Streaming D/STs isn’t rocket science. You target bad quarterbacks, crappy offensive lines, and underdogs. Week 6 showed us exactly that. Minnesota scored 21+ points because the Bears are a dumpster fire. Kansas City, who was mentioned here as the name to scour your wires for first, dropped the hammer on the Broncos and collected three turnovers. Even my call for the Bears came through, the freakin’ Bears.
Four of the seven defenses I recommended to add last week came through as top-12 options. With six teams off this weekend, there will be plenty of eyes on the D/ST category as waivers run. Let’s make sure we target the smartest plays on the board.
Drake’s Top 7 D/ST adds
All recommendations, unless otherwise noted, are under 50% rostered on Yahoo
- Washington Commanders @ Giants
- Las Vegas Raiders @ Bears
- Cleveland Browns @ Colts
- LA Rams vs. Steelers
- Seattle Seahawks vs. Cardinals
- Green Bay Packers @ Broncos
- Chicago Bears vs. Las Vegas
If they happen to be available
Las Vegas Raiders (LV, 47%) @ CHI – It’s our weekly check on who is playing against the Bears. We’ll have to see the status of Justin Fields after reports of a thumb injury in Week 6. Fields himself took four sacks on Sunday, and he’s probably out this week. Next week, we might see Tyson Bagent under center. I’d sign up for that as a Raiders D/ST streamer.
Top Targets for Week 7
Washington Commanders (WSH, 31%) @ NYG – We’ll see if Danny Dimes returns for New York, but either way, it’s a matchup to target. Washington’s defensive front can get after the QB. The Giants line and QB situation likely will still be in flux. Exploit this matchup with six teams on bye.
Cleveland Browns (CLE, 28%) @ IND – This is the weird case of an amazing real-life defense and meh at-best fantasy squad. Anyone who watched the Browns take down the 49ers knows this unit can ball. The problem is they don’t do a ton for fantasy. We don’t get points for forced punts. We need turnovers. This Dawg Pound D has only forced four takeaways on the season. Still, they are playing great football, and they’ll face the Gardner Minshew-led Colts, who just turned the ball over four times in Week 6.
Los Angeles Rams (LAR, 13%) – vs. PIT – The Rams are coming off a two-sack and two-turnover contest in Week 6. Now they’ll welcome the Steelers fresh from their bye week. Pittsburgh has allowed three or more sacks in consecutive games.
Seattle Seahawks (SEA, 22%) vs. ARI – Seattle’s team sack numbers are inflated thanks to the 11 the Giants gave up. They’ll have opportunities against Joshua Dobbs and a Cardinals offense that has turned the ball over five times in the past two weeks.
You’re 17 Beers Deep at a Bachelor Party on Saturday Night
Chicago Bears (CHI, 13%) vs. LV – Back-to-back weeks with double-digit points for a defensive unit that not many fantasy players are excited to click. If you’re desperate, we’ll get the Bears at home, possibly against a backup QB and poor offensive line.
DFS Targets: (DraftKings) Highest to lowest price
Bills $4200 I never want to pay for the most expensive defense. Buffalo is banged up on defense, but still, the Patriots are lost. If you happen to have the money, go for it. But we can find value down the board.
Raiders $3800 We’re getting a shaky, at best, Vegas defense against a Division II UDFA Bears QB. Please, Lord, let the Raiders come through for once.
Packers $3700 haven’t played up to their potential, but the Broncos are a hot mess.
Commanders $3500 I think if Daniel Jones returns, it makes this play even more appealing.
Bears $2900 is a price point I can take a shot at versus an immobile Jimmy Garoppolo or career journeyman Brian Hoyer.
Chiefs $2400 should be a shootout against the Chargers. Here, we are hoping for low ownership and a defensive score. When these teams met last November, the KC defense sacked Justin Herbert five times.
Patriots $2100 home dogs against the Bills where everyone expects a Buffalo rout. As we saw on Sunday night, Josh Allen and this offense aren’t perfect. As the cheapest D/ST on the slate, I can get behind this in a GPP tournament.
