Week 8 Defense (DST) Streamers: It's The Colts Turn To Tee Off
Jonathan Fuller highlights his top three DST streamers for Week 8.
The bye-mageddon is upon us. The Cardinals, Lions, Jaguars, Raiders, Rams and Seahawks are all one bye in Week 8, which will create increased competition for a thinner waiver pool. In some leagues half of the rosters may be looking to stream a DST after accounting for byes and bad matchups. If you need to add a defense this week be prepared to spend up to get your preferred DST or be prepared to scrape the bottom of the barrel.
DST Streamers for Week 8
My philosophy on streaming defenses is based on the ability to create sacks and turnovers rather than minimizing points allowed to the other team, although those two things are correlated. I think this is one of the bigger mistakes fantasy managers make when thinking about fantasy defenses. As you will see in this article, I am generally focused on three things: offensive line play, QB turnover rates, and game script.
A poor offensive line matched up against a strong defense line is one of the best signs for a fantasy defense. Putting the opposing QB under pressure increases the likelihood of sacks, fumbles, and interceptions. However, not all QBs are created equal so we also want to be targeting those who have a history of turning the ball over. Lastly, a defense on a team that is heavily favored is another good sign because it means the other team may be forced to call more pass plays as a result of a negative game script, and pass plays are more likely to lead to scoring opportunities for the defense than rush attempts are.
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Indianapolis Colts - 49% rostered
The Indianapolis offense has been getting most of the credit for their hot start, but their defense has been impressive in their own right. They aren't elite, but they are above average against both the run and the pass which
The Colts defense is also a good example of why fantasy scoring isn't about keeping opponents out of the end zone. Indianapolis has given up 20+ points in five of seven games but you would have been happy to start them in six of their seven games. They are racking up sacks and turnovers, which is where fantasy points really come from. Indy currently ranks third in interceptions and sixth in sacks and now they get to host the hapless Tennessee Titans offense.
The Titans didn't look much better in Week 7 after firing Brian Callahan, so I am still viewing them as the most favorable fantasy matchup for opposing defenses. Cam Ward is a walking turnover and had one of the worst fumbles I've seen in a while last week against the Patriots. Ward now has five interceptions and five fumbles lost through seven games. He also leads the NFL in sacks taken with 30, which is eight more than any other QB.
The Colts defense has also benefited from how good their offense is, regularly playing in a positive game script that allows them to be aggressive and get after the opposing QB. That should be the case this week with Indy favored by 14.5 points. The Colts check every box I look for in a streaming defense, but they are only available in just over 50% of leagues.
Atlanta Falcons - 9% rostered
Atlanta's defense is much improved from last year, particularly their pass rush. They aren't flashy, but Atlanta has forced nine turnovers in their last five games and has recorded a game with six sacks and another with four.
In Week 8 they host Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins. Miami hit rock bottom last week in Cleveland, getting blown out by a bad Browns team. Tua threw three interceptions and now has 10 INTs for the season, tied with Geno Smith for the most in the NFL. This is quickly becoming a lost season for Miami, the vibes are at an all time low, and it seems like a mini miracle that Mike McDaniel hasn't been fired yet.
Despite having the fastest time to throw among starting QBs at just 2.55 seconds, Tua has still taken 15 sacks on the year which is tied for the ninth most in the NFL. He is taking a sack 20.5% of the time when pressured, which is a good sign for Atlanta's defense which has the sixth highest pressure rate.
Just as importantly, the Dolphins defense is terrible. They have given up the most rushing yards in the NFL through seven weeks and it isn't close. Teams don't have to pass much against Miami, but when they do they are averaging 7.9 yards per attempt which is fourth most in the league.
The Falcons have one of the best rushing attacks so this should be a massive game for Bijan Robinson which will allow Atlanta to control the time of possession and potentially put them in the lead early in the game. They are favored by 7.5 points, so oddsmakers agree that is the most likely outcome for this game. This sets up as a very good spot for the Atlanta defense and they are widely available in fantasy leagues which makes them my second favorite streaming option for Week 8.
San Francisco 49ers - 15% rostered
Despite being one of the most injured units in football, the San Francisco defense is starting to come together. They have lost both Fred Warner and Nick Bosa for the season, but they had arguably their most impressive performance of the season on Sunday Night Football in Week 7, holding the Falcons offense to just 10 points and 292 yards.
The biggest issue with the 49ers defense from a fantasy perspective is that they haven't recorded a single interception so far this season. However, they do lead the NFL in forced fumbles and fumble recoveries. This has helped them be a solid fantasy producer, scoring at least five fantasy points in five of seven games so far this season.
This week San Francisco goes on the road to face the Houston Texans. At the time of writing, the Texans have yet to play the Seahawks on Monday Night Football so they only have five games worth of stats this year. Going into that game, Houston ranks 29th in pass block win rate and 28th in rush block win rate. They have one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL and I don't expect to view them much differently coming out of their matchup with Seattle.
San Francisco is clearly behind Indianapolis and Atlanta for me, but they are another decent streaming option that is widely available and won't be a popular target for your leaguemates. They are my break glass in case of emergency option that should give you a decent output if you need to start them.
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