This article is part of our Streaming Defenses series.
Week 9 didn't quite continue the run of outrage success with streaming recommendations, but we did at least avoid any busts in a week that saw 12 of 26 team defenses fall shy of five fantasy points. One of our picks (Miami) exploded for 25 points, while the other four (Dallas, Carolina, KC and Denver) landed between five and seven.
Week 10 sets up favorably for anyone seeking short-term D/ST help, with three of the top four defenses in my weekly rankings sitting below 60 percent ownership Tuesday morning. The Jets, Packers and Chargers are all excellent options, and the 49ers or Colts aren't too shabby as backup plans.
Note: These recommendations are limited to D/ST units with under 60 percent ownership on Yahoo as of Tuesday morning. Any references to fantasy points are based on Yahoo standard scoring.
Top Streaming Options for Week 10
1. New York Jets (vs. Buffalo Bills)
40% Yahoo ownership
This is where we start things off whenever possible — simply pick on the Bills regardless of opponent. The strategy has yielded a remarkable average of 16.3 fantasy points, while no other team has allowed more than 12.3 per game to team defenses. Nathan Peterman has been a big part of the problem and isn't likely to get another start, but we've also seen the Bills embarrass themselves with Josh Allen (elbow) or Derek Anderson (concussion) under center. Meanwhile, the Jets have fielded a surprisingly respectable defense, ranking 10th in fantasy scoring average (8.1) while allowing just 7.0 yards per pass attempt and 4.1 per carry. Per usual, Buffalo has the lowest implied total of the week (14.5), and the over/under (36.5) is comically low. Expect the Bills to end up on the wrong side of a hideous game.
2. Green Bay Packers (vs. Miami Dolphins)
23% Yahoo ownership
Coming off respectable showings in road losses to the Patriots and Rams, the Packers defense finds itself on the other end of the matchup spectrum this week, facing a Brock Osweiler-led Miami team that's somehow 5-4 despite averaging just 20.8 points per game (24th) and allowing 25.0 (19th). The Dolphins have only given up the 13th most fantasy points to team defenses, but a closer look reveals a major split, with an average of 5.6 points allowed in home games compared to 11.3 on the road. It's also worth noting that Miami has been outscored 135-78 in four games against teams with winning records. Vegas is on board with the idea of a blowout, listing the Dolphins as 10-point underdogs with an implied total of 18.75.
3. Los Angeles Chargers (at Oakland Raiders)
54% Yahoo ownership
You probably don't need to see any statistics to be convinced the Raiders are a complete joke, but I might as well throw something in your direction while I already have your attention. They've been outscored 129-44 over their past four games, despite facing just one team (the Chargers) with a winning record. Derek Carr is on track for personal bests in completion percentage (72.3) and yards per attempt (7.8), but he also has the worst marks of his career for interception rate (2.8) and sack rate (7.8). It all culminated in an eight-sack disaster during last Thursday's 34-3 loss to the 49ers, and we now get to see what happens when Carr faces a red-hot team with a winning record. The Chargers held each of their last four opponents below 20 points, starting with a 26-10 win over Oakland back in Week 5. The Bolts are listed as 10-point favorites for the upcoming rematch, with Oakland carrying an implied total of 20.25.
4. San Francisco 49ers (vs. New York Giants)
20% Yahoo ownership
The San Francisco defense hasn't inspired any confidence the past few seasons, but it's done enough in recent weeks to warrant streaming consideration when the matchup is this favorable. The Giants have given up the fifth most fantasy points to team defenses, including at least four points in every game and double digits in five out of eight. Eli Manning emerges from a bye week as the league leader in sacks taken (31), and it's only a matter of time before all the hits translate to more lost fumbles (only two so far). The 49ers defense proved capable of capitalizing on favorable matchups the past two weeks, piling up 25 fantasy points and 11 sacks against the Cardinals and Raiders. The Giants are three-point underdogs with a measly implied total of 20.25.
5. Indianapolis Colts (vs. Jacksonville Jaguars)
8% Yahoo ownership
Forget about Patrick Mahomes and Todd Gurley threatening to break records; the competence of the Colts defense has surprised me as much as any development in the NFL this season. Rookie linebacker Darius Leonard leads the charge with 88 tackles and four sacks in seven appearances, emerging as the top performer on a unit filled with first/second-year players and unwanted veteran castoffs. Mediocrity should be enough to get the job done in a home matchup with a Jacksonville offense that's allowed six consecutive D/ST opponents to score seven or more fantasy points. There is some hope for improvement with Leonard Fournette (hamstring) potentially returning after a bye week, but Blake Bortles is still a problem and Vegas clearly doesn't have much faith in the Jaguars (+3, O/U 47).
Week 10 D/ST Rankings
1. New York Jets (vs. BUF)
2. Kansas City Chiefs (vs. ARZ)
3. Green Bay Packers (vs. MIA)
4. Los Angeles Chargers (at OAK)
5. Chicago Bears (vs. DET)
6. Philadelphia Eagles (vs. DAL)
7. New England Patriots (at TEN)
8. San Francisco 49ers (vs. NYG)
9. Los Angeles Rams (vs. SEA)
10. Indianapolis Colts (vs. JAC)
11. Buffalo Bills (at NYJ)
12. New Orleans Saints (at CIN)
13. Jacksonville Jaguars (at IND)
14. Atlanta Falcons (at CLE)
15. Washington Redskins (at TB)
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. WAS)
17. Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. CAR)
18. Carolina Panthers (at PIT)
19. Detroit Lions (at CHI)
20. New York Giants (at SF)
Looking Ahead to Week 11
1. Houston Texans (at WAS)
2. Baltimore Ravens (vs. CIN)
3. Los Angeles Chargers (vs. DEN)
4. Arizona Cardinals (vs. OAK)
5. Chicago Bears (vs. MIN)
6. Minnesota Vikings (at CHI)
7. Pittsburgh Steelers (at JAC)
8. Carolina Panthers (at DET)
9. Indianapolis Colts (vs. TEN)
10. Atlanta Falcons (vs. DAL)
11. New Orleans Saints (vs. PHI)
12. Cincinnati Bengals (at BAL)
13. Washington Redskins (vs. HOU)
14. Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. PIT)
15. Green Bay Packers (at SEA)
16. Los Angeles Rams (vs. KC)
17. Tennessee Titans (at IND)
18. Seattle Seahawks (vs. GB)
19. Green Bay Packers (at SEA)
20. New York Giants (vs. TB)
Rest-of-Season Rankings
1. Chicago Bears
2. Baltimore Ravens
3. Minnesota Vikings
4. Houston Texans
5. Los Angeles Chargers
6. Los Angeles Rams
7. Philadelphia Eagles
8. Seattle Seahawks
9. Jacksonville Jaguars
10. New England Patriots
11. Carolina Panthers
12. Washington Redskins
13. New Orleans Saints
14. Tennessee Titans
15. Denver Broncos
16. Pittsburgh Steelers
17. Green Bay Packers
18. New York Jets
19. Dallas Cowboys
20. Miami Dolphins
