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. Yahoo Fantasy has three defenses above 95% ownership: the San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, and New York Jets. I will exclude these defenses because the managers who own them are likely not looking to stream the position. Let’s dive in!
Multi-week Starters
Las Vegas Raiders: Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers
To call the Raiders’ defense a disappointment to begin the 2024 season would be an accurate statement. Many NFL fans and fantasy managers alike were encouraged by the late-season push to end 2023 and the addition of DT Christian Wilkins. However, through 2 weeks, the Raiders DST has only amassed 5 total fantasy points, good for 5th worst in the NFL. The upcoming schedule offers a sign of relief, playing multiple weeks against the worst offenses in the NFL so far through 2024. Week 3 brings an interesting matchup with the Panthers, who are benching QB Bryce Young for veteran Andy Dalton. In his first game since 2022, look for the Raiders’ strong pass rush led by DE Maxx Crosby to create havoc in the backfield and make Dalton uncomfortable. With Denver and Cleveland falling to the bottom 10 in fantasy points allowed to DST, multiple good opportunities are on the horizon for Las Vegas.
Cincinnati Bengals: Washington Commanders, Carolina Panthers, Baltimore Ravens, NY Giants
After a surprising loss to New England in Week 1, Cincinnati bounced back well in its loss to Kansas City last week. The offense looked better, and the defense forced two turnovers and held Patrick Mahomes to his second-lowest passing yardage total in his career. More importantly, against arguably the toughest matchup in the NFL, the Bengals DST performed well for our fantasy teams, totaling 9 points. Looking forward, matchups against the Panthers and Giants both represent top-10 upside for opposing defenses. While rookie QB Jayden Daniels has been running the ball like a natural, the pass volume in Washington is shockingly low, Cincinnati should have an opportunity to force turnovers and create sacks.
Indianapolis Colts: Chicago Bears, Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans
The Colts’ defense will be in for some loooong games if the start of the season indicates future performances. Currently, Indianapolis sits dead last in the NFL with under 20 minutes per game in time of possession. Any defense playing 40+ minutes on the field is going to have a tough time performing well throughout a season. However, the Colts have a great schedule of matchups coming to help that defense out, starting with Chicago and rookie QB Caleb Williams, who currently has the 2nd-worst passer rating of any QB in 2024. Games against the Steelers and Jaguars present themselves more as defensive matchups than high-scoring shootouts, so these games will provide managers with a nice, safe floor. Closing their four-week stretch with Tennessee and a team currently allowing opposing DST to average 17.5 points per game against them provides fantasy managers with the top matchup of the week.
Some Good, Some Bad
Cleveland Browns: NY Giants, LV Raiders, Washington Commanders, Philadelphia Eagles
With Cleveland’s DST finally dropping below 95% owned on Yahoo, they can finally be included in this article! The timing for ownership to drop is strange, considering their upcoming schedule. Starting the four-game stretch with every fantasy manager’s favorite DST matchup, Daniel Jones and the New York Football Giants. Jones entered the season as the owner of the highest turnover rate since he entered the league and has done nothing but show fans that just is who he is. The matchup against the Raiders provides the Browns a second top-10 matchup opportunity. The other two future matchups against the Commanders and Eagles, while not outlandish upside-providing matchups, provide fantasy managers the opportunity to comfortably start Cleveland’s DST for the next four weeks.
Los Angeles Chargers: Pittsburgh Steelers, KC Chiefs, Bye, Denver Broncos
Fantasy managers who felt excited for the Chargers’ defense to start the year have been massively rewarded. The defense has been awesome, scoring double-digit fantasy points in both weeks and is currently the #1 ranked defense by PFF. The Steelers are once again preparing to play this week with Justin Fields at the helm, who has proven very susceptible to pressure. The Chargers have an above-average pass rush led by Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack, who will look to make Fields uncomfortable and cause turnovers. A middle matchup against the Chiefs sounds daunting, but the Bengals’ inferior defense just scored 9 fantasy points against them in week two, proving that they’re not invincible. After the bye, the Broncos and rookie QB Bo Nix will face off with the Chargers, giving fantasy managers another excellent opportunity against one of the league’s worst offenses.
Seattle Seahawks: Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, NY Giants, San Fransisco 49ers
While some fans and fantasy managers were expecting the Chargers to have a top-notch defense this season, not many were expecting the Seahawks to be ranked the #2 defense in the league through two weeks by PFF. Their secondary, led by CB Devon Witherspoon, has been wrecking opposing passing attacks, and the defense has been the glue leading this team to its 2-0 start. While looking at the Seahawks’ next four matchups, it is a bit of a pendulum act we’re facing, starting with the Dolphins and presumed starter Skylar Thompson. Thompson is taking over for QB Tua Tagovailoa after he was placed on IR due to a concussion. It is expected to severely limit the usually explosive offense to something much more manageable for opposing defenses. After Miami, the Seahawks head into a matchup with the Lions, one of the highest-scoring and most talented teams in the entire NFL. Then the pendulum swings back to our favorite, Daniel Jones and the New York Giants. All this back and forth will be frustrating to fantasy managers, but at least it’s predictable.
Green Bay Packers: Tennessee Titans, Minnesota Vikings, LA Rams, Arizona Cardinals
After losing starting QB Jordan Love on the final drive in Week 1, many turned around and wrote the Packers’ season off. Well, the Packers didn’t like that, turning around and surprising everyone with a statement win over Indianapolis. The defense and run game were instrumental in delivering the win. The Packers are hoping their defense can keep playing at this level, and the upcoming schedule should give them some optimism about their chances. The Titans currently allow opposing DST to score an average of 17.5 points per game, well above the 2nd worst rate in the league. Beginning the upcoming stretch against the Titans will provide fantasy managers with a strong opportunity to roster one of the highest-scoring DSTs of the week. Matchups against the Vikings and Rams also provide opportunity, especially with key injuries to both teams’ star players.
Miami Dolphins: Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans, NE Patriots, Bye
The Dolphins DST has not been of value to fantasy managers so far in 2024, but the upcoming schedule has plenty of reasons for optimism. The near-future slate begins with Seattle, who is coming off an OT win against New England. The Seahawks are currently one of the worst-rated teams in pass block win rate, so if Miami can capitalize and force pressure against QB Geno Smith, they can force the team to make mistakes. Later matchups against the Titans and Patriots, two of the worst offenses through the first two weeks, provide a stable floor and enticing upside for the Dolphins’ DST.
Los Angeles Rams: San Fransisco 49ers, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Bye
While the Rams have good upcoming matchups, which is why they’re featured in this article, I completely understand if you don’t want to roster/start them moving forward. Through two weeks, the Rams have a total of 3 fantasy points! We won’t be rostering them against San Fransisco, but the Rams’ Week 4 matchup against the Bears could provide a situation for savvy managers to start the Rams in deeper leagues. Against the Packers and probable starter Malik Willis, the Rams once again will have a great opportunity to be useful for fantasy managers before taking their bye in Week 6.
Detroit Lions: Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks, Bye, Dallas Cowboys
The Detroit Lions DST has had an up-and-down start to the year. They scored more fantasy points in their Week 2 loss than in the Week 1 win. Lions DE Aidan Hutchinson is currently reading the league in sacks and will be looking to continue building his lead over the following weeks. If and when the Lions offense regresses toward the team they were last season, the defense will play better and provide usable weeks to fantasy managers.
Week 3 Only
Buffalo Bills: Jacksonville Jaguars, Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans, NY Jets
If you’re looking for a one-week fill-in or just your weekly streamer, the Bills may be able to fill your needs this weekend. In the matchup of the Josh Allens, the Bills defense will look to contain opposing QB Trevor Lawrence. The Jaguars have allowed the 9th most points to opposing defenses to start this season, and a matchup with the high-octane Bills should have fantasy managers feeling confident to boot up Buffalo’s DST this week.
Photos by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire, Dave Adomson/Unsplash, and Ben Hershey/Unsplash | Featured Image by Ethan Kaplan (@DJFreddie10 on Twitter and @EthanMKaplanImages on Instagram)