I’ve learned in business and life that sometimes you need to be your own cheerleader. Well, get the pom-poms out and do a backflip … because we crushed it. All seven D/STs listed in Week 1 finished in the top 17 for the week (it was top 15 until Monday Night Football). That included Indianapolis and the LA Rams, who finished second and third on the week. Again, these are plays that were owned in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues. That’s a sick start. I hope those who needed a streamer found this advice helpful. Every week won’t be that perfect, but we’re going to do our best with the help of Fantasy Points Data and our god given gift of sight.
As we go forward in the season, I want you to remember that fantasy football is a weekly game. We’re trying to score the most points THIS week. That’s why streaming defenses matter. If you drafted the Ravens or the Bills, congratulations, you scored a combined -3.00 points last week. It’s not about the name on the jersey, it’s about the matchup.
This article has and always will look to exploit bad quarterback play, weak offensive lines, and poor offensive schemes.
Drake’s Top 5 D/ST adds
under 50% owned on Yahoo
- Los Angeles Rams @ Titans
- Dallas Cowboys vs. Giants
- San Francisco 49ers @ Saints
- New England Patriots @ Dolphins
- Seattle Seahawks @ Steelers
Higher-owned Options
Arizona Cardinals (Ari, 60%) — The Cardinals return home to face Bryce Young and the Panthers. In Week 1, Young threw a pair of interceptions, and the offense lost a fumble. I have zero faith in this Panthers offense to score points, so I’m very much in favor of rolling out defenses against them for the time being. Arizona didn’t look great in their opener, but they have enough talent to turn in a top-10 week.
Green Bay Packers (GB, 46%) — Simply put, this is the best defense in the NFL. I’m not saying it will translate to fantasy every week, but if there were a set-and-forget style DST, it would be the Packers. Elite front, strong secondary, well-coached. Just a hell of a defense and owned in just 46% of Yahoo leagues. Last week, the Pack allowed just 46 yards rushing. We'll see just how stingy they are against one of the best running quarterbacks in the league on Thursday night. After they play the Commanders in Week 2, they'll go to Cleveland and Dallas before an early Week 5 bye.
Top Targets
Los Angeles Rams (LAR, 28%) — Fresh off a three-sack and two-turnover performance in Week 1, the Rams head on the road to face Cam Ward’s Titans, who allowed six sacks on Sunday. The Rams' pass rush has the firepower to match that number. I like the Rams to stymie the young Titans and force Ward into tough situations where he’ll make mistakes.
San Francisco 49ers (SF, 34%) — We’re going to pick on Spencer Rattler all season. I’ll give the Saints QB credit; he was only sacked once and didn’t turn the ball over vs. the Cardinals, but it’s just a matter of time. He’s not good enough to play flawless football, and neither is his offense. San Francisco forces a pair of turnovers in this one, and it wouldn’t shock me if one went to the house.
Dallas Cowboys (DAL, 7%) — I hate to say it, but Dallas looked pretty good vs. the Eagles. Both corners held up extremely well (allowed just 8.3 fantasy points to Eagles WRs), and the young Cowboys D-line held Saquon Barkley in check. Week 2 brings another divisional opponent, the Giants. Russell Wilson is already rumored to get benched, and the offense lacks any semblance of forward thinking. New York averaged the third-worst yards per play (3.7) on the week. Love Dallas as a streaming play in their home opener.
Seattle Seahawks (SEA, 22%) — It’s not quite the Legion of Boom, but the Seahawks came to play in Week 1. Their 33.3% pressure rate led the NFL. That equated to 13 QB pressures (a league high) and seven hurries (also a league high). Week 2 brings them across the country to face the immobile Aaron Rodgers and his Pittsburgh Steelers. With that pressure, I can see Seattle getting home on Rodgers several times and forcing him into mistakes. Last week versus the Jets, Rodgers was sacked four times and pressured the sixth most of any QB. Bonus, if you add Seattle now, you have them for their upcoming stretch of games against PIT, NO, ARI, TB, JAX, and HOU before their Week 8 BYE.
Going Deeper
New England Patriots (NE, 14%) — Four sacks and a pick in the opener made the Patriots a viable play. Now they get to visit potentially the worst team in the NFL, the Miami Dolphins. This Dolphins team has a horrendous OL, and after just one game, it has the look of a team ready to quit on their coach. They made the Colts look like the ’70s Steel Curtain. There’s no doubt the Pats can get sacks and force turnovers vs the ‘Phins. Maybe my favorite play of the weekend.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (TB, 5%) — This Tampa Bay defense isn’t great. But it’s going up against a Houston Texans offensive line that looked completely disinterested in protecting C.J. Stroud on Sunday. The makeshift OL allowed seven QB hits and three sacks to the Rams. Tampa blitzed on over 21% of their defensive snaps in Week 1, and it wouldn’t shock me if that number doubles on Sunday. Houston has a below-average run game and, at the moment, one receiver they can lean on. This is a great DFS play for MNF showdown lineups.
New Orleans Saints (NO, 1%) — Not a lot of sites have the balls to give the Saints out as a play, but we aren’t just any site. The Saints are in the friendly and loud confines of the Caesars Superdome to battle an injury-riddled 49ers team. San Francisco is likely to be without George Kittle and potentially without Brock Purdy, among others. Last week, the Saints registered five sacks on Kyler Murray and had a 21.6% pressure rate (fourth best in the league). I think they can match that against Mac Jones. Let’s give him a turnover or two, and the Saints have more upside than a round of free drinks on Bourbon Street.
Place Kickers
Higher-owned Options
Tyler Loop (Bal, 38%) — With each passing week, Loop will be rostered more and more and become less available. The rookie will have his down games, as all kickers do. He has a big leg, and the Ravens have total confidence in him, as evidenced by his two long-range, bonus field goals in Week 1. With a stud offense, Loop will get plenty of chances to score points.
Top Targets
Cam Little (Jac, 37%) — Jacksonville does not have a rocking offense, and some of their drives tend to sputter. That actually helps Little, as field goal opportunities increase because of this. He slammed four field goals between the posts in Week 1, with one of them being a bonus-range variety. The Jaguars have a few good matchups over the next few weeks, and Little should be a solid kicker option.
Going Deeper
Spencer Shrader (Ind, 1%) — Yes, the Colts faced a horrible Miami team in Week 1. Yes, Shrader will not supply four field goals every week. Still, he did kick four in his first home game, and while a tough Denver matchup is on the horizon this week, he will be at home for the second straight week.
Tom Simons contributes the placekicker writeups.
