Week 1 proved that a D/ST unit can win or lose you a fantasy matchup. As scoring varies from league to league, we can look at the most basic formats where ten teams scored double-digit fantasy points in their opener. Nailing the right D/ST is an edge we have to own weekly. While the Cowboys, 49ers, and Jets are unlikely to be on your waiver wires, some of these units are. We will always be attacking poor offensive lines, shaky QB play, and game script advantages.
Yahoo Fantasy is used for ownership percentages.
Higher-owned Options
New Orleans Saints (NO, 78%)
The Saints aren’t likely available, but if they are, they get a date this week (Week 2) with Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers. The Saints allowed the lowest NFL passer rating in Week 1 (29.1), and Young is coming off a game where he was almost as pathetic, with a 48.8 rating, 2 INT, and 19 yards lost on his two sacks. The Saints D is legit, and their pass coverage could leave Young with few options on most of his dropbacks.
Top Targets
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (TB, 21%)
Anyone facing the pathetic Chicago Bears offense will be on this list, and Tampa Bay turned over Minnesota three times in Week 1, proving they can wreak havoc. The Bears OL was horrible in Week 1, and Justin Fields isn’t an NFL passer. Tampa Bay allowed the fewest rush yards in Week 1 (41), and they still have a very strong secondary with a pair of quality corners.
Cleveland Browns (Cle, 10%)
The Dawg Pound was rocking as Myles Garrett and friends dismantled Joe Burrow’s Bengals in Week 1. The Browns allowed just 2.8 yards per play on opening day, second best in the league, and they’ll go on the road to face a Steelers team that turned the ball over three times in Week 1 and will likely be without Diontae Johnson, their top option in the passing game. The Browns didn’t allow a single completion over 15 yards in Week 1. In fact, per Fantasy Points Data, the Browns only allowed 22.2 fantasy points to all Bengals receivers combined – the best in the league for Week 1. The conditions were sloppy, but it was an impressive performance for the Browns last week.
Going Deeper
New York Giants (NYG, 7%)
We get it: The Giants were demolished on Sunday night. But pro athletes are a proud bunch, and the G-Men get a chance to rebound against the Arizona Cardinals. The Cards averaged just 2.9 yards per play in Week 1, 28th in the league. No offense to Joshua Dobbs (132 yards passing), who is being tasked with an absolutely thankless job, but it should be a bounce-back effort on both sides of the ball for Big Blue.
Indianapolis Colts (Ind, 2%)
This is purely a play against the Texans/ offense. Houston averaged a measly 3.6 yards per play in Week 1. The foundation of the Texans' attack is supposed to be Dameon Pierce, who could manage only 38 yards against the Ravens. C.J. Stroud took five sacks and failed to produce an offensive touchdown. If you are desperate for upside, the Colts might have a lucky horseshoe for you.
Looking ahead to Week 3
Seattle vs. Carolina
Jacksonville vs. Houston
Kansas City vs. Chicago
