Streaming Defenses: Week 7 Options

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Published on October 19, 2021

This is a strange week for streaming and just about everything else, with six teams on bye and five of 13 games featuring a point spread of seven or more. That includes three games with spreads of 13-plus, as a bunch of the league's heavyweights draw home matchups with cellar dwellers. Ideally, we'd be able to pick our D/ST streamers from those games, but we'll also include fallback options below.

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 7

1. Arizona Cardinals (vs. HOU)

59% Yahoo, 61% ESPN

Team implied total: 32.0

Opponent implied total: 15.0

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 8: 19th (vs. GB), Week 9: 12th (at SF)

The Cardinals narrowly meet our ownership qualification, and thus figure to be rostered in more than half of competitive leagues. They already rank second in D/ST scoring (10.5 per game) and now draw the mother of all matchups, a home game against Houston. That may be a good use of a few FAAB bucks, if you have the chance, though the Cardinals do face Aaron Rodgers next week.

2. New Orleans Saints (at SEA)

42% Yahoo, 52% ESPN

Team implied total: 24.25

Opponent implied total: 19.25

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

Top Streaming Options for Week 7

1. Arizona Cardinals (vs. HOU)

59% Yahoo, 61% ESPN

Team implied total: 32.0

Opponent implied total: 15.0

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 8: 19th (vs. GB), Week 9: 12th (at SF)

2. New Orleans Saints (at SEA)

42% Yahoo, 52% ESPN

Team implied total: 24.25

Opponent implied total: 19.25

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 8: 25th (vs. TB), Week 9: 9th (vs. ATL)

Few could've predicted that the Saints would be five-point favorites for a road game in Seattle this year. But they've been better than expected, especially on defense, and now come out of a bye well-rested to face a Seahawks team that had to fly back to Seattle after an OT loss in Pittsburgh late Sunday night. The Saints shouldn't have too much trouble with Geno Smith and Alex Collins (or DeeJay Dallas if Collins' hip/glute injury lingers).

3. San Francisco 49ers (vs. IND)

49% Yahoo, 44% ESPN

Team implied total: 24.25

Opponent implied total: 20.75

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 8: 3rd (at CHI), Week 9: 19th (vs. ARZ)

San Francisco may be the best choice if you're set on adding a multi-week streamer, seeing as the two teams listed above will face Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady, respectively, in Week 8. The 49ers, meanwhile, come out of a bye week with a home game against Carson Wentz, followed by a Week 8 visit to Chicago to face Justin Fields. While betting lines might hint at the 49ers being a third-tier D/ST play this week, the 3.5-point spread seems overly generous to Wentz and Co.

4. Cleveland Browns (vs. DEN)

58% Yahoo, 57% ESPN

Team implied total: 23.0

Opponent implied total: 19.5

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 8: 7th (vs. PIT), Week 9: 11th (at CIN)

Cleveland's defense has simultaneously been disappointing and promising, unable to fully cash in on another dominant year from Myles Garrett, who has more help around him than ever before. Injuries have been a factor, and LB Jermiah Owusu-Koramoah (ankle) will be out this week, but the Browns should still have a ton of talent on the field, while the Broncos have Teddy Bridgewater at quarterback and aren't likely to have WR Jerry Jeudy back from IR for another week or two.

5. Las Vegas Raiders (vs. PHI)

14% Yahoo, 27% ESPN

Team implied total: 26.0

Opponent implied total: 23.0

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 8: Bye, Week 9: 13th (at NYG)

It's been a roller coaster first half of the season for the Raiders, but they're in good position to improve to 5-2 before a Week 8 bye. The Eagles are middle of the pack in terms of fantasy points allowed to D/ST units, but their offense has been subpar by nearly any other measure, plus they've been fortunate to lose just one of their seven fumbles (QB Jalen Hurts has four fumbles, zero lost). Hurts will have his hands full with Raiders DE Maxx Crosby, who had three sacks last week and now leads the NFL with 18 QB hits.