Streaming Defenses: Week 4 Options

Week 3 was another strong showing for this space, with three of our five recommendations (Cleveland, Carolina, Miami) finishing in the top 10 for scoring among team defenses. Our Nos. 3 and 4 picks were complete flameouts with just two combined points, but the blow was somewhat softened by yet another poor week on the whole for lovers of defensive football.

2017 was the lowest-scoring NFL campaign since 2009, featuring just 43.4 points per regular-season game. 2018 has seen a rebound and then some through the first three weeks, with a mark of 46.4 points per game approaching the all-time record of 46.9 (set in 2013). Toss in the start of bye weeks and it may be tough to find more than two or three good streaming options each week. No matter, we'll provide you with a handful of viable selections, typically looking to prey on opponents with O-line issues and/or poor quarterback play.

Note: These recommendations are limited to D/ST units with under 60 percent ownership on Yahoo as of Tuesday morning. Any references to fantasy points are based on Yahoo standard scoring.

Top Streaming Options for Week 4

1. Green Bay Packers (vs. Buffalo Bills)
30% Yahoo ownership

The Bills deserve all the credit in the world for what they did to the Vikings on Sunday, but let's not forget that this same team was outscored 78-23 in its first two games. No team is producing fewer yards per play (4.01), with only the miserable Cardinals (4.02) even approaching a similar level of futility on offense. For all his heroics last week, Josh Allen owns an underwhelming 55.7 completion percentage, and it's not exactly a good thing that his 97 rushing yards lead the team. Buffalo carries an implied total of just 17.5, installed as 10-point underdogs for a trip to Lambeau Field. A fast start for Aaron Rodgers would put Allen in a situation conducive to turnovers and sacks, allowing the Packers to hide a vulnerable run defense that's given up 4.7 yards per carry and 124.3 rushing yards per game.

2. Seattle Seahawks (at Arizona Cardinals)
26% Yahoo ownership

I may have initially overestimated the extent of Seattle's decline on the defensive side. Earl Thomas apparently doesn't have much use for practice, and CB Shaquill Griffin is better than Richard Sherman at this point in their respective careers. The team is also getting high-level play from SS Bradley McDougald (17 tackles, 2 INTs) and DE Frank Clark (three sacks), not to mention All-World linebacker Bobby Wagner. It all adds up to a respectable defense — one that's tied for the league lead with seven INTs and tied for seventh with 9.7 fantasy points per game. Favorable matchups have been a leading factor in that equation, so we can expect some major regression once the schedule toughens up. Of course, this isn't the week when that happens, with Seattle hosting Josh Rosen for the first start of his pro career. As much as I like the young passer as a prospect, there isn't much cause for immediate optimism unless he can also block and catch passes. The Cardinals somehow have scored just 20 points in three games, making their Week 4 implied total of 17.75 seems generous. Arizona allowed exactly 13 fantasy points to the opponent's team defense each of the past three weeks.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Baltimore Ravens)
49% Yahoo ownership

While my Ravens fandom prevents me from considering this option for my own fantasy squad, the more objective side of my brain forces me to mention the Pittsburgh defense as a serviceable choice. The Steelers obviously give up points and yards in bunches, but they've also piled up 11 sacks and six takeaways for an average of 9.7 fantasy points per game. Meanwhile, the Ravens seem destined to do their usual thing being reliably unreliable away from home, with their only road game this season yielding four sacks and three turnovers to a mediocre Cincinnati defense. Ben Roethlisberger is the AFC North quarterback with a reputation for home-road splits, but Joe Flacco's are actually more drastic if we analyze the entirety of both players' careers. Flacco has thrown 80 picks and taken 183 sacks in 78 regular-season road games, compared to 52 INTs and 141 sacks in 79 home appearances. He does have a decent track record against the Steelers, but his 23:12 TD:INT in 19 games has partially been offset by an average of 2.7 sacks.

4. Indianapolis Colts (vs. Houston Texans)
1% Yahoo ownership

I'm shocked to be highlighting this as an option given the preseason expectations surrounding the Texans offense and the Colts defense. The latter shockingly has been more effective than the former, notching 10 sacks and 24 fantasy points against a fairly tough slate of opponents (CIN, WAS, PHI) through three weeks. Meanwhile, the Texans have scored just 19.7 points per game and taken 10 sacks in matchups with the Patriots, Titans and Giants. I'm still a bit reluctant due to the Colts' inexperience, but they do at least have the benefit of home-field advantage, plus their young front seven has an edge over Houston's terrible O-line. This game has some shootout potential on paper, but it also has a real chance to be the sloppiest game of Week 4.

5. Dallas Cowboys (vs. Detroit Lions)
31% Yahoo ownership

Dallas was my biggest disappointment among last week's recommendations, unable to capitalize on a matchup with the injury-depleted Seattle offense. A rebound of some degree should be in order, as Sunday's result was largely a product of the Cowboys' offensive ineptitude in a 24-13 road loss to the 'Hawks. Russell Wilson only had to attempt 26 passes — a mark Matthew Stafford likely will eclipse at some point in the third quarter this week. The Cowboys don't have much hope for a decent passing game, but they do still have Ezekiel Elliott and a better-than-expected defense (11 sacks, 17.1 ppg). The Lions have an implied total of just 20.5 and open the week as three-point underdogs on the road.

Week 4 D/ST Rankings

1. Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. NYJ)
2. Green Bay Packers (vs. BUF)
3. Los Angeles Chargers (vs. SF)
4. Chicago Bears (vs. TB)
5. Seattle Seahawks (at ARZ)
6. Philadelphia Eagles (at TEN)
7. New England Patriots (vs. MIA)
8. Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. BAL)
9. Houston Texans (at IND)
10. Los Angeles Rams (vs. MIN)
11. Indianapolis Colts (vs. HOU)
12. Dallas Cowboys (vs. DET)
13. Arizona Cardinals (vs. SEA)
14. Kansas City Chiefs (at DEN)
15. New Orleans Saints (at NYG)
16. Oakland Raiders (vs. CLE)
17. Atlanta Falcons (vs. CIN)
18. Tennessee Titans (vs. PHI)
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at CHI)
20. Cleveland Browns (at OAK)

Looking Ahead to Week 5

1. Los Angeles Rams (at SEA)
2. Denver Broncos (at NYJ)
3. Los Angeles Chargers (vs. OAK)
4. Carolina Panthers (vs. NYG)
5. Houston Texans (vs. DAL)
6. San Francisco 49ers (vs. ARZ)
7. New England Patriots (vs. IND)
8. Tennessee Titans (at BUF)
9. Cincinnati Bengals (vs. MIA)
10. Baltimore Ravens (at CLE)
11. Philadelphia Eagles (vs. MIN)
12. New Orleans Saints (vs. WAS)
13. Cleveland Browns (vs. BAL)
14. Arizona Cardinals (at SF)
15. Kansas City Chiefs (vs. JAX)
16. Buffalo Bills (vs. TEN)
17. New York Jets (vs. DEN)
18. Jacksonville Jaguars (at KC)
19. Dallas Cowboys (at HOU)
20. Minnesota Vikings (at PHI)

Rest-of-Season Rankings

1. Jacksonville Jaguars
2. Los Angeles Rams
3. Philadelphia Eagles
4. Minnesota Vikings
5. Baltimore Ravens
6. Chicago Bears
7. Carolina Panthers
8. Denver Broncos
9. Washington Redskins
10. Houston Texans
11. Tennessee Titans
12. New England Patriots
13. Los Angeles Chargers
14. Cincinnati Bengals
15. Dallas Cowboys
16. New Orleans Saints
17. Atlanta Falcons
18. Green Bay Packers
19. Pittsburgh Steelers
20. Miami Dolphins