Streaming Defenses: Week 8 Options

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Published on October 22, 2019

There's no beating around the bush — Week 7 wasn't our finest work for streaming recommendations. The top pick and fifth pick scored 10 fantasy points apiece, but it required a pair of blocked punts to get there, with the Saints converting one into a safety while the Giants recovered another for a touchdown. Elsewhere, the Packers and Titans came away with four fantasy points each, while the Lions (minus-four) were a brutal disaster.

Week 8 brings us a pair of first-rate streamers that are available in most leagues, but the quality of choices drops off a cliff thereafter, as the majority of favorable Week 8 matchups belong to defenses that already are owned in competitive leagues. There is one defense, Tennessee, that narrowly missed out on the ownership requirements for this space. The Titans get our No. 10 ranking this week, ahead of three of the defenses discussed below.

For injury/ranking updates throughout the week, follow me on Twitter (@RotowireNFL_JD).

Note: These recommendations are limited to team defenses with ownership less than 60 percent on Yahoo or 30 percent on ESPN as of Tuesday morning. Any references to fantasy points are based on Yahoo standard scoring, which doesn't include yards allowed.

Top Streaming Options for Week 8

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Miami Dolphins)

46% Yahoo ownership, 34% ESPN

Team implied total: 28.5

Opponent implied total: 14.0

Upcoming Ranks — Week 9: 12th (vs. IND), Week 10: 10th (vs. LAR)

The Miami offense was a pleasant surprise Week

For injury/ranking updates throughout the week, follow me on Twitter (@RotowireNFL_JD).

Top Streaming Options for Week 8

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Miami Dolphins)

46% Yahoo ownership, 34% ESPN

Team implied total: 28.5

Opponent implied total: 14.0

Upcoming Ranks — Week 9: 12th (vs. IND), Week 10: 10th (vs. LAR)

The Miami offense was a pleasant surprise Week 7 in Buffalo...and the Bills defense still ended up with 11 fantasy points. Ryan Fitzpatrick does provide some ability to pick up yardage, but he's also a multi-INT candidate every time he takes the field. Meanwhile, the Steelers defense had double-digit fantasy points in four consecutive games before a Week 7 bye, including 11 against Lamar Jackson and 14 against Philip Rivers. It's a shame for the Steelers that their defense is finally playing so well in a year when Ben Roethlisberger is on injured reserve.

2. Indianapolis Colts (vs. Denver Broncos)

12% Yahoo ownership, 17% ESPN

Team implied total: 24.75

Opponent implied total: 19.25

Upcoming Ranks — Week 9: 8th (at PIT), Week 10: 1st (vs. MIA)

Coming off strong showings against Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson in their past two games, the Colts are lined up for friendly matchups each of the next four weeks, facing Joe Flacco, Mason Rudolph, Ryan Fitzpatrick (or Josh Rosen) and Gardner Minshew, with three of the four games at home. The matchup with Flacco isn't quite as tasty as Pittsburgh's date with Miami, but the Colts will get their own taste of dolphin soup in a couple weeks. With Darius Leonard back healthy and Malik Hooker (knee) not too far behind, the Indianapolis defense is an excellent choice for anyone in need of a multi-week starter.

3. Green Bay Packers (at Kansas City Chiefs)

60% Yahoo ownership, 55% ESPN

Team implied total: 26.25

Opponent implied total: 21.75

Upcoming Ranks — Week 9: 11th (at LAC), Week 10: 5th (vs. CAR)

Assuming Patrick Mahomes (kneecap) isn't able to play, the Packers will face the backup plan to a backup plan (35-year-old Matt Moore was signed in August after Chad Henne fractured his ankle). The Chiefs still get explosiveness from Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill, but it isn't a good combination when you have a third-string quarterback and a struggling rushing attack — 3.8 YPC (21st), 576 rushing yards (25th). It all adds up to a nice bounce-back spot for a Packers defense that's played below its talent level since the third week of the season.

4. Detroit Lions (vs. New York Giants)

9% Yahoo ownership, 5% ESPN

Team implied total: 28.25

Opponent implied total: 21.25

Upcoming Ranks — Week 9: 22nd (at OAK), Week 10: 13th (at CHI)

This one feels icky on the heels of a Week 7 face-plant against the Vikings, but desperate times call for desperate measures, and that's what we sometimes deal with when the best defenses also have the best matchups. A struggling defense against a struggling quarterback often leads to the right kind of ugly, and it's not like the Lions are lacking in talent, even with injuries taking a toll. They're seven-point home favorites this week, facing a Giants offense that's yielded the fourth-most fantasy points (11.7 per game) to team defenses. Among 32 qualified passers, Daniel Jones is 27th in interception rate (4.0) and 29th in sack rate (9.3).

5. Seattle Seahawks (at Atlanta Falcons)

47% Yahoo ownership, 46% ESPN

Team implied total: No line posted

Opponent implied total: No line posted

Upcoming Ranks — Week 9: 7th (vs. TB), Week 10: 15th (at SF)

In and of itself, the Seahawks defense hasn't done much to inspire confidence, ranking 13th in fantasy points while facing a favorable QB schedule. This is mostly just a bet against the imploding Falcons, who will either start Matt Schaub or a banged-up Matt Ryan (ankle). Atlanta has given up the ninth-most fantasy points (9.6) to team defenses, with a league-high 291 pass attempts providing ample opportunity for sacks (19, 10th-most) and interceptions (eight, t-5th most).