Streaming Defenses: Week 15 Options

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Updated on December 21, 2021 6:11PM EST

If you haven't already, this is the time to line up defenses for the rest of the season/playoffs, which often means rostering two (or even three) different teams. That's a little trickier this year with COVID-19 absences increasing the importance of depth at QB/RB/WR/TE, but I nonetheless find myself holding two D/STs in a majority of leagues right now.

No worries, of course, if that isn't a realistic option for you. We'll still be here the next three weeks with streaming picks, and it's a safe bet COVID-19 absences and/or QB injuries will turn some mediocre matchups into good ones, creating new opportunities we can't see right now. Still, it's nice to at least have a rough plan outlined, and we should have most of what you need

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 15

1. Miami Dolphins (vs. NYJ)

50% Yahoo, 44% ESPN

Team implied total: 25.5

Opponent implied total: 17.0

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 16: 14th (at NO), Week 17: 23rd (at TEN)

The Dolphins meet our ownership requirement and check nearly every box for a top D/ST play, but they're likely already rostered if your league is highly competitive, with many fantasy players

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

Top Streaming Options for Week 15

1. Miami Dolphins (vs. NYJ)

50% Yahoo, 44% ESPN

Team implied total: 25.5

Opponent implied total: 17.0

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 16: 14th (at NO), Week 17: 23rd (at TEN)

The Dolphins meet our ownership requirement and check nearly every box for a top D/ST play, but they're likely already rostered if your league is highly competitive, with many fantasy players either stashing or adding Miami during the Week 14 bye. That's the type of (dis)respect Zach Wilson warrants, especially against a Miami defense that scored at least five points in each of the past five games, averaging 14.4 over that stretch. Lamar Jackson is the only decent QB the Dolphins faced during that period, but it's not like things get any harder for them this Sunday, with Wilson ranking 31st in INT rate (3.9 percent) and 29th in sack rate (8.9) out of 32 qualified passers.

2. Cleveland Browns (vs. LV)

40% Yahoo, 41% ESPN

Team implied total: 24.0

Opponent implied total: 18.0

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 16: 30th (at GB), Week 17: 13th (at PIT)

The Raiders have now given up the 10th most fantasy points to team defenses, and it isn't just a product of last week's disaster in Kansas City, as they've struggled overall since a Week 8 bye, scoring 16 or fewer points in five of six games. That stretch includes five losses and an overtime win in Dallas, with the Raiders outscored by 91 points (15.2). The Browns also have been unimpressive in the second half of the season, but not nearly to the same extent, and their struggles mostly have been on the offensive side.

3. Philadelphia Eagles (vs. WAS)

20% Yahoo, 27% ESPN

Team implied total: 24.25

Opponent implied total: 19.25

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 16: 2nd (vs. NYG), Week 17: 11th (at WAS)

While the Dolphins and Browns check in a few spots ahead of the Eagles this week, Philadelphia might be the right choice if you're in need of a defense and don't anticipate finding good options on waivers Weeks 16 and 17. The Eagles already rank a respectable 13th in fantasy scoring — including five or more points in four straight games before the Week 14 bye — and there's some chance they'll get matchups with Kyle Allen and/or Mike Glennon instead of Taylor Heinicke (knee) and Daniel Jones (neck) over the next three weeks. Not that Heinicke or Jones is anything to be scared of...

4. Minnesota Vikings (at CHI)

39% Yahoo, 30% ESPN

Team implied total: 23.75

Opponent implied total: 20.25

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 16: 31st (at LA), Week 17: 28th (at GB)

I'm going against the betting odds here with Minnesota ahead of Jacksonville. That's partly because I don't think the Jags should be favored by three over Houston, and partly because Justin Fields has been even sloppier than Davis Mills, ranking dead last in both INT rate (4.3 percent) and sack rate (12.5). In other words, Minnesota's porous defense should put up some fantasy points even if it allows Fields and David Montgomery to score real-life points.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. HOU)

2% Yahoo, 3% ESPN

Team implied total: 22.0

Opponent implied total: 19.0

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 16: 11th (at NYJ), Week 17: 27th (at NE)

You can make a case for either defense from this game given the struggles of both offenses, and while I can't say I agree with the Jags being three-point favorites, it's close enough to lean toward the home team over the visitors. Mills, while no worse than most of the first-round rookie QBs so far, has still been quite bad compared to NFL standards in general, ranking 28th in NY/A (5.3), 24th in INT rate (2.9) and 27th in sack rate (8.1).