowest over/under (39) of the week.
2. Carolina Panthers (vs. New York Giants)
42% Yahoo ownership
The Panthers actually have a decent argument to sit atop this list, hosting a Giants team that can't protect its quarterback and likely will be playing without tight end Evan Engram (knee) for at least one more week. Eli Manning has taken the fourth most sacks (15) in the NFL, recently making the Dallas and New Orleans defenses look much better than they actually are. The Panthers produced 12 and 10 fantasy points in their first two home games of the season, and they appear to be in good health after resting up during a Week 3 bye. The Giants' implied total of 18.5 is third worst in the league this week, with the game line (Carolina -7) suggesting there should be plenty of opportunities for the Panthers to pile up sacks and pressure Manning into turnovers.
3. Cincinnati Bengals (vs. Miami Dolphins)
10% Yahoo ownership
The Bengals have given up at least 23 points in every game this season, playing three of four games on the road while facing a difficult slate of opponents (IND, BAL, CAR, ATL). This should be the week when we finally see a turnaround, with linebacker Vontaze Burfict coming back from suspension and the Dolphins coming off a humiliating performance Week 4 in New England. Ryan Tannehill put a beatdown on the Raiders in a home game the previous week, but the Dolphins have otherwise allowed at least nine fantasy points to every defense they've faced. Miami carries a respectable implied total of 22 points, but there's still some chance for a blowout with the Bengals favored by six. Don't underestimate the impact of Burfict's return — he's an elite linebacker on the rare occasions when he isn't injured or suspended.
4. San Francisco 49ers (vs. Arizona Cardinals)
3% Yahoo ownership
This is where we run out of respectable defenses in good matchups, instead turning our attention to a game that should be flat-out ugly. Josh Rosen looked good Week 4 against Seattle, but we're still talking about a rookie quarterback making his first road start for a team with a bad offensive line and a shallow group of receiving weapons. The Cardinals are averaging just 9.3 points per game and 4.2 yards per play, giving the Bills a run for their money for the title of worst offense in the NFL. Arizona's implied total of 18.25 points is the second lowest of Week 5, with Vegas apparently buying into the notion that the Cardinals offense is even worse than the 49ers defense.
5. Arizona Cardinals (at San Francisco 49ers)
14% Yahoo ownership
Looking to the other side of this dud matchup, the Cardinals get to face a quarterback with a career 6:8 TD:INT ratio playing behind an injury-riddled offensive line. The 49ers put up a nice fight in Sunday's 29-27 loss to the Chargers, but they added to their health woes along the way and may now have four starting linemen listed on the Week 5 injury report. Running back Matt Breida (shoulder) and wideout Marquise Goodwin (thigh) are also banged up, and No. 4 receiver Dante Pettis (knee) has already been ruled out. The Niners have a decent implied total of 22.75 points, but they'll probably give up some sacks and turnovers even if they successfully move the ball.
Week 5 D/ST Rankings
1. Tennessee Titans (at BUF)
2. Carolina Panthers (vs. NYG)
3. Los Angeles Rams (at SEA)
4. Denver Broncos (at NYJ)
5. Cincinnati Bengals (vs. MIA)
6. Baltimore Ravens (at CLE)
7. New England Patriots (vs. IND)
8. Philadelphia Eagles (vs. MIN)
9. Houston Texans (vs. DAL)
10. Los Angeles Chargers (vs. OAK)
11. San Francisco 49ers (vs. ARZ)
12. Arizona Cardinals (at SF)
13. Cleveland Browns (vs. BAL)
14. New Orleans Saints (vs. WAS)
15. Jacksonville Jaguars (at KC)
16. New York Giants (at CAR)
17. Buffalo Bills (vs. TEN)
18. Green Bay Packers (at DET)
19. Detroit Lions (vs. GB)
20. Kansas City Chiefs (vs. JAC)
Looking Ahead to Week 6
1. Houston Texans (vs. BUF)
2. Los Angeles Rams (at DEN)
3. Philadelphia Eagles (at NYG)
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (at DAL)
5. Minnesota Vikings (vs. ARZ)
6. Chicago Bears (at MIA)
7. Green Bay Packers (vs. SF)
8. Washington Redskins (vs. CAR)
9. Baltimore Ravens (at TEN)
10. Los Angeles Chargers (at CLE)
11. Tennessee Titans (vs. BAL)
12. Indianapolis Colts (at NYJ)
13. Carolina Panthers (at WAS)
14. Seattle Seahawks (at OAK)
15. Atlanta Falcons (vs. TB)
16. Miami Dolphins (vs. CHI)
17. Oakland Raiders (vs. SEA)
18. Cleveland Browns (vs. LAC)
19. New York Jets (vs. IND)
20. Cincinnati Bengals (vs. PIT)
Rest-of-Season Rankings
1. Jacksonville Jaguars
2. Los Angeles Rams
3. Baltimore Ravens
4. Philadelphia Eagles
5. Chicago Bears
6. Carolina Panthers
7. Denver Broncos
8. Washington Redskins
9. Minnesota Vikings
10. Tennessee Titans
11. New England Patriots
12. Houston Texans
13. Seattle Seahawks
14. Los Angeles Chargers
15. Cincinnati Bengals
16. Dallas Cowboys
17. Green Bay Packers
18. New Orleans Saints
19. Cleveland Browns
20. Indianapolis Colts
