Streaming Defenses: Week 7 Fantasy Options for Team Defenses

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Published on October 16, 2023

This should be one of the easier weeks for streaming a defense, considering each of the teams I have ranked Nos. 3-11 is available in a lot of fantasy leagues. They're also bunched fairly close in terms of projections, so it might also be a good week to ignore me and go with your gut. I won't be using FAAB or waiver priority on a defense for any of my teams this week.

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 7

1. Seattle Seahawks (vs. ARI)

22% Yahoo, 20% ESPN
Team implied total: 26.25 Opponent implied total: 18.25
Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 8: 10th (vs. CLE), Week 9: 21st (at BAL)

This is one of two Week 7 contests with a spread of a TD or more, as the wheels seem to be falling off for Arizona after QB Joshua Dobbs played surprisingly well in September. The past two weeks saw the Bengals and Rams – hardly defensive powerhouses – reach double-digit fantasy points against Arizona thanks to Dobbs giving up five total turnovers and five sacks. His other numbers are down as well – 62.8 percent completion rate and 6.2 YPA for the season – while the Seahawks defense is trending up in part due to

Top Streaming Options for Week 7

1. Seattle Seahawks (vs. ARI)

22% Yahoo, 20% ESPN
Team implied total: 26.25 Opponent implied total: 18.25
Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 8: 10th (vs. CLE), Week 9: 21st (at BAL)

2. Las Vegas Raiders (at CHI)

47% Yahoo, 22% ESPN
Team implied total: 20.25 Opponent implied total: 17.25
Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 8: 31st (at DET), Week 9: 10th (vs. NYG)

This slate is loaded with low over/unders, as Week 6 was extremely low-scoring and now we have a bunch of the league's better offenses on bye. Even so, the Bears stand out with an implied total of 17.25 points, second worst among all teams (behind only New England - 16.25). They're set to start undrafted rookie QB Tyson Bagent, who yielded an interception, a fumble returned for a TD and a sack over the final 20 minutes of a 19-13 loss to Minnesota this past Sunday. Few QBs are more friendly than Justin Fields as a D/ST opponent, but Bagent might well be one of them.

3. Cleveland Browns (at IND)

28% Yahoo, 53% ESPN
Team implied total: 20.75 Opponent implied total: 18.75
Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 8: 18th (at SEA), Week 9: 2nd (vs. ARI)

The Browns have played fantastic defense apart from a Week 4 slip up against Baltimore, including the recent win over San Francisco to hand Brock Purdy his first regular-season loss and first truly ugly stat line. QB Gardner Minshew, meanwhile, has looked worse with the Colts than he did for the Jags or Eagles, producing 6.4 YPA while giving up four turnovers and eight sacks through 146 dropbacks (approximately four games worth of passes).

My only concern here is that the Browns' failing offense will leave them in a low-scoring game and allow the Colts to get away with a safe gameplan full of runs and short, easy completions. The upside is huge if Cleveland can build a lead, as no team has allowed fewer yards per play (3.8) and only four have pressured QBs on a higher percentage of dropbacks (26.1).

4. Los Angeles Rams (vs. PIT)

13% Yahoo, 4% ESPN
Team implied total: 23.0 Opponent implied total: 20.0
Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 8: 30th (at DAL), Week 9: 8th (at GB)

I expected the Rams to come in higher in my rankings, but the mixture of QB injuries and ugly performances Week 6 makes the Steelers offense look not as bad coming out of a bye. It looked awful before that bye, of course, with basically nothing working well besides jump balls to George Pickens. The main problems are still QB Kenny Pickett and OC Matt Canada, a duo that figures to continue dragging down the entire offense even with WR Diontae Johnson (hamstring) on track to return from IR.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. ATL)

29% Yahoo, 22% ESPN
Team implied total: 20.5 Opponent implied total: 18.0
Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 8: 25th (at BUF), Week 9: 17th (at HOU)

The Saints didn't quite make our Top 5 but should probably slide in a bit ahead of Los Angeles and Tampa Bay if Jags QB Trevor Lawrence (knee) gets ruled out ahead of TNF. The Bucs also happen to have a home game against a lousy quarterback, hosting Desmond Ridder and an Atlanta offense that's been surprisingly mediocre on the ground. Ridder's struggles are less surprising than the Falcons' inconsistent run game, and he now ranks 26th in both INT rate (3.0) and sack rate (8.6). The Bucs still have a strong front seven, allowing only 3.7 YPC and 83.8 rushing yards per game, so Ridder may have to air it out again rather than serving as a handoff machine for Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier.