This article is part of our Streaming Defenses series.
The 2020 season is still well on track to be the highest-scoring in NFL history, but it does seem defenses have fought back in recent weeks, Monday's Ravens-Browns classic aside. Week 14 featured six defense touchdowns and another two on special teams, with half the D/STs in the league scoring eight or more fantasy points.
That group includes three of my five streaming recommendations for Week 14, though I also chose a couple duds in Carolina and Houston. Hopefully we'll be a little more consistent this week as most fantasy leagues head into semifinals.
For injury/ranking updates throughout the week, follow me on Twitter (@JerryDonabedian).
Note: These recommendations are limited to team defenses that are rostered on less than 60 percent of teams on Yahoo or 45 percent on ESPN. Any references to fantasy points are based on Yahoo standard scoring, which doesn't include yards allowed.
Top Streaming Options for Week 15
1. Arizona Cardinals (vs. PHI)
24% rostered on Yahoo, 35% on ESPN
Team implied total: 27.5
Opponent implied total: 21
Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 16: 10th (vs. SF), Week 17: 19th (at LAR)
A dominant performance at the Meadowlands pushed the Cardinals up to 13th in fantasy scoring average (6.54) and sixth in sacks (37), with Haason Reddick's breakout season helping the pass rush stay afloat sans Chandler Jones (IR - biceps). Reddick won't have five sacks again, but he should get some pressure on Jalen Hurts, facing a Philadelphia O-line that's missing
The 2020 season is still well on track to be the highest-scoring in NFL history, but it does seem defenses have fought back in recent weeks, Monday's Ravens-Browns classic aside. Week 14 featured six defense touchdowns and another two on special teams, with half the D/STs in the league scoring eight or more fantasy points.
That group includes three of my five streaming recommendations for Week 14, though I also chose a couple duds in Carolina and Houston. Hopefully we'll be a little more consistent this week as most fantasy leagues head into semifinals.
For injury/ranking updates throughout the week, follow me on Twitter (@JerryDonabedian).
Note: These recommendations are limited to team defenses that are rostered on less than 60 percent of teams on Yahoo or 45 percent on ESPN. Any references to fantasy points are based on Yahoo standard scoring, which doesn't include yards allowed.
Top Streaming Options for Week 15
1. Arizona Cardinals (vs. PHI)
24% rostered on Yahoo, 35% on ESPN
Team implied total: 27.5
Opponent implied total: 21
Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 16: 10th (vs. SF), Week 17: 19th (at LAR)
A dominant performance at the Meadowlands pushed the Cardinals up to 13th in fantasy scoring average (6.54) and sixth in sacks (37), with Haason Reddick's breakout season helping the pass rush stay afloat sans Chandler Jones (IR - biceps). Reddick won't have five sacks again, but he should get some pressure on Jalen Hurts, facing a Philadelphia O-line that's missing its top four tackles.
#Eagles RT Jack Driscoll will miss the rest of the season with a significant MCL sprain, sources say. The rookie toughed it out to finish the game against the #Saints but further testing showed the full extent of the injury. Tough one for him and the team. He was playing well.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) December 15, 2020
2. Minnesota Vikings (vs. CHI)
46% Yahoo, 39% ESPN
Team implied total: 24.75
Opponent implied total: 21.25
Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 16: 29th (at NO), Week 17: 11th (at DET)
Mitchell Trubisky has been a bit better than Nick Foles, but opposing D/STs have still averaged a healthy 7.4 points per game in the 26-year-old's six starts. Out of 35 qualified passers, Mitch is 28th in completion percentage (63.8), 27th in YPA (6.7), 24th in INT rate (2.5) and 23rd in sack rate (7.0). Meanwhile, the Minnesota defense has been respectable since a Week 7 bye, including a 10-FP performance in the 19-13 win over Chicago in Week 10. The rematch is crucial for both teams, as the winner will be right in the mix for the No. 7 seed, while the loser will be all but eliminated from playoff contention.
3. Tennessee Titans (vs. DET)
16% Yahoo, 22% ESPN
Team implied total: 31
Opponent implied total: 20.5
Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 16: 30th (at GB), Week 17: 16th (at HOU)
If the betting odds are any indication, Chase Daniel will be starting at QB for the Lions this week. However, I'm not quite ready to rule out Matthew Stafford (ribs/thumb), as Detroit technically can still reach the playoffs with three straight wins and a little bit lot of help. A No. 11 ranking for the Tennessee defense this week splits the difference — it's a few spots too high if Stafford is starting, or a few spots too low if it's Daniel. I'll revisit the situation later this week, potentially bumping the Titans D/ST above the Vikings and/or Cardinals.
4. Cleveland Browns (at NYG)
51% Yahoo, 53% ESPN
Team implied total: 24.25
Opponent implied total: 20.75
Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 16: 2nd (at NYJ), Week 17: 18th (vs. PIT)
The Browns defense and Giants offense both looked horrendous in Week 14, run ragged by Lamar Jackson and Haason Reddick, respectively. Taking a broader outlook, the Cleveland defense has an advantage in this matchup, as it's at least been borderline competent for most of the season, while the Giants still don't have an NFL-caliber passing game. Only four teams have allowed more fantasy points to D/STs, with Daniel Jones ranking 23rd in INT rate (2.4) and 33rd in sack rate (8.8).
Note: The Browns are our No. 4 streaming pick for Week 15, but it's between them or Arizona if you're looking to cover the next two weeks. Cleveland gets the coveted Jets matchup for fantasy championship week.
5. Green Bay Packers (vs. CAR)
57% Yahoo, 66% ESPN
Team implied total: 29.75
Opponent implied total: 21.25
Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 16: 22nd (vs. TEN), Week 17: 9th (at CHI)
While still average-to-subpar from a real-life standpoint, the Packers defense has scored four or more fantasy points in six straight games, taking advantage of pass-rush opportunities when opponents have abandoned the run. The real mismatch here is Aaron Rodgers, Aaron Jones and Davante Adams against the Carolina defense, so we should see the Packers establish a lead again.
Week 15 Rankings
- Los Angeles Rams
vs. NYJ
- Pittsburgh Steelers
at CIN
- Baltimore Ravens
vs. JAX
- Seattle Seahawks
at WAS
- Arizona Cardinals
vs. PHI
- Minnesota Vikings
vs. CHI
- Buffalo Bills
at DEN
- San Francisco 49ers
at DAL
- Miami Dolphins
vs. NE
- Indianapolis Colts
vs. HOU
- Tennessee Titans
vs. DET
- Cleveland Browns
at NYG
- Green Bay Packers
vs. CAR
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
at ATL
- New England Patriots
at MIA
- New York Giants
vs. CLE
- Washington Football Team
vs. SEA
- Dallas Cowboys
vs. SF
- Denver Broncos
vs. BUF
- Chicago Bears
at MIN
Looking Ahead to Week 16
- Baltimore Ravens
vs. NYG
- Cleveland Browns
at NYJ
- Houston Texans
vs. CIN
- New Orleans Saints
vs. MIN
- Washington Football Team
vs. CAR
- Chicago Bears
at JAX
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
at DET
- Philadelphia Eagles
at DAL
- Dallas Cowboys
vs. PHI
- Arizona Cardinals
vs. SF
- Pittsburgh Steelers
vs. IND
- Kansas City Chiefs
vs. ATL
- Los Angeles Chargers
vs. DEN
- Buffalo Bills
at NE
- Carolina Panthers
at WAS
- Jacksonville Jaguars
vs. CHI
- Indianapolis Colts
at PIT
- Seattle Seahawks
vs. LAR
- San Francisco 49ers
at ARZ
- Miami Dolphins
at LV
Week 17 Estimate
These rankings figure to change a lot between now and Week 17, when we usually see a few playoff teams resting key players and a couple non-playoff teams starting their backup quarterbacks. The addition of a seventh playoff spot theoretically means more teams have something on the line, but guys like Chase Daniel, Jarrett Stidham, Jake Luton and C.J. Beathard could still end up making starts.
The problem right now is that we don't know which it will be, though Daniel is a pretty strong guess given that Matthew Stafford (thumb/ribs) is banged up and the Lions are on the brink of elimination. Anyway, here's my guess at Week 17 rankings, assuming every team is playing its starters and going all-out to win...
- New England Patriots
vs. NYJ
- Baltimore Ravens
at CIN
- Indianapolis Colts
vs. JAX
- Philadelphia Eagles
vs. WAS
- Kansas City Chiefs
vs. LAC
- New York Giants
vs. DAL
- New Orleans Saints
at CAR
- Washington Football Team
at PHI
- Green Bay Packers
at CHI
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
vs. ATL
- Minnesota Vikings
at DET
- Seattle Seahawks
at SF
- Dallas Cowboys
at NYG
- Los Angeles Rams
vs. ARZ
- Buffalo Bills
vs. MIA
- Tennessee Titans
at HOU
- Pittsburgh Steelers
at CLE
- Cleveland Browns
vs. PIT
- Arizona Cardinals
at LAR
- Detroit Lions
vs. MIN