This is a pretty good week for streaming a fantasy football defense (D/ST). We learned a lot about which teams are viable targets last week, and byes don’t start until Week 5. With five teams in my top ten under 15% rostership, it should be easy to find a viable defense to stream in fantasy football this week. You can find me on Twitter and Threads.

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Streaming Defenses: Waiver Wire & Start/Sit Advice

The key to projecting defenses is understanding the opposing quarterback, so it’s worth going over what we learned in Week 1 about various QB situations throughout the league:

• Bo Nix (DEN) fell short of already low expectations in Week 1. As is typical for rookie QBs, he’s a good DST target until further notice.
• Deshaun Watson (CLE) was awful last week. The contract situation means he will probably keep the starting job for a while, but I’m confident in saying he won’t get back to being the player we saw in Houston. The Browns are an every-week DST target.
• Jordan Love (GB) will miss at least one week with an MCL sprain, with backup Malik Willis starting in his place. The Packers are a viable target as long as Willis is starting, but will go back to being an offense to avoid once Love returns.
• Sam Darnold (MIN) was solid in his debut with the Vikings. With a better team around him than previous years, Darnold is no longer a top-tier DST target. But he is still someone I’m comfortable starting good defenses against.
• Justin Fields (PIT) made the start last week in place of the injured Russell Wilson. Wilson might return to action soon, but it doesn’t super matter. I see the Steelers as a good but not great DST target with either quarterback.
• Kirk Cousins (ATL) is clearly not 100% yet, as he recovers from a torn achilles last November. He did not have the mobility in the pocket, or ability to plant his feet for big throws, needed to play like the Kirk we know and love. I expect him to get there some time this season, but until that happens the Falcons are a reasonable target for fantasy defenses.
• Baker Mayfield (TB) balled out to the tune of four touchdown passes against the Commanders last week. This is a good offense and a team to avoid with opposing defenses.
• Caleb Williams (CHI) did not need to do much to pick up the win in his NFL debut. With just 93 passing yards he hasn’t shown us we should be scared, but with just two sacks and no turnovers, he also hasn’t shown signs of a particularly good defense target. We need more data, but I would be surprised if Williams turned out to be a reliable DST target.
• Jayden Daniels (WAS) didn’t have a ton of success as a passer last week, but made up for it with his legs. Between some scrambling when he couldn’t find it downfield and a few designed QB runs, Daniels recorded 88 rushing yards on 16 carries, and two rushing touchdowns, while taking just two sacks. He just needs to tighten his helmet and learn how to slide without wrecking his shoulders. I’m not really interested in starting any but the best defenses against Washington this year.

Week 2 D/ST Fantasy Football Projections

Week 2 D/ST Matchups

1. LAC @ CAR: Bryce Young might just not be NFL quarterback. He will continue to be the starter this season, possibly for the whole season, but time is running out for Young to prove he deserves the job. Last week he led the team to just 10 points against the Saints, throwing two interceptions and taking four sacks. This week he has to face a pretty good Chargers pass rush that tied for 3rd in the league with 4 team sacks last week. Pretty much any defense is viable against the Panthers, and the Chargers are comfortably above the level where you might question that.
2. PIT @ DEN: We didn’t have high expectations of Bo Nix‘s NFL debut last week, and he still disappointed. Nix was downright inaccurate as a passer, and it led to two interceptions. He also threw the ball a ton – his 42 passing attempts tied for 3rd in the league. The Broncos’ supporting cast looked better than it’s been in the last few years so there is some space for Nix to improve, but for now he profiles as a guy who offers a lot of turnover upside for the opposing defense.
3. BAL vs LV: Gardner Minshew II and the Raiders’ offense could not get much going against the Chargers last week, scoring just 10 points while Minshew had four sacks and two turnovers. The Ravens are rostered in almost every league. If you have the Ravens you might have faded them against the Chiefs last week, but should have no hesitation starting them against the Raiders.
4. JAC vs CLE: Deshaun Watson is cooked, in more ways than one. It’s a popular take to call him the worst starting QB in the league, and to call the Browns trade and contract for him historic mistakes. With his off-the-field issues also making headlines, we’ll see how long Watson is able to keep the starting job. You should have no hesitation in starting a decent defense like Jacksonville against the Browns.
5. NYJ @ TEN: Last week was a disaster for the Titans and Will Levis, who threw a game-losing pick-six in the fourth quarter. This is simply not a good offense, and an offense that will lean on the pass more than in recent years following the departure of Derrick Henry, offering better turnover upside for opposing defenses. The Jets’ defense struggled mightily against the 49ers on Monday Night Football, but to be fair that was against one of the best offenses in the league, even without Christian McCaffrey playing. Expect the Jets’ defense to get back on track this week.
6. WAS vs NYG: Daniel Jones was awful in his first game back following a torn ACL midway through last season. Jones threw 2 interceptions and took 5 sacks while leading the team to just 6 points against the Vikings last week. It’s going to be a rough season for Giants fans, and an excellent time for opposing defenses. The Commanders’ defense got roughed up by a white-hot Buccaneers’ offense last week, but I have little doubt in their ability to shut down the Giants.
7. DEN vs PIT: Justin Fields made the start in place of the injured Russell Wilson against the Falcons last week. The Steelers did pick up the win, but they did it on just 18 points from their offense from 6 field goals. It remains uncertain if Wilson will play in Week 2, but I see the Steelers as a viable target either way, especially on the road.
8. SF @ MIN: Sam Darnold has been a premier DST target throughout his career. This Vikings team is certainly a better situation than the Jets and Panthers teams Darnold played on previously. But the excellent 49ers defense should still have little trouble. They are rostered in 100% of leagues, and a definite start for the team that has them.
9. IND @ GB: Jordan Love existed last week’s game with an MCL sprain. Fortunately for Packers fans and Fantasy players alike, his absence shouldn’t be long-term, but he will miss this week. Malik Willis will start in his place. Willis saw limited action as the Titans’ backup over the last two years, and hasn’t shown anything to suggest we shouldn’t target him with fantasy defenses, like most backup QBs.
10. KC vs CIN: Joe Burrow and the Bengals offense were ineffective last week, managing just 10 points against the Patriots. I expect Burrow to get back into rhythm, and his receivers to get healthier, as the season progresses. But for now this is an offense I feel comfortable targeting with a good defence like Kansas City.