This article is part of our Streaming Defenses series.
Week 6 was shaping up as an across-the-board triumph for this column until our No. 1 recommendation, the Packers, appeared to foul things up on Monday Night Football. Fortunately, the Green Bay defense salvaged its night with a sack and an interception late in the fourth quarter, thus finishing tied for 12th in weekly D/ST scoring.
Each of our other four selection scored at least eight fantasy points, led by the Seahawks (17) and Jets (13) while the Cowboys (11) and Panthers (eight) weren't too far behind. Our Week 7 picks start in the usual place (whoever faces Buffalo) before moving on to a Denver-Arizona game with potential to get ugly on both sides.
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 7
1. Indianapolis Colts (vs. Buffalo Bills)
8% Yahoo ownership
The Colts haven't sustained their unexpected early success on defense, but they should bounce back for at least one week in the matchup that reigns supreme above all others. Buffalo has surrendered a league-high average of 13.3 fantasy points to opposing defenses, including 15.8 per game in four road contests. With Josh Allen (elbow) already ruled out and Nathan Peterman suffering another meltdown this past Sunday, the Bills likely will turn to 35-year-old Derek Anderson, who just signed with the team last Tuesday. Buffalo once again sports the lowest implied
Week 6 was shaping up as an across-the-board triumph for this column until our No. 1 recommendation, the Packers, appeared to foul things up on Monday Night Football. Fortunately, the Green Bay defense salvaged its night with a sack and an interception late in the fourth quarter, thus finishing tied for 12th in weekly D/ST scoring.
Each of our other four selection scored at least eight fantasy points, led by the Seahawks (17) and Jets (13) while the Cowboys (11) and Panthers (eight) weren't too far behind. Our Week 7 picks start in the usual place (whoever faces Buffalo) before moving on to a Denver-Arizona game with potential to get ugly on both sides.
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 7
1. Indianapolis Colts (vs. Buffalo Bills)
8% Yahoo ownership
The Colts haven't sustained their unexpected early success on defense, but they should bounce back for at least one week in the matchup that reigns supreme above all others. Buffalo has surrendered a league-high average of 13.3 fantasy points to opposing defenses, including 15.8 per game in four road contests. With Josh Allen (elbow) already ruled out and Nathan Peterman suffering another meltdown this past Sunday, the Bills likely will turn to 35-year-old Derek Anderson, who just signed with the team last Tuesday. Buffalo once again sports the lowest implied total (17.5) of the week, with the Colts listed as nine-point favorites.
2. Denver Broncos (at Arizona Cardinals)
46% Yahoo ownership
A huge disappointment to this point in the season, the Denver defense finally showed some signs of life in Sunday's 23-20 loss to the Rams, notching five sacks against a high-powered offense that allowed just six through the first five weeks. The rest of this unit doesn't exactly inspire confidence, but the Broncos at least are getting high-caliber play out of top cornerback Chris Harris as well as the pass-rushing duo of Von Miller and Bradley Chubb (10 combined sacks). That should be enough firepower to deal with a toothless Arizona offense that's given up double-digit fantasy points to the opposing defense in four of six games this season. The Cardinals have an implied total of just 19.25 in a game with the lowest over/under (41) of the week.
3. Arizona Cardinals (vs. Denver Broncos)
14% Yahoo ownership
The other side of this contest also offers plenty of streaming appeal, as the Cardinals defense scored 35 fantasy points the past two weeks and now gets to face a struggling Denver offense. The Broncos have actually allowed the 13th fewest fantasy points to team defenses, but that's only because they haven't lost a fumble or given up any touchdowns. Case Keenum is tied for the NFL lead with eight interceptions and has also been sacked 15 times. Long story short, it's only a matter of time until Denver's sloppy play leads to some lost fumbles and at least one or two defensive touchdowns. It won't necessarily happen this week, but we should still see a nice floor with the Broncos playing on the road against a defense trending in the right direction.
4. Washington Redskins (vs. Dallas Cowboys)
6% Yahoo ownership
Washington bounced back strong from a Monday night meltdown in the Bayou, coming up with three takeaways in Sunday's 23-17 win over Carolina — a fourth solid performance through five games this season. Next up is another home contest, this time against a shaky Dallas team that's shown zero ability to play from behind. The Cowboys allowed the opposing defense to score at least seven fantasy points in each of their previous three home games, losing by a combined score of 59-37 in those contests. With an implied total of just 20.25, the Cowboys likely are headed for another rough week on offense.
5. Miami Dolphins (vs. Detroit Lions)
12% Yahoo ownership
Miami might be the worst 4-2 team in recent memory if not for the fact that last year's Dolphins looked just as problematic while posting the same record through six weeks. That may not sound like a ringing endorsement, but we do need to at least give credit where it's due — the Miami defense has actually been pretty good. The Dolphins lead the NFL with 11 interceptions, including multiple picks from three of four starters in the secondary. Top linebacker Kiko Alonso probably isn't a realistic candidate for Defensive Player of the Year honors, but he does have the type of stat line that typically warrants such recognition, sitting on 61 tackles, two INTs, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery through six weeks. The Lions shouldn't have all that much trouble moving the ball, but don't be surprised if Matthew Stafford throws a couple picks and take a couple sacks along the way.
Week 7 D/ST Rankings
1. Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. HOU)
2. Los Angeles Rams (at SF)
3. Los Angeles Chargers (vs. TEN)
4. Minnesota Vikings (at NYJ)
5. Indianapolis Colts (vs. BUF)
6. Houston Texans (at JAC)
7. Philadelphia Eagles (vs. CAR)
8. Denver Broncos (at ARI)
9. Arizona Cardinals (vs. DEN)
10. Washington Redskins (vs. DAL)
11. Baltimore Ravens (vs. NO)
12. Miami Dolphins (vs. DET)
13. Buffalo Bills (at IND)
14. New England Patriots (at CHI)
15. Chicago Bears (vs. NE)
16. Carolina Panthers (at PHI)
17. Detroit Lions (at MIA)
18. New York Jets (vs. MIN)
19. Cleveland Browns (at TB)
20. New Orleans Saints (at BAL)
Looking Ahead to Week 8
1. Chicago Bears (vs. NYJ)
2. Houston Texans (vs. MIA)
3. New England Patriots (at BUF)
4. Arizona Cardinals (vs. SF)
5. Philadelphia Eagles (at JAC)
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. CLE)
7. Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. PHI)
8. Cincinnati Bengals (vs. TB)
9. Baltimore Ravens (at CAR)
10. Washington Redskins (at NYG)
11. Carolina Panthers (vs. BAL)
12. Kansas City Chiefs (vs. DEN)
13. Seattle Seahawks (at DET)
14. Detroit Lions (vs. SEA)
15. Miami Dolphins (at HOU)
16. Los Angeles Rams (vs. GB)
17. San Francisco 49ers (at ARI)
18. Cleveland Browns (at PIT)
19. New York Giants (vs. WAS)
20. Minnesota Vikings (vs. NO)
Rest-of-Season Rankings
1. Baltimore Ravens
2. Los Angeles Rams
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
4. Chicago Bears
5. Philadelphia Eagles
6. Houston Texans
7. Minnesota Vikings
8. Tennessee Titans
9. New England Patriots
10. Seattle Seahawks
11. Washington Redskins
12. Los Angeles Chargers
13. New Orleans Saints
14. Denver Broncos
15. Carolina Panthers
16. Dallas Cowboys
17. Cleveland Browns
18. Green Bay Packers
19. Cincinnati Bengals
20. New York Jets
