Streaming Defenses: Week 8 Targets

Oct 25, 2016

When it comes to drafting a defense, I’m not someone to start the run. I’d rather wait until the end of the draft and play the defense with the great matchup. This practice is commonly known as streaming defenses. Every week, you target a mediocre defense with a great matchup against a weak QB or offensive line.

We have been writing this streaming feature for seven years -- offering readers several available-on-the-waiver-wire defense picks each week -- and they averaged DT5, DT6, DT7, DT10, DT8 and DT7 numbers from 2009 to 2015. Generating top 10 DT numbers off the waiver wire allows fantasy owners to basically ignore the position on draft day, instead focusing on more important areas during the draft.

Generally, defenses have to be available on the waiver wire in at least 40% of Yahoo fantasy leagues to be eligible. This ensures we are talking about defenses that are readily available.

Last week, the New York Giants finished with 21 fantasy points against the Rams, putting them on the board as the DST2. It was also a good week for the Ravens, as their defense produced 17 points, finishing as the DST3. Through seven weeks, our suggestions are averaging nearly 10 fantasy points per game.

As always, continue to target a defense with a home matchup or facing a below average or rookie QB. Week 8 is here, and we have six teams on bye, so here are the defensive streaming options you can use this week:

Tennessee Titans vs. JAX

The Thursday night football matchups typically are defensive battles, since the turnaround is so quick. I like the home matchup for the Titans against the Jaguars.

Jurrell Casey leads the defensive line with three sacks and also added 12 QB hits. He’s consistently producing pressure and finds himself in the offensive backfield.

The linebackers are the big boys, producing big plays. Brian Orakpo leads the Titans in sacks with seven, while also putting on nine hits on the QB. He’s also been a beast near the line of scrimmage, adding eight tackles for loss. Derrick Morgan has added 4.5 sacks himself and 10 QB hits. These LBs are nightmares for opposing QBs.

Jason McCourty is making plays on the ball with two INTs and nine defended passes. Perrish Cox also has two INTs and is getting thrown at consistently.

The Titans are a top-15 defense when it comes pressure generated from their defense. Getting pressure produces sacks and INTs and Blake Bortles is a fan of those. The Jaguars are allowing the eighth most aPFA to opposing defenses, so this is shaping up to be a nice matchup for the Titans and they are available in 61 percent of leagues.