Streaming Defenses: Week 15 Options

Chalk up Week 14 as another modest victory for this space, with three of the five streaming recommendations reaching double-digit fantasy scoring (TEN, NYG, NYJ) while two others managed just four points apiece (BUF, JAC). The five defenses averaged 9.4 points altogether, boosted by a huge game from the Giants on Sunday after a solid showing Thursday from my No. 1 recommendation (the Titans).

Unfortunately, the upcoming slate appears problematic for anyone who didn't stash a defense ahead of time, with each of the top six units in my Week 15 rankings owned in at least 70 percent of Yahoo leagues. The circumstances force us to look toward some less-than-savory defenses, hoping favorable matchups can compensate for a lack of talent.

Note: These recommendations are limited to D/ST units with under 60 percent ownership on Yahoo as of Tuesday morning. Any references to fantasy points are based on Yahoo standard scoring.

Top Streaming Options for Week 15

1. Buffalo Bills (vs. Detroit Lions)
50% Yahoo ownership

The Buffalo defense fell apart over the final 20 minutes of Sunday's 27-23 home loss to the Jets, failing to capitalize on a prime matchup against mistake-prone Sam Darnold. Granted, the Bills did limit the Jets to 6.8 yards per pass attempt and 2.8 per carry, with a dominant first half from the defense wiped out by mistakes on offense and special teams. I won't hesitate to go back for more in another favorable home matchup, this time facing a Lions offense that's given up the 10th-most fantasy points to team defenses. Devastated by injuries and the Golden Tate trade, Detroit scored 22 or fewer points in each of its past seven games, yielding an average of 10.7 fantasy points to the opposing defense in that stretch. With players like Zach Zenner and Bruce Ellington potentially handling key roles, it's no wonder Detroit is tied for the fourth lowest implied total (18) of Week 15, playing as a 2.5-point underdog on the road.

2. Atlanta Falcons (vs. Arizona Cardinals)
16% Yahoo ownership

This is a true testament to the incompetence of the 2018 Arizona Cardinals, a team ranked dead last in scoring average (13.7 points), yards per game (242) and yards per play (4.4), not to mention 27th in turnovers (23), t-15th in sacks (35) and 23rd in sack rate (8.2 percent). Most recently held to three points in a home matchup with a subpar Lions defense, the Cardinals are probably the only team bad enough to make the Atlanta defense look good. I won't try to sell you on this defense based on its own merit, though it has been slightly improved in recent weeks, at least avoiding the type of 40-point meltdowns that were commonplace early in the season. Arizona has the third lowest implied total (17.75) of Week 15, playing as an 8.5-point road underdog in one of the least interesting games of the season.

3. Detroit Lions (at Buffalo Bills)
19% Yahoo ownership

The other half of this game also holds some streaming appeal, as there's always an argument to be made for starting whichever defense faces the Bills. No team has yielded more fantasy points to opposing D/ST units, with Buffalo ranked 31st in both scoring (15.5) and turnovers (28) as well as t-24th in sacks (39). The Jets, Dolphins, Colts and Packers — all mediocre or subpar defensive teams — each scored at least nine fantasy points in matchups with the Bills. While still hard to trust, the Lions defense has actually been competent in recent weeks, with Sunday's explosion in Arizona marking a fourth straight game scoring at least five fantasy points. The Bills may be slight favorites to win, but their implied total (20.5) is the 10th lowest of Week 15.

4. New York Giants (vs. Tennessee Titans)
28% Yahoo ownership

While still far from stingy in terms of yards and points allowed, the Giants have been unexpectedly opportunistic since their Week 9 bye, piling up 14 sacks, 11 interceptions and three defensive TDs while winning four of the past five games. Now battling for the slim hope of a wild card spot, Big Blue plays host to a Tennessee offense that's given up the ninth-most fantasy points to team defenses, with Marcus Mariota ranking 35th among 35 qualified passers in sack rate (11.6 percent). This is admittedly a high-risk, high-reward fantasy play, as the Titans have generally been inconsistent and finally found their running game last week. Derrick Henry might have another big day against a mediocre run defense (4.4 YPC), but if not, the Giants should be able to harass Mariota into making some mistakes. The Titans have an implied total of 20 as 2.5-point underdogs on the road.

5. Cleveland Browns (at Denver Broncos)
10% Yahoo ownership

This is my desperation option based on gut feeling more so than statistics, as Cleveland ranks 17th in D/ST scoring while Denver has yielded the eighth-fewest fantasy points to the position. However, the Broncos looked terrible Sunday in their first game without Emmanuel Sanders (Achilles), managing just 14 points and 3.9 yards per play against an unimpressive 49ers defense. Meanwhile, the Browns held Cam Newton in check, albeit without strong results in terms of fantasy scoring. Cleveland is actually second in the league with 28 takeaways, only landing so low in the fantasy rankings because none of the interceptions (15) or fumble recoveries (13) has been returned for a touchdown. That's probably a matter of luck with no real predictive value, though a road game in Denver isn't exactly the ideal spot for a correction. This is another boom-or-bust option for the desperate, as the Broncos can avoid sacks and turnovers if Phillip Lindsay bounces back on the ground.

Week 15 D/ST Rankings

1. Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. WAS)
2. Seattle Seahawks (at SF)
3. Baltimore Ravens (vs. TB)
4. Houston Texans (at NYJ)
5. Minnesota Vikings (vs. MIA)
6. Chicago Bears (vs. GB)
7. Buffalo Bills (vs. DET)
8. Atlanta Falcons (vs. ARI)
9. Los Angeles Rams (vs. PHI)
10. Denver Broncos (vs. CLE)
11. Detroit Lions (at BUF)
12. New York Giants (vs. TEN)
13. Cleveland Browns (at DEN)
14. Tennessee Titans (at NYG)
15. Washington Redskins (at JAC)
16. New Orleans Saints (at CAR)
17. Dallas Cowboys (at IND)
18. Indianapolis Colts (vs. DAL)
19. Green Bay Packers (at CHI)
20. New York Jets (vs. HOU)

Looking Ahead to Week 16

1. Chicago Bears (at SF)
2. Tennessee Titans (at WAS)
3. Los Angeles Rams (at ARI)
4. New England Patriots (vs. BUF)
5. Cleveland Browns (vs. CIN)
6. Dallas Cowboys (vs. TB)
7. Miami Dolphins (vs. JAC)
8. Minnesota Vikings (at DET)
9. Denver Broncos (at OAK)
10. Indianapolis Colts (vs. NYG)
11. Houston Texans (at PHI)
12. New Orleans Saints (vs. PIT)
13. Green Bay Packers (at NYJ)
14. Jacksonville Jaguars (at MIA)
15. Philadelphia Eagles (vs. HOU)
16. Carolina Panthers (vs. ATL)
17. Los Angeles Chargers (vs. BAL)
18. Baltimore Ravens (at LAC)
19. Oakland Raiders (vs. DEN)
20. Arizona Cardinals (vs. LAR)

Rest-of-Season Rankings

1. Chicago Bears
2. Los Angeles Rams
3. Minnesota Vikings
4. Tennessee Titans
5. Jacksonville Jaguars
6. Denver Broncos
7. New Orleans Saints
8. Cleveland Browns
9. Baltimore Ravens
10. Dallas Cowboys
11. Houston Texans
12. New England Patriots
13. Green Bay Packers
14. Seattle Seahawks
15. Indianapolis Colts
16. Miami Dolphins
17. Buffalo Bills
18. Detroit Lions
19. Los Angeles Chargers
20. New York Giants