Streaming Defenses Week 4: D/ST Picks for Fantasy Football This Week

Find top fantasy D/ST streamers for Week 4, with matchup-based analysis, waiver targets and sneaky plays to help you with your fantasy football roster.

September 22, 2025

Streaming Defenses Week 4: D/ST Picks for Fantasy Football This Week

By:

Jerry Donabedian

September 22, 2025

Streaming Defenses

I called Week 3 the "easiest slate yet" for D/ST streaming, not having any idea the extent to which that would prove true. Our top three picks (SEA, TB, IND) were among the most popular 'adds' at any position in fantasy last week, and each ended up scoring at least 14 points with the help of a touchdown. (My point here isn't to brag; it's that the obvious top D/ST plays mostly put up huge scores in Week 3.)

Our fourth pick, Atlanta, was a bust with just three fantasy points, but No. 5 (Washington) rounded out the strong week with an 11-spot thanks to Jaylin Lane's return TD. None of that is any consolation if you happened to be going up against an opponent that started the Vikings (a defense that's rostered in far too many leagues to qualify for this article). Minnesota CB Isaiah Rodgers scored on an interception return and then a fumble, highlighting a wild week with nine D/ST touchdowns and six blocked kicks.

The upcoming week appears far more difficult* for steaming, with most fantasy leagues having only one or two options on waivers that I'd consider desirable. There are a bunch of others that are passable, but with a big enough projection gap that it might be worth spending some FAAB if you have a shot at the Lions, Texans or Patriots.

*Part of the reason it's tricky is that two of the teams we might normally target (Miami/Jets)

*Part of the reason it's tricky is that two of the teams we might normally target (Miami/Jets) are facing each other and have defenses that look just as bad or worse than their offenses.

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 4

1. Detroit Lions (vs. CLE)

56% Yahoo, 56% ESPN
Team implied total: 27.5 Opponent implied total: 18.0
Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 5: 3rd (at CIN), Week 6: 20th (at KC)

Detroit and Houston are neck and neck for the No. 2 spot in my Week 4 rankings, behind only Buffalo (favored by 16.5) in a home game against the Bayou Bums. Buffalo's defense is already rostered in competitive fantasy leagues, but the Lions and Texans are available some places, both coming off suboptimal Week 3 matchups. It might even be worth spending a decent bit of FAAB here, given Detroit's two-week viability with another premium draw ahead in Week 5 (at Cincinnati).

2. New England Patriots (vs. CAR)

14% Yahoo, 49% ESPN
Team implied total: 24.5 Opponent implied total: 19.0
Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 5: 28th (at BUF), Week 6: 5th (at NO)

New England has two of the best possible matchups over the next three weeks, sandwiched around what's arguably the toughest draw in the league (at Buffalo in Week 5). The Patriots are allowing 2.8 YPC (2nd) but 7.8 net yards per pass attempt (30th), which is concerning for a team that's faced Geno Smith, Tua Tagovailoa and Aaron Rodgers so far. I wouldn't want to lay points with the Patriots, but they're a reasonable streaming play against Bryce Young, who is completing 60.5 percent of his passes for 5.3 YPA.

3. Los Angeles Chargers (at NYG)

49% Yahoo, 13% ESPN
Team implied total: 24.75 Opponent implied total: 18.75
Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 5: 18th (vs. WAS), Week 6: 8th (at MIA)

Might this be Russell Wilson's last start... or Jaxson Dart's first? Either way, the Giants will be major underdogs at home again, coming off their second embarrassing performance in three weeks. The Chargers' defense isn't necessarily any more talented than the Giants' offense, but coaching and chemistry tilt far in LA's favor for this matchup, not to mention QB play. You don't need to be all-in on the Bolts to be all-out on Big Blue.

4. Miami Dolphins (vs. NYJ)

2% Yahoo, 2% ESPN
Team implied total: 23.5 Opponent implied total: 21.0
Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 5: 13th (at CAR), Week 6: 24th (vs. LAC)

This is a classic Streaming Defenses pillow fight, featuring a bottom-five offense and a bottom-five defense. Those tend to be good for sacks and turnovers even if points/yards are also plentiful, especially when dealing with a quarterback like Justin Fields, who likely will be back from concussion protocol this week. If not, Tyrod Taylor has a better overall track record of avoiding negative plays, but we did just see him commit two turnovers at Tampa Bay, including a horrendous pick-six.

5. Washington Commanders (at ATL)

18% Yahoo, 13% ESPN
Team implied total: 24.25 Opponent implied total: 21.25
Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 5: 24th (at LAC), Week 6: 11th (vs. CHI)

The Commanders remarkably still don't have a takeaway this season, despite recording nine sacks and allowing just 19.0 points per game. That should change this week, playing as field-goal favorites on the road against a struggling Michael Penix. There's definitely risk playing a mediocre defense on the road versus a team with a strong O-line and elite backfield, but the Commanders could pay off big if they jump out to a lead and force Penix to throw against defenses that are waiting on it.