Welcome to Week 10! The DST weekly average point curve reformed into more of a bell shape this week, with the unlikeliest of defenses scoring at the highest end. While the Jaguars bumbled and stumbled throughout their game, our other two picks came through with solid results, with the Rams and Lions pleasantly showing up in our fantasy box score. The four teams on bye this week are not as heavily rostered as the past couple of weeks, so there should be a few more options on the menu for us. Hopefully, this will leave more time for trading and dealing with replacing our injured star’s performances as we browse for defenses rostered around 50 percent of leagues or fewer.
Please note that there’s a decent chance that better teams above this 50 percent threshold are available in your league, but we can’t assume they’re available to everyone. We have to draw the proverbial line somewhere, so stay active and monitor the league home page; someone might drop a desirable defense after waivers clear.
Carolina Panthers
Opponent: vs. New Orleans Saints
ESPN % Rostered: 4%
Yahoo % Rostered: 4%
Fresh off their upset in Lambeau, the Panthers come home to host their divisional rival from New Orleans. The Saints have been generous to opposing defenses lately, giving up double-digit fantasy points in each of their past three games. They have surrendered 10 sacks, fumbled the ball over four times, and thrown six interceptions over that three-game stretch. All while averaging nine points scored, not fantasy, but actual points scored in the game itself. This all adds up to a trend that points to a desirable offense to look to stream a defense against. Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough made his first start last week and will be sure to get a warm NFC South welcome in Carolina. The Panthers have nine sacks across their last three games while holding two of their three opponents to under 14 points. The third one looks more like a one-off that was to an angry Bills team fresh off their bye week, which segues into my next streaming consideration-
Buffalo Bills
Opponent: @ Miami Dolphins
ESPN % Rostered: 36%
Yahoo % Rostered: 44%
These two teams met earlier in the season, and the result was that Tua Tagovailoa threw for under 150 yards and turned the ball over twice, while the leading yards receiver in that game for the Dolphins is out for the season for this divisional rematch. A trend I do not think will continue in this one is Miami getting away without giving up a sack to a Bills defense that is tied for the sixth-highest quarterback pressure rate in the league. They have averaged just over two sacks taken per game since playing teams from New York at the start of this season. This includes their last game which they gave up two sacks and turned the ball over three times in a home blowout loss. Buffalo has given up the fewest passing touchdowns in the league while maintaining a top-ten ranking in net passing yard allowed per attempt through nine weeks this season.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Opponent: vs. New England Patriots
ESPN % Rostered: 29%
Yahoo % Rostered: 23%
This features a hot New England team fresh off their scrappy win at home last week, coming into Tampa to face a Buccaneers defense that has been hot of late as well. Despite hanging on for the win last week, quarterback Drake Maye was still sacked six times and turned the ball over twice. Now he hits the road to face a defense averaging double-digit fantasy points over their last three games before their bye week. Over that stretch, they generated eight turnovers and 15 sacks and now have an extra week to prepare for this one. Maye is no stranger to pressure as he has been sacked 16 times over the Patriots’ last three games, and I see that trend continuing this week against a Tampa Bay team that has the fourth-most blitzes in the league this season.
After the Cut
Cleveland Browns (E:29% Y!:34%) @ New York Jets (E:9% Y!:9%) – This one features two offenses that present as strong candidates to stream their opponent’s defense against. Cleveland is the higher nod here with their 10 sacks and six takeaways over their past two games.
Baltimore Ravens (E:42% Y!:46%) – The Ravens travel to Minnesota to face a Vikings offense that is averaging four sacks surrendered per game while averaging double-digit fantasy points over to opposing defenses.
Chicago Bears (E:23% Y!:37%) – For the deeper leagues out there, Chicago leads the league in takeaways by a notable margin and will host the Giants this week.
If you see something I don’t, leave a comment or hit me up with feedback @MikeoftheFF on Twitter or find me on Reddit!
Feature image by Michael Packard (@CollectingPack on Twitter) / Photography by John Byrum / Icon Sportswire