Streaming Defenses: Week 7 Targets

Oct 19, 2021

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Were it not for pandemic-related closings of my state’s parks, I would have spent much more of the last two summers camping. I love getting out in nature for hikes, campfires, a tent, and sleeping under the stars and I’ve really been missing that more than anything else. Nothing beats a nice stroll in the middle of nowhere along a babbling brook without a care in the world.

More Week 7 Streaming: QB | TE | K

But we do have cares at this point in the year, with football season already fully underway. We’ve got to keep our eyes out of the stars and on our fantasy teams, and many of us have to give up the watery streams for the waiver wire ones until next summer.

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 Kevin Zatloukal’s analytical model for streaming defenses. KZ’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.

It may not be as soothing as fishing for trout but hooking a great fantasy defense can be just as rewarding a feeling. Here are four defenses to consider picking up ahead of Week 7.

Week 6 Review

Top Streamers

Indianapolis Colts – 15 pts (DEF2)**
Green Bay Packers – 7 pts (t-DEF12)
Miami Dolphins – 4 pts (t-DEF15)

Deep Plays

Cincinnati Bengals – 7 pts (t-DEF12)
Las Vegas Raiders – 13 pts (t-DEF3)

This was actually a very good week for streaming defenses on our part. Of all of our streaming options, only one was below startable replacement level in most leagues, the Miami Dolphins in topsy-turvy London game that they squandered at the end. Everyone else turned in top-12 or better performances, including the bonus pick Indianapolis Colts – whose 15 points were second-most on the week. There’s not a ton to analyze in this one: things broke pretty well for us here, so let’s try to replicate this same process yet again.