One of the most difficult positions to draft in fantasy football is your defense, or a team’s defense & special teams. The chances of finding a defense you can set and forget in your lineup are minimal, so many fantasy managers resort to “streaming” defenses. Streaming refers to consistently adding and dropping players at a given position to attempt to field weekly high-upside starters. Successful streaming relies on the manager’s ability to identify short-term potential, as most streaming targets are utilized briefly before being replaced in favor of better matchups.
This article will examine defenses best positioned to bring your team success early in the season. FantasyPros consensus ADP lists the top five defenses as the San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys, New York Jets, and Cleveland Browns. I will exclude these defenses because the managers who draft them are likely not looking to stream the position. Let’s dive in!
Multi-Week Starters
Cincinnati Bengals: New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Commanders, Carolina Panthers
The Bengals are primed for a hot start to 2024 with three of their first four matchups coming against opponents with Vegas implied win totals under 6.5. In week one, New England will be looking to start journeyman Jacoby Brissett or rookie Drake Maye at quarterback. Coming off a historically bad 2023, the Patriots offense appears poised to repeat the same performance in 2024. This will provide a safe and easy first matchup for the Bengals defense. After the Patriots, the Bengals clash with Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. This will be the biggest challenge facing the Bengals in these first four weeks. With that said, dropping the Bengals before week two in favor of better matchups may not be advantageous due to their following two opponents. Weeks 3 & 4 bring matchups against rookie signal-caller Jayden Daniels and second-year player Bryce Young. Both young quarterbacks are leading offenses that project to be among the worst in the league, again providing terrific matchups for the Bengals’ defense.
Los Angeles Chargers: Las Vegas Raiders, Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs
A lot has changed for the Chargers in the 2024 off-season. New HC Jim Harbaugh has a history of fielding elite NFL defenses, evidenced by his previous stint as San Fransisco HC where his defenses ranked 2nd in the NFL in points per game allowed. This philosophy became evident when Los Angeles allowed their star wide receivers to walk in free agency while resigning pass rushers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack. The commitment to defense, plus new OC Greg Roman’s run-heavy scheme should help the Chargers defense become a more viable fantasy asset. Looking into the season, the first three opponents the Chargers face provide the defense ample opportunity to score fantasy points. Las Vegas has finally named a starting QB for week one, Gardner Minshew, but the offense lacks playmakers outside of WR Davante Adams to scare their opponents. The Panthers are on a trajectory to be battling for another top pick in the 2025 NFL draft and Pittsburgh’s new QB Russell Wilson has to prove to fans that he still has some juice left in the tank. By drafting the Chargers you could find yourself a top defense for the first three weeks of the season.
Seattle Seahawks: Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions
The first two weeks of the 2024 NFL season present a terrific opportunity for fantasy managers to stream the Seattle Seahawks defense. Starting with the Broncos and probable starter at quarterback, rookie Bo Nix. The Broncos are looking to improve from a disappointing 2023 season that saw them finish bottom five in the NFL in yards per game, but a rookie quarterback and minimal weapons are a recipe for disaster. Speaking of disasters, the Seahawks get the privilege to play the Patriots and their 2023 32nd-ranked scoring offense. Back-to-back advantageous matchups for a defense you can draft 17th at the position can be a great way to begin streaming defenses.
Possible Long Term Upside
Pittsburgh Steelers: Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers, Indianapolis Colts
The Steelers have one of the strongest defenses in the league based on talent, led by former all-pro Minkah Fitzpatrick and 2021 Defensive Player of the Year TJ Watt. Head Coach Mike Tomlin has produced a top-ten finish in points per game allowed in the last two seasons, allowing less than 20 points per game in 2023. Starting the year against the new-look Atlanta Falcons looks to be the biggest test of this defense in the first four weeks, with multiple other matchups coming against teams projected to have sub-par offenses. If the Steelers defense can finish as a top-12 defense in week one, look for them to continue being startable as the season progresses and potentially a weekly starter.
Chicago Bears: Tennessee Titans, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Rams
The team poised to make the biggest year-over-year jump from 2023 is likely the Chicago Bears. After leading the NFL in rushing yards allowed with a feeble 86.4 yards per game gained by opponents, the Bears had an influx of talent on the offensive side of the ball. Top 10 draft picks Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze, together with standout WR Keenan Allen who came over from the Chargers, give the Bears the talent needed to sustain drives and support the defense. If the pre-season is an indicator of future results, the Bears’ defense is ready to dominate with PFF having them tied for the highest highest-ranked defense through three games. Starting the season against the Titans’ bottom-six-ranked scoring offense will help you start your fantasy season with a win.
Kansas City Chiefs: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Falcons, Los Angeles Chargers
Whenever your defense plays an entire season allowing only 17 points per game, you know you have an elite unit on that side of the ball. That is the situation the Chiefs found themselves in 2023. While they did lose standout CB L’Jarius Sneed, they managed to resign Super Bowl LVIII star Chris Jones. In a season where the Chief’s offense uncharacteristically lacked, the defense held the team together by refusing to allow opposing teams to score. While the opening schedule for the defense isn’t as promising as some other teams, the Chiefs’ defense still has a very real opportunity to perform well for your fantasy teams.
Week One Standouts
New Orleans Sants: Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys, Philidelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons
When ranking defenses for week one, most analysts will have the Saints ranked inside of their top 8 at the position. The Panthers had one of the worst offenses in the NFL in 2023, averaging a mere 13.9 points per game. There is also no shortage of playmakers on the Saints’ defense, with veterans Tyrann Mathieu and Demario Davis still producing at a high level. A talented defense against a league-worst offense is exactly what you want to target when streaming the position.
Minnesota Vikings: New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, Houston Texans, Green Bay Packers
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones has been one of the most turnover-heavy players in the NFL since entering the league in 2019. With 64 turnovers in only 60 games, opposing teams are having great success getting stops and creating turnovers. Anytime you play against a team that is turning the ball over at such a high rate, your defense’s chances for fantasy success are greatly improved.
Tampa Bay Bucs: Washington Commanders, Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos, Philidelphia Eagles
If you’re looking for a week one defense streamer the Buccaneers may be able to fill in quite well. Going up against the Commanders, the team many consider to have the worst offensive line in the league should produce multiple opportunities for sacks and turnovers. If the defense can apply pressure on rookie Jayden Daniels, they can make him uncomfortable and end up with a quality fantasy finish.
Atlanta Falcons: Pittsburgh Steelers, Philidelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saints
Falcons fans have a great deal to be optimistic about in the upcoming season. From a massive QB upgrade to changes in major coaching roles, the retooled offense should be worlds above where they were in 2023. Over the last few days, Atlanta has also made two splash announcements on the defensive side, adding both OLB Matthew Judon and FS Justin Simmons. In week one the stagnant offense employed by Pittsburgh OC Arthur Smith should be all too familiar to Atlanta, as Smith served as Atlanta’s Head Coach from 2021 through 2024. The additional talent and familiarity with their opponent make Atlanta a great week-one streaming option.
If You’re Desperate
New York Giants: Minnesota Vikings, Washington Commanders, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys
The 2024 season does not project to be a positive for the New York Giants. Between subpar QB play and an overall lack of talent, the team is not set up for success. The Giants did make a splash move on the defensive side during the offseason, trading for Panthers’ star pass rusher Brian Burns. Burns looks to pair with Dexter Lawrence to create problems for opposing offensive lines. Hopefully, this improved pass rush can help the Giants’ defense perform well for fantasy managers against weak competition in the first two weeks.
Washington Commanders: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Giants, Cincinnati Bengals, Arizona Cardinals
Looking at the first few weeks of the season for a streaming defense, you may find yourself considering Washington. Led by new HC Dan Quinn, Washington is looking to improve over 2023 when the team allowed the most passing yards per game in the NFL. Multiple additions on the defensive side should help, with veteran Bobby Wagner and safety Jeremy Chinn expected to fill holes on the defense immediately. The Commander’s first two opponents Vegas implied win totals are under 7.5, showing the defense could start hot and provide your fantasy team with a useful starter to begin the season.
Photos courtesy of Icon Sportswire
Adapted by Kurt Wasemiller (@kurtwasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram)