Streaming Defense Week 1 2019: A few fantasy D/ST options to consider this week, including the surprisingly low-owned Seattle Seahawks.
Trust the Process
Last year, the streaming defenses discussed in this article averaged over ten points per week. In the playoffs, the streaming defenses averaged over fifteen points per week.
Stop jumping the gun and marrying your defense after the first date. Too many times people lose easy points because they do not want to give up a bench spot to hold their “great defense” even though they know their defense has a subpar matchup.
For example, I picked up the Rams in the 5thdownfantasy league, and I will probably not start them. They are great and should do well, but they are against Carolina who should put up decent numbers and limit the turnovers. If I can find the two defenses listed below, I will most likely start them over the Rams.
Fantasy Team
A new addition to this year’s article is how I will be discussing an important aspect of my upcoming matchup against my fellow 5thdownfantasy sportswriters. It could be a matchup I like/dislike, a potential sleeper, or just some dumb idea that popped into my head as I was writing the article.
Either way, it should provide valuable insight into how my mind works. Who knows, maybe my wife will read this and understand why I put orange juice in my milk.
For this week, I will just talk about one thing that has been bugging me. Reading through the various other fantasy sites that give advice, I notice so many of them are so down on Aaron Rodgers this week. Yes, he is playing Chicago. Yes, he has a new coach. Yes, he doesn’t have an all-star cast of pass-catchers, but … he is still Aaron Rodgers.
Experts are saying to bench him for the week and play your second guy. Well, I’ve got news for them: I didn’t draft a backup. And, by the way, who drafted a backup capable of being better than Rodgers, even in a tough matchup? Stupid.
I am predicting an awesome game and both quarterbacks (Rodgers and Trubisky) throwing 2+ touchdowns each and over 650 yards between the two of them.
Streaming Defense Week 1 2019
No Duh Sherlock Holmes: Seattle Seahawks
I hate to start off the year by giving a no-brainer, but looking at the statistics, only 13% of ESPN owners have the Seahawks on their roster. For a defense that is extremely well-coached, it is interesting to see so many people avoiding them.
Obviously they lost a lot of high-level talent this off-season. But they still have Ziggy Ansah, who should be all healed up, and Bobby Wagner. Both are capable of stuffing runs and causing major disruption during pass plays. Throw in the newly acquired Jadeveon Clowney, and you have a formidable defense with plenty of upside.
Although they won’t be the defense that won them a Superbowl, they could be a regular streaming option based on their matchup. Talking about matchups, they start out the year with one of the best matchups available: the Cincinnati Bengals.
They have a terrible line, missing number one receiver, and a defense that is mediocre at best. All of those factors lead to a great opportunity for any defense to capitalize.
In addition to that, the Bengals have a new head coach. Zac Taylor came from the Rams, where he was the quarterback coach. Although he has very promising reviews from one of the best coaches in the league, Sean McVay, his track record has too little evidence to support a successful first year. Expect him to get off to a very rocky start.
Verdict
More than likely, Seattle will jump ahead at some point, resulting in the ground game being abandoned (probably won’t be there anyway with the terrible O-line). Also, with Tyler Boyd getting double covered, Andy Dalton will have to make some plays out of nothing. Sooner or later, he’ll throw an interception or two, get sacked a handful of times, and be unable to catch the Seahawks.
Prediction
PA: 10-20, Total Yards: 200-250, Sacks: 5, Fumbles: 1, Interceptions: 2, TD: 0, Fantasy Points: 10-15
Last Chance D: Detroit Lions
I might be wrong, but I do believe Matt Patricia is going to be in the hot seat if he doesn’t drastically improve his team from last year. In a division that is arguably the toughest defensively (Minnesota and Chicago), it is going to be essential for Patricia to get his defense close to the same level.
Based on last year’s results, Detroit should not be on anyone’s radar. But just like most streaming options, you need to look past the initial numbers and look for the factors that matter: turnover/big-play potential and matchup.
During the preseason, the Lions have been focusing on forcing opponents to fumble the ball and to be positioned correctly to capitalize on the loose ball. Most teams probably do this too, but for Detroit, it has been an emphasis. Based on this, I believe they have the right mindset to get a couple of big plays here and there, especially early in the season.
Although they don’t have superstars on defense, they do have one of the best run-stopping lines (Damon Harris, Trey Flowers, and Mike Daniels). They also have an extremely solid secondary led by Darrius Slay.
This team has the ability to stop any team’s rushing attack, forcing them to throw. This makes it easier for big defensive plays to happen, particularly when an inexperienced QB is playing.
Kyler Murray has been much discussed this year, especially in fantasy. He is a true rookie quarterback from the University of Oklahoma, who just last year won the Heisman Trophy. He has great legs and a great arm, a dangerous combination but very necessary in Arizona.
With the subpar offensive line, both Murray and David Johnson are going to struggle to find space between the tackles. But with a short pass and quick offensive scheme, they could avoid most of the issues Detroit’s line will bring.
Don’t forget though, Murray is a true rookie. Over the past 11 years, the interception to touchdown ratio is around 1:1 for all rookie quarterbacks that started their first year. Those are good odds for a streaming defense.
Verdict
I like Murray, but do not see his first game going particularly well. I believe the Lions will be able to score on many drives, leaving Murray to keep pace. I think he’ll end up with a lot of yardage, both on the ground and in the air, but I don’t know how much of that will result in points.
Assuming that history repeats itself, there should be a good amount of turnovers, and I’m predicting at least one of them goes for six.
Prediction
PA: 10-20, Total Yards: 300-350, Sacks: 2, Fumbles: 1, Interceptions: 2, TD: 1, Fantasy Points: 10-15
No Comment! Be the first one.