After a successful Week 1, we’re back at it with more D/ST streamers here. One thing that was annoying about last week was the fact that our defenses played well but didn’t get much in terms of sacks and turnovers. That’s more difficult to predict than a defense’s performance and those defensive statistics will start coming around. With that in mind, let’s get to our top D/ST streamers for Week 2. If you’d like to see more of my work or have any questions, reach me on Twitter @Bartilottajoel
Week 2 D/ST Streamers
Houston Texans (vs JAX)
It’s weird just how widely available the Texans D/ST is across my leagues. This is easily my favorite streamer of the week and I truly believe that they’ll go off in this matchup. While they did get rid of Jadeveon Clowney last week, this is still one of the best defensive units in the NFL. That was evident last season when they allowed the fifth-fewest points in the NFL. More importantly, they allowed just 82.7 rushing yards per game, the third-best mark in the league. This is a defense that has a bunch of ball hawks too, with the Texans combining for 35 interceptions and forced fumbles last season, the second-best mark in football. That aforementioned rushing average for the Texans defense is very distressing for a run-heavy offense like this, especially one who just lost their starting quarterback. Leonard Fournette is really the only worrisome threat for this D and that 83-yard per game average limits what he and this offense can do. In their two games against the Jaguars last season, Houston allowed just 10 combined points, holding Jacksonville to just 378 yards in total. In addition, Houston recorded seven sacks and four turnovers in those two games as well. Vegas completely agrees with our assessment, making the Texans a 9.5-point favorite in this fixture, with the Jags projected for just 17 points.
Dallas Cowboys (at WSH)
Dallas is the most widely owned D/ST of this bunch but they’re still available in too many leagues. While they did allow a ton of yards in Week 1, that’s a fluky statistic with the Giants playing catchup in that game. While Washington may be doing a similar thing here, this is simply one of the worst offenses in football. That was evident when they ranked 28th in total yardage and 29th in points scored last season. Some would argue that this core is even worse, throwing out players like Case Keenum, Adrian Peterson and Terry McLaurin to run the show. That’s truly scary against a potent defense like this, with Dallas ranking seventh in points allowed and yardage surrendered last season. That was crystal clear in their most recent meeting, with the Cowboys picking up three sacks and three turnovers in the Week 12 victory 10 months ago. The implied team total of 21 for the Redskins only adds to Dallas’ intrigue, as they’ll also be facing an offensive line without Trent Williams.
Tennessee Titans (vs. IND)
Tennessee looked like one of the best D/ST’s in Week 1 and people need to start taking notice of this talented core. This group has been really good under Mike Vrabel for two seasons now and many people really don’t understand how stingy they can be. Last season, this group allowed the third-fewest points in the NFL while surrendering the fourth-fewest passing yards. Those are incredible averages and that form appears to have carried over in their Week 1 performance. In fact, they held a stout Cleveland Browns offense to just 13 points in their home opener, forcing five sacks and three turnovers. One thing that’s underrated about using Tennessee is the fact that their offense typically ranks Top-5 in rushing attempts. That completely slows the game down for both teams and tends to lead to low-scoring games. That’s why Vegas has the Titans as a 3-point favorite in this fixture, with a meager total of 44.5. That means Indy is only projected for 20.5 points, which is no surprise considering they’re still trying to adjust to life without Andrew Luck.
Carolina Panthers (vs. TB)
Streaming a D/ST on Thursday is always a good idea, simply because the offenses aren’t as prepared. While this unit has been a league-average defense the past two years, we have to love anyone who faces the Buccaneers. The reason for that is because they have a terrible running game and a quarterback who’s a turnover machine. We’re talking about a QB who had 14 INTs in 11 games last season, which is scary considering Winston averages more than a pick per game for his career. That doesn’t even take into consideration that he has 23 career fumbles, and he has one of the worst offensive lines in football. That’s also evident by the fact that Tampa allowed 109 QB hits last season, the fifth-worst mark in the NFL. When a QB like this is scared of getting hit, he’s way more likely to turn over the ball which was clear by his three picks and two fumbles in Week 1.
Higher-Owned D/ST Streamers
Denver Broncos (vs. CHI)
With Denver playing their home opener, they should be at full force against a Bears offense who allowed five sacks and scored just three points in Week 1.
New England Patriots (at MIA)
The Patriots enter this matchup as an 18-point favorite and should have their way against a Dolphins offense with seemingly no hope.
Deep-League D/ST Streamers
San Francisco 49ers (at CIN)
San Fran recorded three sacks and three turnovers in Week 1 and face a Bengals offense who is 1-8 without A.J. Green dating back to last season, averaging fewer than 20 points per game in that span.
Buffalo Bills (at NYG)
The Bills actually surrendered the second-fewest yards in the NFL last season and forced the eighth-most turnovers. That’s scary for a Giants offense who allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing D/STs last year.
If you liked Joel’s Week 2 D/ST Streamers, then you’ll also want to check out his Week 2 Waiver Wire Recommendations.
Joel Bartilotta is a fantasy addict who gets paid to write about his addiction. He writes for FantasyPros, RotoWire, Razzball and now Fantrax. Joel is a basketball lifer but he also covers MLB and NFL.
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