You’re only here looking at Week 16 defense/special teams streamers if you’ve made your league’s semi-finals. So, congratulations, but the job’s not finished! Some of the most reliable defensive units have extremely tough matchups in Week 16. For instance, the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers play each other in Week 16. I’m not completely discouraging having them in your semi-final lineups, but they’re not as strong starts as they usually are. So, it may be best to consider plugging in a defense/special teams streamer for Week 16.
Typically, it’s an effective strategy to play a defense when they have an opportunity to go up against a backup quarterback. Seeing that nearly half the league is deploying a quarterback other than their Week 1 starter in Week 16, we cannot approach these semi-finals so narrow-minded. With a trip to your league’s championship at stake, I’ll give you my favorite Week 16 defense/special teams streamers that I feel have a good chance to help you advance. See you in the finals.
Week 16 Defense/Special Teams Streamers
Denver Broncos
The strongest Week 16 defense/special teams streamer is whoever is playing the New England Patriots. That’s the Denver Broncos and they’re in Denver making this play that much stronger. Bailey Zappe has thrown an interception in three of his last four starts. He’s also been sacked 11 total times over the Patriots’ last three games. The fact of the matter is that the Patriots’ offense doesn’t have any sort of firepower on the ground or through the air. They’ve scored a league-low 13.3 points per game this season with just 12.7 per game in their last three. The Denver Broncos are the best Week 16 defense/special teams streamer as I expect them to force at least one turnover, record a few sacks, and keep New England’s scoring to a minimum.
Green Bay Packers
Defense/Special teams units that oppose the Carolina Panthers this season average 11.21 points per game. More specifically, defense/special teams units have six games of exactly 7.0 points and six other games of double-digit points, two over 20.0, against the Panthers. The Green Bay Packers are next up for Bryce Young and company in Carolina. Teams are sacking Bryce Young an average of 3.92 times per game. It doesn’t matter that the Packers are on the road. They’re a very safe Week 16 defense/special teams streamer that has weekly winning upside.
Buffalo Bills
It’s probable that the Buffalo Bills defense/special teams is one of the more popular Week 16 waiver wire pickups ahead of semi-finals weekend. After seeing what the Las Vegas Raiders did to Easton Stick last Thursday, the Buffalo Bills are an obvious Week 16 defense/special teams streamer, especially after limiting Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys offense to just 10 points on Sunday. The Bills remain red hot in pursuit of a playoff spot. Even if Keenan Allen takes the field, Easton Stick now only has 57 total career pass attempts to his name. Buffalo’s offense should jump out to a lead leaving Stick to try and catch up through the air lending to multiple opportunities for a turnover.
Philadelphia Eagles
I’m betting the Philadelphia Eagles defense/special teams is left for dead in your league’s free agency pool. After three straight losses, against the 49ers, Cowboys, and Seahawks offenses, the Eagles’ defense/special teams are averaging just 3.66 points per game over that stretch. They’ll return home for Christmas against the New York Giants. Yes, Tommy DeVito is a fun story, but he may not have a ton of fun behind the Giants’ offensive line against the Eagles’ ticked-off defensive front. DeVito has been sacked 5.5 times per game in six starts. That includes seven times last weekend against the New Orleans Saints. I’m calling a big bounce-back for the Birds complete with a defensive touchdown to get their fans back on board.
New York Jets
The Jets are allowing just 16.3 points per game to their opponents over their last three games despite the Miami Dolphins dropping 30 on them last Sunday. They’ll host the league’s pass-heaviest offense, the Washington Commanders, in Week 16. Sam Howell is sure to throw a pick or two against the Jets’ secondary. While watching them try to score on offense can be painful, New York’s defense is the heart and soul of their team.
Chicago Bears
It’s time to recognize that the Bears defense/special teams quietly has just one less interception than the league-leading San Francisco 49ers. In fact, the Bears returned one for a touchdown in Week 15 with another pick-six ending up just a yard or so short earlier in their loss to the Cleveland Browns. The Bears are also tied with the Miami Dolphins for second-least points allowed (14.3) over their last three games. Chicago finds themselves in special company making their case as a strong Week 16 defense/special teams option if you miss out on any of the above.
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