Let’s Stream Defenses: Week 8 (2024 Fantasy Football)

We’re roaring toward the midpoint of the fantasy season, and we mostly have a good idea of which offenses represent good matchups for fantasy defenses. Some situations are still in flux though, largely due to injuries, so let’s check in:

• Cleveland Browns: Deshaun Watson suffered a non-contact Achilles tear last week, ending his season. Jameis Winston had been demoted to emergency QB3 before that game indicating that he might get traded, but now it looks like he’ll be the starter for the rest of the season. The Browns signed Bailey Zappe to serve as the backup while Dorian Thompson-Robinson deals with a finger injury. This change means the Browns are no longer the best defense target in the league. Watson was clearly the worst starting quarterback in football, and was only able to keep the job due to the ridiculous amount of guaranteed money in his contract. With Winston the Browns are still a team you can target with defenses, but are riskier.
• Las Vegas Raiders: Aidan O’Connell is expected to miss 4 to 6 weeks with a broken thumb, so Gardner Minshew II will be the starter. The Raiders have used both players this season because neither one has played well enough to really demand the starting job.
• Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa is slated to return from IR this week, which takes Miami out of the conversation for viable defense targets. It’s become clear that this offense can’t really function without Tua, but with him playing they should return to their previous high-powered form.
• New Orleans Saints: Derek Carr has been out for two weeks with an oblique injury, and has a chance to return this week. Currently I think a Week 9 return is more likely. Rookie Spencer Rattler has been the Saints’ QB in the meantime, and has represented an excellent matchup for fantasy defenses. Once Carr returns the Saints will a br lot less exciting of a matchup, but still viable. The Saints’ offense looked awesome in the first two weeks with Carr, but fell back to earth after that in part due to multiple wide receiver injuries.
• Pittsburgh Steelers: In a widely-criticized move, the Steelers benched Justin Fields for veteran Russell Wilson, who is finally healthy. This turned out to be a good decision as Wilson recorded a passer rating north of 100 and picked up a decisive win against the Jets. The Steelers are playoff contenders that I’m only willing to target with the best defenses.
• Tennessee Titans: Mason Rudolph made his first start of the season for the Titans last week, in relief of Will Levis, who is week-to-week with an AC sprain. It didn’t go well, with the Titans scoring just 10 points against the Bills. Rudolph is an overall downgrade to the offense compared to Levis, but he might not be as reliable of a source of turnovers. The Titans are a good matchup for defenses either way.
• Washington Commanders: Rookie sensation Jayden Daniels left last week’s game with a chest injury, and is questionable for this week. The Commanders are absolutely in the “avoid” category when Daniels is playing, but are a reasonable defense target if Marcus Mariota ends up starting.

Streaming Defenses: Waiver Wire & Start/Sit Advice (Week 8)

We get a break from the byes this week with all 32 teams playing, but it still doesn’t feel like particularly strong streaming week due to a lack of low-rostered teams in good matchups. Rostership numbers are from Yahoo on Tuesday morning before Waivers clear in most leagues. You can find me on Twitter and Threads.

Matchups

1. LAC vs NO: There is a chance that Derek Carr returns this week, but I’m currently operating under the assumption that we’ll have another week of rookie Spencer Rattler. Rattler has been an excellent DST matchup in his two starts, allowing top-2 DST performances with defensive touchdowns both weeks. Rattler avoided interceptions against the Broncos last week, but he’s taken an incredible 11 sacks in two games. Against a strong defense like the Chargers, I expect the sacks – and potentially fumbles – to continue. If Derek Carr is able to return this week, the Chargers will tumble down my rankings but probably still end up being low-end starters. The Saints under Carr are not the wagon they looked like in the first two weeks, but his ability to avoid sacks limits the upside for opposing defenses.
2. PIT vs NYG: This is a classic case of a good defense against a bad offense. Lesser defenses have held the Giants to under 10 points in their last two games. Daniel Jones is not particularly turnover-prone, but he is liable to take plenty of sacks against a good pass rush. His 7 sacks allowed to the Eagles was the highest in the league last week. The Giants also have the distinction of the lowest Vegas-based points allowed projections this week.
3. KC @ LV: The Raiders have been flip-flopping between Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew II at quarterback this season, because they’ve both been similarly bad. O’Connell suffered a broken thumb on his throwing hand last week, so it will be Minshew alone for a while. Minshew’s relief appearance last week went about as badly as possible, with four total turnovers (three interceptions, one fumble). It might not be that bad again, but it’s still a great matchup for a Chiefs team that, despite their best efforts, just can’t find a way to lose.
4. DET vs TEN: Mason Rudolph started at quarterback in place of the injured Will Levis, who is questionable again this week with an AC sprain. Rudolph might not provide quite as much turnover potential as Levis, but his presence is an overall downgrade to the offense. This is a good matchup for a good Lions defense.
5. NYJ @ NE: In his second career start, Drake Maye continued to show promising signs against a pretty bad Jaguars defense, but that ultimately led to just 16 team points. Maye retains his must-target rookie status. A big part of that is his awful offensive line, which the Jets’ pass rush should be able to take advance of.
6. BAL @ CLE: The Browns’ offense received two upgrades last week. Running back Nick Chubb made his first appearance since suffering a serious knee injury early last season. More importantly, Deshaun Watson tore his Achilles, ending his season and possibly his career. Watson had been the worst quarterback in football by a significant margin, and the Browns turning to a backup is a clear upgrade. The first backup, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, suffered a finger injury that doesn’t appear likely to be a long-term problem, but the Browns have signed Bailey Zappe to serve as the backup in the meantime, with veteran Jameis Winston becoming the new starter. Winston has been a bit of a gunslinger in his career, with high potential for both touchdowns and turnovers. It remains to be seen what level he’s able to play at with this team, but in the meantime I’m comfortable starting a good defense like Baltimore.
7. DEN vs CAR: Andy Dalton might have felt like a breath of fresh air when he replaced Bryce Young in Week 3, but ultimately he was the backup for a reason. The Panthers have gone 1-4 during his tenure, and recently Dalton has recorded back-to-back two-interception games against the fairly pedestrian Falcons and Commanders defenses. Now he has to face a very good Broncos defense that might see Pat Surtain II return from concussion protocol this week.
8. HOU vs IND: Anthony Richardson made his triumphant return last week following two weeks out with an Oblique injury, and did not need to do much to secure a win against a floundering Dolphins team. Due to his rookie season injury, this will be just the 10th career start for Richardson. He’s not particularly sack-prone, but is liable to throw interceptions. This is a solid matchup with plenty of upside for the Texans.
9. MIN @ LAR: It’s been a tough year for Matthew Stafford and the Rams, with their two best receivers sidelined. Cooper Kupp is on track to return this week, but it’s still a pretty good matchup for the Vikings, who are one of the best defenses in the league. The veteran Stafford has good ball security, but he’s taken sacks at a medium-high rate of 2.8 per game this year. The Vikings DST is the least droppable defense in fantasy and are only worth benching in the worst matchups, and this is not one of them.
10. SF vs DAL: It’s really looking like the super bowl window has closed for the Dallas Cowboys. Their run game has been totally ineffective with a league-worst 77.2 rushing yards per game, and the Dak Prescott – CeeDee Lamb connection can’t compensate. While the 49ers have been decimated by injuries on offense, their defense still has the strength to handle a Cowboys Offense that’s in a tailspin.