Fantasy Football: 3 Defenses to Stream for NFL Week 2

Defenses to Stream Week 2 at a Glance

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers D/ST
• San Francisco 49ers D/ST
• New England Patriots D/ST

Every point matters when it comes to winning in season-long fantasy football, meaning you can't afford to leave points on the table. While we don't spend top-notch draft capital on D/STs in our fantasy football drafts, ignoring them during the season can cost you dearly.

Streaming defenses throughout the year is a great way to ensure you get the most out of your D/ST slot. Even the best defenses draw tough weekly matchups, and even the worst defenses are capable of strong fantasy outings in the right situations.

This article is here to help you parse through all of those situations and to present you with three streamers that are available in most leagues.

All NFL projections via our numbers at FanDuel Research, and NFL odds references are to FanDuel Sportsbook.

D/ST Streamers for Fantasy Football Week 2

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Matchup: vs. Browns

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers look like a smash streaming play in Week 2, and a lot of it has to do with a home date versus the Cleveland Browns.

Cleveland was miserable offensively in Week 1 as Deshaun Watson threw a pick and put the ball on the ground. Most of the good the Browns’ O did came in garbage time.

The Bucs’ D was not helped by their offense in a Week 1 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals as Baker Mayfield‘s turnover woes put Tampa Bay’s defense in a tough spot. But for the most part, the Bucs’ defense held up fairly well against a high-octane Cincy offense. They have a much softer matchup this week and are a superb D/ST streamer.

San Francisco 49ers

Matchup: vs. Dolphins

The San Francisco 49ers‘ defense delivered a masterpiece in Week 1, bottling up the high-powered Los Angeles Rams. They draw a much easier assignment this week as they’re at home against the Miami Dolphins.

In Week 1, Miami mostly looked like the kind of offense we were expecting. The Fins were exciting at times and Malik Willis can run as well as any QB, but with so many new pieces on offense, Miami is going to be a work in progress early in the year.

San Fran is a 13.5-point favorite. A positive game script would lead to more chances for the Niners’ D to rack up sacks and interceptions.

New England Patriots

Matchup: vs. Steelers

While the Pittsburgh Steelers got a win in Week 1, they were pretty blah offensively, mustering just 4.1 yards per play. That makes the New England Patriots‘ D/ST an appealing target this week.

The Pats’ D performed fairly well at the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1, although they barely had to face Sam Darnold. They’ve got a nice matchup this week against Aaron Rodgers, who was just 24 for 40 in Week 1 and took a pair of sacks.

Rodgers still doesn’t throw many picks, which makes the Pats a worse option than either of the first two D/STs listed, but the New England defense can still have a good day.

Fantasy Football Defense Streaming FAQ

What does streaming defenses mean in fantasy football?

Streaming defenses means changing your starting D/ST based on weekly matchups rather than relying on one defense for the entire season. The goal is to target defenses facing offenses that allow sacks, commit turnovers, and/or struggle to score.

What should I look for when streaming a fantasy defense?

Matchup quality is usually the biggest factor. Look for defenses facing inexperienced — or backup — quarterbacks, weak offensive lines, turnover-prone QBs, or teams with low projected point totals.

How early should I pick up a streaming defense?

It can be helpful to look ahead one or two weeks, especially in competitive leagues. Adding a favorable defense before waivers run can keep you from competing with several other managers for the same option. With that said, depending on how many bench spots you have, you likely will want to roster just one defense each week rather than dedicate two roster spots to D/STs.

Is it better to stream defenses or draft an elite D/ST?

Streaming can be a strong strategy because defensive fantasy production is often matchup-dependent. Rather than spending an early pick on a defense, managers can wait until late in the draft to take a D/ST and rotate options throughout the season.

Which bets stand out to you this week? Check out FanDuel Sportsbook's latest NFL odds to see the full menu of options.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.