Streaming Defenses - Week 8

Bob is back with another week of streaming defense options, so read on!

Welcome to Week 8 streaming defenses. This week there are 6 bye teams making it a bit harder to find values in defenses. Even though most highly owned are still playing, one of the latest stream options are on bye, the Ravens, and 2 of our favorite targets are on bye as well, the Rams and 49ers. So I will include some desperation picks on defenses along with some decent opportunities. First let’s look at last week, since I believe in backing up projections.

It was a tough week for most defenses last week. BUF was a big dud, and the Patriots disappointed even against a backup QB. PHI surprised and is on to the highly owned tier, deservedly so. I warned you about PIT, and still don’t like them. HOU and TEN disappointed as streamers as well. Even taking PIT out of the equation the highly owned only garnered 1 point better on average than the streamers. So shout outs to the Ravens, Bengals and Packers for keeping us afloat in week 7.

Week 7 Highly Owned
DEN	HOU	100%	14	11
ARI	SEA	99%	12	8
NEP	@PIT	97%	12	5
MIN	@PHI	96%	14	14
SEA	@ARI	96%	10	8
BUF	@MIA	88%	12	1
PHI	MIN	86%	8	26
LAR	NYG	86%	8	8
PIT	NEP	86%	2	5
Average>				10.125
Streams for Week 7
HOU	@DEN	78%	10	2
TEN	IND	60%	10	2
CIN	CLE	47%	9	9
BAL	@NYJ	33%	8	19
GB	CHI	41%	8	13
Average>				9

As I state above it’s going to be a tough week for streamers, but I like 4 teams well enough and give you 2 desperation picks if you need them. The highly owned look pretty good except for BUF. Beware starting BUF. Here’s this week’s projections.

Week 8 Highly Owned
DEN	SDC	100%	12	The Chargers allow about 10 points per game no matter who they face. Facing the Broncos they will give up a few more. Start the Broncos as always.
ARI	@CAR	99%	12	Did you know the Panthers allow the 3rd most points to Defs? And they face a top defense this week. Start ARI with confidence, even on the road.
MIN	@CHI	98%	14	This one will get ugly, look for double digits from the MIN defense this week. Start with confidence.
NEP	@BUF	98%	12	BUF has no one to throw to anymore, and their running game is hurting. NEP will spy Taylor all day and bring home some def points in the process. Start the Patriots and expect big returns.
SEA	@NOS	96%	10	SEA is turning the Def up lately. They will do some damage to NO this week, start 'em as usual.
BUF	NE	90%	2	Uh oh, NEP is coming to town, and the Pats give up the 3rd least points to Defs. Look elsewhere.
PHI	@DAL	83%	10	The Cowboys have given up the least points to Defs to date, but they have yet to meet a top 10 defense. That will change this week. Eagles are averaging 16 points a game, and they will get their share this week too. Start ‘em.
Streams for Week 8
KCC	@IND	70%	12	Last time the Colts faced a top 10 def, they gave up 26 points. Chiefs are a top 10 def and a great stream this week. #1 stream.
TEN	JAC	39%	10	JAC is back to being a good target and the Titans have turned it up lately in spite of last week's bad turn. The Titans get back to form and are the 2nd best stream.
NYJ	@CLE	20%	10	The Jets looked better last week and stopped the ground game cold. Cle is still a great target averaging 10 points/game to just about any defense. Jets make the 3rd best stream.
CAR	ARI	63%	8	CAR has fallen off lately and face a high powered Off in ARI. I think this will be another low scoring slugfest, and CAR will score some def points, just not a ton. But there aren't many other options this week, so I make them the 4th best stream.
DAL	PHI	4%	8	I'm including DAL this week as one of two desperation starts. Wentz has been falling in performance and with DAL at home, this could be a decent desperation start.
CLE	NYJ	1%	6	In another desperation start, pick the Browns who play the #1 team in giving up points/game. There should be a few points to gain here by Cle, yes I said Cle.

Keep the feedback coming and good luck on a tough week.