DFS Army’s Gthom goes over the defenses to stream this week. The defenses to stream listed below are normally found in at least 50-percent of ESPN leagues (prior to waivers).
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Sep 5, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones (95) sacks Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) causing a fumble during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Chiefs D/ST @ Las Vegas Raiders
Available in 68% of ESPN leagues
This Chiefs defense is elite, and you can capitalize if they are available on waivers heading into Week 8.
The Chiefs rank 5th in the NFL for points allowed, 5th in opponent touchdowns allowed, 10th in 3rd-down defense, and 10th in opponent yards per game. This defense embodies the “bend but don’t break” mentality. While they consistently rank highly in these metrics, they are 16th in takeaways per game and 29th in sack percentage. Fortunately, the Raiders should help improve those areas.
The Raiders lead the NFL with 16 turnovers this season, four more than the next highest team. Additionally, quarterback Gardner Minshew’s 10 turnovers in six games lead all NFL players. The Raiders have also allowed 20 sacks, tied for the 5th most in the league. Their offense struggles to score, ranking 25th in points scored, 26th in total yards, 26th in yards per play, 26th in touchdowns per game, and last in turnover margin per game.
Chargers D/ST vs New Orleans Saints
Available in 69% of ESPN Leagues
The Saints have been a trainwreck following their hot start to the season. They’ve since lost their starting quarterback and leading receivers—while Olave might return this week, it likely won’t make a significant difference.
The Saints are expected to start backup quarterback Spencer Rattler against the Chargers. In his two starts this season, Rattler has totaled 415 passing yards, with a 70.7 quarterback rating, 62.7% completion percentage, 11 sacks, two interceptions, and one touchdown. The Saints are also tied for the 3rd most turnovers in the NFL. These factors favor the Chargers, who lead the NFL in turnover margin per game.
This will be Rattler’s first road start. If you have followed this article for any length of time, you know we love to pick on rookie quarterbacks making their first NFL road start. However, it’s worth noting that the Chargers don’t have much of a home-field advantage.
The Chargers’ defense has been dominant this season. They lead the NFL in points allowed per game, rank 7th in yards allowed per game, and average 1.7 takeaways per contest, 9th best in the league. Their one weakness is their lack of sacks, as they rank 18th with a sack percentage of 6.77%.
Texans D/ST vs Indianapolis Colts
Available in 61% of ESPN Leagues
Earlier this season, the Colts’ offense got the better of the Houston Texans defense, but the Texans managed to squeak out a win. In that Week 1 divisional matchup, Houston recorded four sacks and one interception. While sacks and turnovers are likely for the Colts in this contest, their star running back, Jonathan Taylor, is still nursing a high-ankle sprain. He didn’t practice leading into Week 7, casting doubt on his Week 8 availability.
The Colts will start Anthony Richardson at quarterback. If the Texans can limit his downfield throws (which they failed to do in Week 1), Richardson could face significant struggles. His 48.5% completion rate is the worst in the NFL, with the next highest being New England’s Jacoby Brissett with 58.5%. Richardson has also been turnover-prone, with seven turnovers in only four (fully healthy) games played, tied for the 4th most in the league. Additionally, the Colts allow the 4th highest sack rate in the NFL, with sacks occurring on 4.55% of their offensive plays.
The Texans’ defense has been solid this season, ranking 2nd in yards allowed per game, 3rd in yards per play, 4th in sack percentage, and 11th in takeaways per game. However, they struggle in the red zone, ranking 30th in red zone defense and allowing 2.7 touchdowns per game—one of the worst marks in the NFL. Expect the Texans to show up on their home field and keep the Colts’ offense tamed.
SLEEPERS:
- Bears D/ST @ Washington Commanders
- Packers D/ST @ Jacksonville Jaguars