Streaming Defenses: Week 9 Options

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Published on November 2, 2021

The streaming list for Week 9 is largely comprised of quality defenses that sunk below the ownership threshold due to bye weeks and/or difficult matchups. That's not exactly the norm around here, but it does set us up with three of the five defenses looking like multi-week starts.

While Dallas comes in at No. 1 among eligible contenders for Week 9, you might want to scroll down a little further if you're looking for a defense that's likely to be ranked top 10 each of the next three weeks, rather than just the next two.

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 9

1. Dallas Cowboys (vs. DEN)

58% Yahoo, 49% ESPN

Team implied total: 29.5

Opponent implied total: 20.0

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 10: 9th (vs. ATL), Week 11: 21st (at KC)

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

Top Streaming Options for Week 9

1. Dallas Cowboys (vs. DEN)

58% Yahoo, 49% ESPN

Team implied total: 29.5

Opponent implied total: 20.0

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 10: 9th (vs. ATL), Week 11: 21st (at KC)

I was surprised to see Dallas available in a few of my leagues, given the (justified) hype surrounding Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs. Such is life at the D/ST spot, where all but the very best are one bye week or one bad matchup away from hitting waivers. The Cowboys managed just two fantasy points this past Sunday in Minnesota, but they also gave up just 16 real-life points to an above-average offense, coming out of the Week 7 bye with another strong outing. Prior to the bye, Dallas scored seven or more fantasy points each week, with 11 INTs in six games. A home matchup this Sunday with Teddy Bridgewater and the Broncos should put Dallas back on the right side of the turnover battle.

2. New Orleans Saints (vs. ATL)

47% Yahoo, 55% ESPN

Team implied total: 24.0

Opponent implied total: 18.0

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 10: 16th (at TEN), Week 11: 10th (at PHI)

After picking off Tom Brady twice, the Saints are tied with the Cowboys and Bills for a league-high 11 interceptions. Plus, they've piled up eight sacks in two games since a Week 6 bye, after managing just eight total over the first five weeks of the season. These Saints-Falcons games projected as shootouts for years, but the upcoming version won't include Drew Brees, Julio Jones, Michael Thomas or Calvin Ridley (no word yet on whether Roddy White and Marques Coltston RSVP'd). In fact, only two games this week have lower over/unders (42), and only two teams (Chicago, Jacksonville) have implied totals below Atlanta's 18.0.

3. Miami Dolphins (vs. HOU)

13% Yahoo, 12% ESPN

Team implied total: 26.25

Opponent implied total: 19.75

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week : 21st (vs. BAL), Week : 9th (at NYJ)

This is our pure matchup play of the week, as the Miami defense is averaging a meager 3.4 fantasy points. We can expect five or six this week, however, considering Houston has allowed the third most points to the position (8.9). Only Jacksonville in Week 1 fell shy of five fantasy points against the Texans, somehow taking a minus-3.

4. New England Patriots (at CAR)

56% Yahoo, 60% ESPN

Team implied total: 22.5

Opponent implied total: 18.5

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 10: 10th (vs. CLE), Week 11: 8th (at ATL)

The big game against Justin Herbert lifted New England to No. 8 in D/ST scoring (7.8 ppg) for the season, including back-to-back games with double digits. Next up is a trip to Carolina, where the Pats will either face a slumping (to put it nicely) Sam Darnold or else P.J. Walker filling in for a concussed Darnold. The Pats are four-point favorites on the road in a game with the second lowest over/under (41) of the week.

5. Baltimore Ravens (vs. MIN)

59% Yahoo, 56% ESPN

Team implied total: 27.5

Opponent implied total: 22.0

Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 10: 3rd (at MIA), Week 11: 7th (at CHI)

A Week 8 bye should allow the Ravens to move past their Week 7 humiliation at the hands of Ja'Marr Chase and Joe Burrow, well rested ahead of a stretch of favorable matchups. The home game against Minnesota is followed by trips to Miami and Jacksonville, likely making the Baltimore defense a Top 10 play for each of the next three weeks. If you're looking for a multi-week starter, Baltimore and Dallas are the picks from this list.