Fantasy Football: 3 Defenses to Stream for NFL Week 5

Defenses to Stream at a Glance

• Dallas Cowboys D/ST
• Cincinnati Bengals D/ST
• New York Jets 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 5

Dallas Cowboys D/ST

Matchup: vs. Buccaneers

This is all about the matchup because the Dallas Cowboys‘ defense has been bad.

In Week 5, the Cowboys have a friendly home date with Jalon Daniels and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Daniels is an undrafted rookie QB who passed for only 148 yards with a pair of picks in his NFL debut last week. Not only will this be Daniels’ first road game, but it’s a short week as the Cowboys-Bucs clash is on Thursday night.

That makes the Dallas D/ST very playable in fantasy, and with how good the Cowboys’ offense is, that should result in Tampa Bay needing to go to the air to keep pace, meaning chances for sacks and interceptions for the Dallas defense.

Cincinnati Bengals D/ST

Matchup: at Miami

I typically like to stream defenses that are at home. I’ll make an exception this week for the Cincinnati Bengals thanks to their matchup at the Miami Dolphins.

Miami has scored just 46 points through four games as the experiment of starting Malik Willis with a pretty poor offense around him is going about how most assumed it would. Willis has two picks and three fumbles this season, and Miami’s 46 points is a league-low clip by a sizable margin.

Similar to the Cowboys, the Bengals have not been very strong on D, but the matchup puts them on the streaming radar.

New York Jets D/ST

Matchup: vs. Browns

The New York Jets‘ defense struggled versus Tyson Bagent and the Chicago Bears in Week 4, which isn’t a ringing endorsement. But they have a pretty nice home matchup against the Cleveland Browns in Week 5.

Gang Green had been playing dang good defense prior to Week 4, and for the season, they’re letting up the seventh-fewest yards per play (5.0) as well as the sixth-fewest net yards per pass attempt (5.7).

The Browns, meanwhile, are just 19th in yards per play on offense despite the 3-1 start. They’ve surrendered 11 sacks through four weeks while also tossing a pair of interceptions.

On a week where there aren’t many great streaming options, the Jets are a viable play.

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.