Streaming Defenses: Picking a Week 15 Defense

This article is part of our Streaming Defenses series.

Steelers

QB Brock Osweiler has thrown four TDs and four interceptions in his four starts with the team averaging 19 points over that span. He has a 6.71 YPA over a small sample of 170 attempts and it's starting to become clear that with him under center the team's offensive woes have not been cured. The running game has improved at times, but Osweiler himself is still a work in progress. Against the Raiders the ground game could do nothing and Osweiler, when forced to take the game over, didn't throw a touchdown and couldn't guide the team to any second half points. The Steelers rank 24th in YPA (7.3) and will have the talented Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders to deal with, but again, it's up to Osweiler to make things happen.

RB Ronnie Hillman found little traction against the Raiders a week ago and will likely not find much room against the Steelers, who rank tied for sixth in YPC (3.8). If the Denver defense can keep the Steelers offense in check, the Broncos running game will play a factor, but if they're playing from behind, it could be a long day for Hillman, as he's forced into a more pass blocking/catching role. Vegas has this over/under set at 44.5 with the Steelers favored by 6, which puts this at about a 25-19 game. Facing the Broncos at home, the Steelers defense/special teams has an ownership of 37.5 percent at ESPN and 39 percent at Yahoo.

Buccaneers

By most metrics the Rams are the worst offense in the league and seemingly only have one weapon, RB Todd Gurley. As explosive as he is, this may be a tough matchup for him, as the Bucs rank second in YPC (3.4) and since Week 3 have allowed one rushing TD to opposing RBs. If the Bucs can slow Gurley down, it's tough to say where the Rams will look for a spark, as QB Case Keenum has a career 6.5 YPA and has shown no consistency that he can be a starter in the league.

The WR/TE corps of Kenny Britt, Jared Cook, and Tavon Austin has produced five touchdowns in the air this season and combined average less than 100 yards receiving per game, which is shockingly bad for the teams top three pass catching options. The Bucs rank tied for 16th in YPA (6.8) and shouldn't have much trouble getting after Keenum, after shutting down the ground game and forcing the Rams into third-and-long situations. Vegas has this over/under set at 41 with the Rams favored by 1.5, which puts this at about a 21-20 game. Facing the Rams on the road, the Bucs defense/special teams has an ownership of 19.2 percent at ESPN and 15 percent at Yahoo.

Colts

T.J. Yates has saved the Texans season multiple times in his four seasons with the team and he'll be asked to do so again this weekend, as he takes over for an injured Brian Hoyer (concussion). Against the Patriots the team showed no life in the passing game, as star WR DeAndre Hopkins was double teamed and the offense was forced to find an alternative matchup to go after downfield. The Texans WR/TE corp didn't step up and that'll be the hope here, that the Colts are able to double Hopkins and force the likes of Nate Washington and Cecil Shorts III to beat them. The Colts rank tied for 24th in YPA (7.3) so it's certainly a possibility, then again Yates hasn't started a game in almost a month.

On the ground, the combination of Chris Polk and Jonathan Grimes isn't much to be scared by. The Texans even resorted to using the Wildcat formation against the Patriots, in hopes of sparking some life into their offense. RB Alfred Blue has averaged 3.5 YPC and has one carry over 20 yards in 127 attempts, which speaks to his lack of explosiveness. The Colts rank tied for 21st in YPC (4.3) and can certainly be gashed on the ground, but again, this isn't the likely set of RBs to exploit that. Vegas does not have an over/under or a line set for this game, as it's uncertain as to which QBs will play in this game. Facing the Texans at home, the Colts defense/special teams has an ownership of 6.1 percent at ESPN and 17 percent at Yahoo.

Jaguars

The Falcons have lost six games in a row and seven of their last eight, as they've gone from 5-0 into a tailspin straight into the gutter. QB Matt Ryan is having a poor season by his standards and is likely to end up with his worst passer ratings since 2009. He has one game this season with three TDs and that came with three interceptions, as he's had a tough time avoiding turnovers since the team's hot start. WR Julio Jones can only do so much, when the next best weapon downfield is TE Jacob Tamme or WR Roddy White, who is playing like a shell of himself. The Jags rank 19th in YPA (6.9) and can get into shootouts, but again, this Falcons offense hasn't looked right since mid-October.

RB Devonta Freeman was the toast of the town in September and into October, but his last six games he doesn't have a rushing TD and over his last four games is averaging just 35.5 yards a game. It's especially tough for Freeman to get going, when the team is playing from behind and forced almost exclusively to pass the ball. The Jags rank tied for third in YPC (3.6), so expect a long day for the Falcons running game. Vegas has this over/under set at 49 with the Jags favored by 3, which puts this at about a 26-23 game. Facing the Falcons at home, the Jags defense/special teams has an ownership of 5.7 percent at ESPN and 3 percent at Yahoo.

Vikings

The Vikings need LB Anthony Barr (groin) and DB Harrison Smith (hamstring) to suit up for this game, as the team put up a good fight last week, but missed both in action. Bears QB Jay Cutler has done well to avoid turnovers this season, but hasn't exactly lit it up, as he's had to deal with injuries to his WR/TE corp for much of the season. WR Alshon Jeffery has looked great when healthy and is a force the Vikings will need to shade with a safety. After him though, tough to say where Cutler looks next, as TE Martellus Bennett (ribs) is out for the season and his replacement Zach Miller can only do so much. The Vikings rank tied for 16th in YPA (6.8), but will need Barr and Smith to keep Cutler at bay.

RB Matt Forte has averaged a healthy 4.0 YPC this season and has scored a rushing TD in his last two games. The Vikings rank tied for 21st in YPC (4.3) and will need a boost from the home crowd to energize their LBs, if Barr cannot suit up. As a team the Vikings have allowed only two rushing TDs to RBs since Week 4, which is pretty impressive. A divisional game, the hope is that the game stays close and low scoring. Vegas has this over/under set at 43 with the Vikings favored by 5.5, which puts this at about a 24-18 game. Facing the Bears at home, the Vikings defense/special teams has an ownership of 43.3 percent at ESPN and 32 percent at Yahoo.

Here are my rankings for this week, the next four weeks, and the remainder of the season: