Welcome to week 8! Another week of debilitating injuries is in the book and the list is getting dire at this rate. As for streaming our D/STs, all three of the Rams, Colts, and Bengals delivered double-digit fantasy points for us! This position has settled down after the first couple of weeks almost becoming too stable. But without putting a Halloween jinx on it, let’s look forward to seeing what is in store for us next. This week we will shift a bit away from looking for weaker opponents as we have some stronger-performing defenses with decent matchups on paper for us to dip into. Let’s see if we can find some teams that are rostered in around 50 percent of leagues or fewer.
Please note: 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 out there for 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.
Green Bay Packers
Opponent: @ Jacksonville Jaguars
ESPN % Rostered: 34%
Yahoo % Rostered: 47%
Last week the Packers had a mixed performance with their defense smothering the Texans’ passing offense but slipped up against Houston’s run-block success rate in the trenches. Even so, the Packers still put up a decent effort in D/ST to go along with their season average of about 10 fantasy points per game which puts them inside the top five196.4 overall on the season. Green Bay will host a Jaguars team this week that is just outside the bottom 10 in points scored this season. The Packers just ended their multiple turnovers per game streak, but before last week they were averaging almost three turnovers per week. They have held teams to 14 or fewer points allowed in four of their last six games. The key to this game will be getting to the quarterback. The Jaguars give up over 10 fantasy points on average per game when Trevor Lawrence is sacked more than once. Green Bay has had multiple sacks in six of their eight games this year and leads the league in QB hurry rate.
Los Angeles Chargers
Opponent: vs. New Orleans Saints
ESPN % Rostered: 31%
Yahoo % Rostered: 42%
The fantasy D/ST darling Chargers have been a pleasant turnaround story so far to open the 2024 season. They were big in starting the year streaming and continue to build on that overall success with an average of eight fantasy points per game. This week they host a Saints team that has a good chance of being without Derek Carr for another week (but is not ruled out yet, keep monitoring). Los Angeles has not allowed a single opponent to score more than 20 points this season and has had an interception in every single game they have played this year. After starting the season on fire, New Orleans has settled down quite a bit and is averaging an interception per game. Quarterbacks not named Carr have had a bad time behind the line as New Orleans has surrendered 11 sacks over the past two games. The Chargers have the fourth-fewest passing yards allowed and that trend likely continues if Chris Olave cannot get through protocol for this week.
Detroit Lions
Opponent: vs. Tennessee Titans
ESPN % Rostered: 54%
Yahoo % Rostered: 21%
Even without Aidan Hutchinson, the Lions took control of the NFC North with four sacks against the Vikings offense last week putting them at 12 sacks over their last three games. Detroit has an interception in every game they’ve played this year for a total of eight so far. This is fantastic news when we see the next opponent for them will be hosting Tennessee. The Titans have thrown at least one interception in every game as part of their 11 total turnovers this year. The Titans have allowed double-digit fantasy points to opposing defenses four times this season including two 20+ point games. Tennessee has only managed to score in the teens in all but one of their games this year (a 31-point anomaly against the Dolphins). I do not see that trend breaking against the Lions this week. Detroit has the fourth-fewest rushing yards allowed and the third-highest amount of blitzes called on the season as they will look to set up residence in the Titan backfield all game long.
Honorable Mentions
Baltimore Ravens (E:63% Y!:79%) – The Ravens have started to slip as of late and as a result, so has their roster percentage. Check your waivers as they are going against a Browns’ offense that is drifting off course this season.
Kansas City Chiefs (E:32% Y!:61%) – Chiefs have put in some solid results lately, but for whatever reason ESPN leagues aren’t buying it. They are matching up against a Raiders team this week that just can not seem to stop turning the ball over.
Houston Texans (E:39% Y!:48%) – Texans have seven turnovers in the last two games alone! They will host a Colts team looking for an offensive identity but did give them a bit of trouble in week one.
Chicago Bears (E:43% Y!:55%) – This stout defense was dropped for their bye week, consider claiming them off waivers if Jayden Daniels does not suit up against them in week 8
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 Larry Radloff / Icon Sportswire