Streaming Defenses: Week 14 Options

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Updated on December 8, 2021 8:06AM EST

It's week ~~we've all~~ I've been waiting for, with each of the top-eight defenses in my Week 14 rankings sitting at 51 percent rostered or less on Yahoo (as of Tuesday morning). It's a true streamer's delight, while the defenses above 80 percent rostered all have tricky matchups (LAR-ARZ, BUF-TB) or byes (NE, IND).

That leaves us with a smorgasbord of D/ST streamers for Week 14, though for some fantasy teams the real priority is preparation for Weeks 15-17 (or 16-17 if you're really sitting pretty). For the looking-ahead crew, we'll note that the Chargers, Seahawks, Saints and Eagles all project as top-10 plays in two out of those three playoff weeks (15-17).

This might be the time to roster two defenses and line up matchups for the rest of the season, especially if you're only playing for seeding (or nothing) this week. Just note that the streaming rankings below are solely based on Week 14 value, i.e., I put the Broncos ahead of the Saints/Chargers because they have a better projection this week, even though in practice I'm more likely to add the Saints/Chargers due to their favorable r-o-s schedules.

For injury/ranking updates throughout the week, follow me on Twitter (@JerryDonabedian).

Note: These recommendations are limited to team defenses that are rostered on less than 60 percent of teams on Yahoo or 45 percent on ESPN. Any references to fantasy points are based on Yahoo standard scoring, which doesn't include yards allowed.

Top Streaming Options for Week

For injury/ranking updates throughout the week, follow me on Twitter (@JerryDonabedian).

Top Streaming Options for Week 14

1. Green Bay Packers (vs. CHI)

38% Yahoo, 28% ESPN

Team implied total: 28.25

Opponent implied total: 15.75

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 15: 19th (at BAL), Week 16: 14th (vs. CLE)

With the Packers favored by 12.5 points, the largest spread of Week 14, it might initially seem like an easy choice to use waiver priority or some FAAB to add their defense. That's necessarily a bad idea, but first consider that there are other similarly strong options on waivers in most leagues, as this happens to be a week where a bunch of lower-ownership defenses draw home matchups against bottom-feeders. The Packers, of course, are the cream of the crop among that group, coming out of a bye to face either rookie Justin Fields (ribs) or Andy Dalton fresh off a four-pick game.

Whether that's worth FAAB/waiver priority depends on how badly you need a win this week, among other things. While the Packers should be startable the rest of the season, this is their last premium matchup until Week 18, at which point most fantasy leagues are done anyway. Last but not least, it might not be worth using a resource on Green Bay if one of the four defenses listed below is likely to be available for nothing.

2. Tennessee Titans (vs. JAX)

26% Yahoo, 25% ESPN

Team implied total: 26.5

Opponent implied total: 17.5

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 15: 17th (at PIT), Week 16: 16th (vs. SF)

The Titans mostly have average to slightly below average matchups after this, making them a solid choice for deep leagues or anyone who is solely focused on Week 14. It's a similar story as Green Bay, with the significantly better team coming out of a bye to host an overmatched opponent with bottom-five QB play. It's anyone's guess whether Dalton/Fields or Trevor Lawrence suffers the worst implosion this week (and don't count out Jared Goff, Mike Glennon or a few others).

Packers coach Matt LaFleur said he believes LB De'Vondre Campbell, who is on the COVID list, is asymptomatic and appears to be on track to return to the facility on Friday.
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) December 6, 2021

3. Denver Broncos (vs. DET)

47% Yahoo, 44% ESPN

Team implied total: 25.0

Opponent implied total: 17.0

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 15: 18th (vs. CIN), Week 16: 20th (at LV)

Some may have cooled on this matchup after last week, but the Vegas odds have it right, seeing the bigger picture and sticking Detroit with the second-lowest implied total of the week (tied with NYG and HOU). While Jared Goff got it done last week, that was at home in a dome against a banged-up, slumping defense. He'll take his act outdoors and on the road this week, facing a much better defense and potentially playing without RB D'Andre Swift (shoulder) again.

4. Los Angeles Chargers (vs. NYG)

27% Yahoo, 7% ESPN

Team implied total: 27.5

Opponent implied total: 17.0

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 15: 25th (vs. KC), Week 16: 4th (at HOU)

The Chargers face the Chiefs next week but otherwise have pretty matchups through the end of the fantasy playoffs. This one might even be the best of the bunch, with QB Mike Glennon likely starting and the Giants' receiving corps still banged up. After the KC game, the Chargers travel to Houston for Week 16 and then return home for Week 17 against the Broncos.

If you can afford to roster two defenses, you might consider picking up the Chargers and Dolphins, with Miami subbing in Week 15 (vs. NYJ) when the Chargers get that aforementioned Mahomes matchup. Other D/ST duos I like to cover the next four weeks include Saints-Eagles, Chargers-Eagles, Seahawks-Dolphins and Seahawks-Eagles, though I'll always stay on the prowl for upgrades even if I've secured a preferred duo.

5. New Orleans Saints (at NYJ)

46% Yahoo, 49% ESPN

Team implied total: 24.5

Opponent implied total: 19.0

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 15: 30th (at TB), Week 16: 8th (vs. MIA)

It's quite a week when this is our fifth streaming pick. After all, the Saints are ninth in D/ST scoring average (7.4), while the Jets have surrendered the fifth most points to the position. And even that number (fifth most) seems to undersell the matchup, considering the Jets offense looked better with Joe Flacco and Mike White than it has with rookie Zach Wilson at quarterback. Still, it's similarly hard to argue with the matchups listed above, so the real message is to stick with your gut and/or focus on preparing ahead. (Note that the Saints host Carolina in Week 17.)