Welcome to Week 5 and the start of bye weeks, and the continuation with another absurd week of blocks on special teams behind us! Take a moment for the fellow fantasy managers who lost their WR1s for the season this past weekend. We had two standout performances from the Patriots and Bears last week, bringing us great results in the fantasy box score. The Chargers welcomed a rookie quarterback to the NFL in his starting debut, with a blistering amount of sacks to bring us a satisfactory streaming result. This week has a few of the highly rostered defenses on bye week, so whether you are out to simply get through this week or just looking for the next team up, let’s take a look at a few key home games from teams around 50 percent of leagues or fewer to get us started.
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.
Arizona Cardinals
Opponent: vs. Tennessee Titans
ESPN % Rostered: 25%
Yahoo % Rostered: 19%
“If we keeping it a buck right now, we ***, we’re 0-4.” Cam Ward stated that after their fourth consecutive loss, which put them at a -69 point differential, the worst in the NFL. That already sounds like a perfect team to stream a defense against if I’m being Frank. However, I’m still Michael, so here are some stats to help drive home the point: Tennessee has given up the second-highest amount of fantasy points with at least one turnover in every one of their games so far, while Ward leads the league in sacks taken. Arizona has the 10th-most QB pressures on the season, so look for them to turn up the heat and force mistakes from a Titans team that has the second-fewest total yards in the league.
Indianapolis Colts
Opponent: vs. Las Vegas Raiders
ESPN % Rostered: 40%
Yahoo % Rostered: 22%
Despite not surrendering a sack in Week 4, Geno Smith is still the fourth-most sacked quarterback on the season as the Raiders now head to Indiana to play against a Colts defense that has seven sacks over their past two games. Indianapolis has generated at least one turnover in every one of its games so far and looks to expand that stat in this game. Smith tossed three interceptions last week alone and added a lost fumble. This puts Las Vegas as the team with the most interceptions through four weeks in the league on top of surrendering double-digit fantasy points to opposing DSTs three weeks in a row.
Cleveland Browns
Opponent: vs. Minnesota Vikings
ESPN % Rostered: 4%
Yahoo % Rostered: 9%
Cleveland is the “home” team in this matchup across the pond and will bring Myles Garrett and the fifth-most team sacks (T-5th) against Carson Wentz, who just got sacked six times last weekend alone. JJ McCarthy is ‘hopeful’ to return to practice this week on the scout team, according to team reporters, while maintaining a status of week-to-week. I don’t think it matters who starts now that Wentz and McCarthy each have 9 sacks taken on the season, which, if combined, would theoretically put the hybrid Viking QB above Ward as the most sacked this season. The Browns have been a brick wall in most defensive statistics outside the scoreboard, having only surrendered 200 yards passing once (Lamar Jackson with 225), in addition to last week being the first time a team has rushed for over 100 yards against them (109). They will head into London to face a Vikings offense that has 6 turnovers over a span of their last three games, on top of surrendering double-digit fantasy points to opposing DSTs in three of their four games this year.
After the Cut
Seattle Seahawks (E:84% Y!:57%) – The #1 fantasy defense is still available in a surprising amount of Yahoo leagues and has yet to allow more than 20 points in a single game.
New Orleans Saints (E:1% Y!:1%) – If you’re feeling spicy, this will be the first road start for Jaxson Dart, who is sure to get a Superdome welcome.
Jacksonville Jaguars (E:7% Y!:6%) – The #2 fantasy defense is available practically everywhere as the Jags have been absolute ball hawks with multiple interceptions in every game this year. Still, managers are cautious to trust and remain unconvinced, judging by roster percentages. I will definitely be keeping my eye on this game against Patrick Mahomes, as their next two games will be a big test against quarterbacks who take care of the ball. If they come out with encouraging results, the second half of Jacksonville’s post-bye schedule is very favorable.
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Feature image by Michael Packard (@CollectingPack on Twitter) / Photography by Kevin Abele / Icon Sportswire