Streaming Defenses: Picking a Week 11 Defense

This article is part of our Streaming Defenses series.

Chiefs

QB Philip Rivers can only do so much these days as his supporting cast continues to crumble around him. WR Keenan Allen is out for the season with a lacerated kidney, while Malcom Floyd attempts to play through a torn labrum. RB Danny Woodhead and TE Antonio Gates can only do so much and neither really stretch the field. The Chiefs rank tied for 10th in YPA (6.5) and should be a nice matchup for Rivers, who has done a great job of limiting turnovers this season.

On the ground neither Melvin Gordon nor Danny Woodhead have had much production. As a team the Chargers average just 3.6 YPC, while the Chiefs defense ranks 10th against the run (4.0 YPC). Losing a series of lineman to injury hasn't helped matters for the Chargers running game either. Coming off a bye, I expect the Chargers to be rested, but rest won't replace Allen or the lineman that are already gone for the season. Vegas has this over/under set at 44.5 with the Chiefs favored by 3, which puts this at about a 24-21 game. Facing the Chargers on the road, the Chiefs defense/special teams has an ownership of 32.2 percent at ESPN and 40 percent at Yahoo.

Bucs

Eagles QB Sam Bradford is expected to miss this week's game with a sprained AC joint and a concussion. In his place we're likely to see Mark Sanchez, who finished last season with almost as many touchdowns (14) as interceptions (11). The Bucs pass defense ranks 17th in YPA (7.0) and will have a friendly matchup with Sanchez under center. WR Jordan Matthews is sure to draw their attention, even though he has just two touchdowns on the season. TE Zach Ertz and RB DeMarco Murray are also active in the passing game, but this isn't a very efficient offense, even with Bradford under center.

The Bucs run defense ranks third in YPC (3.6) and should make it tough for Murray (3.5 YPC) to gain traction. The hope is that they do enough to stymie him and Ryan Matthews on the ground that they force the Eagles to become one-dimensional and Sanchez is forced into clear passing situations. Eighth in yards per play (5.3), the Bucs defense has quietly put together a decent season. Vegas has this over/under set at 45 with the Eagles favored by 5.5, which puts this at about a 25-20 game. Facing the Eagles on the road, the Bucs defense/special teams has an ownership of 10.1 percent at ESPN and 9 percent at Yahoo.

Titans

While not Peyton Manning, QB Blake Bortles has thrown the fourth most interceptions this season (11) and is 28th in YPA (6.69), as the young signal caller is still growing into his role in his second season in the league. The Titans rank tied for 22nd in YPA (7.3) and aren't a great pass defense by any means. WR Allen Hurns is currently dealing with a sports hernia injury that he'll need offseason surgery to correct, though he'll play through it for now. He and Allen Robinson form a nice duo and one that the Titans will need all hands on deck to cover in the secondary.

The Jags have one rushing TD this season and don't have a running game that strikes much fear into their opponents. The Titans are also ranked 10th in YPC (4.0), so this is a matchup that should favor them. RB T.J. Yeldon has been held to 70 rushing yards or less in six of his eight games this season, which speaks to the growing pains of the Jags offensive line. Moreover, Yeldon has been dealing with a foot injury and was in a walking boot as recently as Tuesday, so he's clearly not 100 percent. Don't be surprised to see Denard Robinson in his place for stretches of the game, especially on a short week. Vegas has this over/under set at 43 with the Jags favored by 3, which puts this at about a 23-20 game. Facing the Jags on the road, the Titans defense/special teams has an ownership of 24.6 percent at ESPN and 8 percent at Yahoo.

Texas

The Texans will face a familiar foe this week in QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, who ranks 23rd in YPA (7.01) and has done a fair job limiting turnovers (nine interceptions). A below average QB, he's done what the Jets have asked of him in managing the offense and getting the ball to WRs Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker. The Texans rank tied for 12th in YPA (6.6) and just this past Monday held Andy Dalton to just 5.2 YPA and 197 passing yards, both season lows, showing the defense is talented enough to rise to the occasion. Still, Marshall and Decker should keep them plenty busy.

RB Chris Ivory has had an up and down season with injuries, most recently his quad, though he has also cited offensive line issues for his dip in production. The Texans rank 24th in YPC (4.3) and could be in for a long game, if they can't corral Ivory and a Jets team that likes to run the ball early and often. Still, the Texans just put forth one of their best efforts on the season defensively and in the last two games have allowed teams to score a total of 12 points, showing maybe they're starting to trend in the right direction. Vegas has this over/under set at 41.5 with the Jets favored by 2.5, which puts this at about a 22-20 game. Facing the Jets at home, the Texans defense/special teams has an ownership of 42.0 percent at ESPN and 46 percent at Yahoo.

Jags

QB Marcus Mariota has had a fine rookie season so far, ranking seventh in YPA (8.01) and 10th in completion percentage (65.6), this despite no elite options at WR. TE Delanie Walker has been his favorite target, but Mariota has spread the ball around to WRs Kendall Wright and Justin Hunter too. Average against the pass, the Jags rank tied for 18th in YPA (7.1) and shouldn't have too much trouble containing a Titans passing game that doesn't have many players that can stretch the field or pick up chunk yardage.

RB Antonio Andrews "leads" the Titans running game, yet he only averages 3.5 YPC. He'll find it pretty tough to get much going, as the Jags are the best run defense in the league allowing just 3.3 YPC. RB Dexter McCluster is the main concern out of the backfield, as he can use his speed to get to the outside and catch passes out of the backfield. He's likely the most elusive and dynamic of the Titans weapons, though not always utilized enough. On a short week, I expect this game to be a bit ugly with neither team putting up much of a fight on offense. Vegas has this over/under set at 43 with the Jags favored by 3, which puts this at about a 23-20 game. Facing the Titans at home, the Jags defense/special teams has an ownership of 7.5 percent at ESPN and 2 percent at Yahoo.

Here are my rankings for this week, the next four weeks, and the remainder of the season: