Streaming Defenses: Week 15 Targets

Dec 14, 2021

Harry How/Getty Images

I’m old enough to remember a time in TV history when cable was a luxury and adjusting the “bunny-ears” antennae was a way of life. Whenever tuning the signal dial just wasn’t cutting it, you had to adjust the tin foil crunched around the end of the “ears”. Satellite TV back then sounded like a sci-fi fever dream. Even if you had the better services, there still weren’t that many channels to choose from.

Now, though, we are firmly in the era of streaming.

More Week 15 Streaming: QB | TE | K

So many options are just a click away these days, and all on-demand. You don’t have to get tied down to one provider. Sure, not every choice is available all the time, and you don’t always know where to look among what’s available. Still, that’s what this column is for: to guide you through the world of streaming… defenses.

I explained in my introductory article to the concept that streaming defenses is one of the most sound ways to approach the position in fantasy football, as well as how to do it, and what to look for from a statistical perspective in a defensive streamer.

This column will combine that approach with our own Sam Hoppen’s analytical model for streaming defenses. Sam’s model utilizes Vegas lines for predicting points scored by the opposing defense, opposing quarterback history for interception rates, and both the offense and defense’s history of allowing sacks – the most predictive parts of defensive scoring on a weekly basis.

With all that out of the way, let’s dim the lights and press play on the main feature. Here are four defenses to consider picking up ahead of Week 15.

Week 14 Review

Top Streamers

Green Bay Packers vs. CHI – 13 pts. (t-DEF6)
Tennessee Titans vs. JAX – 21 pts. (DEF3)

Deep Plays

Seattle Seahawks at HOU – 6 pts. (t-DEF12)
New Orleans Saints at NYJ – 7 pts. (DEF11)

This was easily the best week we’ve had this year for defensive streaming. Everything clicked as expected: the top teams did best but the deep plays still came through with startable performances. The Packers forced three takeaways, including a defensive touchdown, and stole two sacks that buoyed them despite allowing 30 points to the Bears. The Titans shut out the Jaguars – a good start – while sacking Trevor Lawrence three times and picking off four of his passes.

The Saints held the Jets to just nine points, while also sacking Zach Wilson three times; a solid outing. The Seahawks also kept their opponents – the Texans – to just six points, while sacking them twice. Hard to find flaws in the process, and hard to argue with the results. Onward!