Streaming Defenses Week 10: D/ST Picks for Fantasy Football This Week

This article is part of our Streaming Defenses series.

Playoff Grid (Estimated Ranks for Weeks 15-17)

Note: These recommendations are limited to team defenses that are rostered on less than 60 percent of teams on Yahoo or 80 percent on NFFC. Any references to fantasy points are based on Yahoo standard scoring, which doesn't include yards allowed.

Top Streaming Options for Week 10

1. Carolina Panthers (vs. NO)

• 3% Yahoo, 19% NFFC
• Team implied total: 22.5     Opponent implied total: 17.0
• Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 11: 21st (at ATL),  Week 12: 23rd (at SF)

The Panthers may be 5-4 on the road to 8-9, but they should first take a detour to 6-4, courtesy of a home matchup with the one-win Saints. Carolina's minus-35 point differential (23rd) is one of the clearest signs of trouble ahead, but it looks pretty good next to New Orleans' minus-105 (31st). It helps that Carolina's defense finished Week 9 as one of the healthiest units in the league, with every projected starter available besides outside linebacker Pat Jones (who underwent season-ending back surgery after Week 4). The Saints' offense, on the other hand, just lost RT Taliese Fuaga to a high-ankle sprain (after losing C Erik McCoy to a season-ending injury a few weeks earlier).

2. Buffalo Bills (at MIA)

• 43% Yahoo, 76% NFFC
• Team implied total: 30.0     Opponent implied total: 20.5
• Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 11: 15th (vs. TB),  Week 12: 14th (at HOU)

The Bills are just 17th in D/ST scoring this season, averaging 6.25 points per game, with the biggest disappointment being a two-point showing against this same Miami team back in Week 3. The Bills won 31-21 and held Miami to 276 total yards, but with just one takeaway and no sacks. Expect the rematch to be more fruitful in that regard, with Buffalo favored to win by a similar margin against a Miami team with 15 players on injured reserve.

3. Cleveland Browns (at NYJ) - edited Tuesday after the Jets' trades

• 32% Yahoo, 82% NFFC
• Team implied total: 17.5     Opponent implied total: 19.0
• Team implied total: 19.5     Opponent implied total: 18.0
• Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 11: 20th (vs. BAL),  Week 12: 9th (at LV)

The Browns open the week as a slight underdog at the Jets, but there's huge upside for D/ST scoring if sack-prone Justin Fields is repeatedly forced into passing situations. That'll require Cleveland's offense do something, though perhaps not much, given that the defense has been among the best in the league this season. The usual game-script concerns aren't nearly as prominent this week against a one-win Jets outfit.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars (at HOU)

• 58% Yahoo, 83% NFFC
• Team implied total: 18.0     Opponent implied total: 19.5
• Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 11: 21st (vs. LAC),  Week 12: 17th (at ARZ)

The Jags are rostered in most leagues, but not all, after a disappointing Week 9 performance at Las Vegas. Redemption may come soon, however, with Davis Mills potentially filling in for C.J. Stroud (concussion) behind a subpar offensive line. This play is mostly about targeting Mills, so interest in the Jaguars D/ST dies out if Stroud ends up clearing concussion protocol before Sunday.

5. New York Jets (vs. CLE) - edited Tuesday after the Jets' trades

• 8% Yahoo, 4% NFFC
• Team implied total: 19.0     Opponent implied total: 17.5
• Team implied total: 18.0     Opponent implied total: 19.5
• Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 11: 30th (at NE),  Week 12: 28th (at BAL)

This is the 'hold your nose' play of the week, pitting one of the worst defenses in the league* against arguably the worst starting QB (with all due respect to Tyler Shough's potential in this department). The Browns hope they can win without Dillon Gabriel making downfield throws, but there's always potential for things to get ugly when dealing with QB play at such a low level, even when the team can play some defense and run the ball (at times).

*Editor's Note: The Jets got much worse Tuesday, trading away CB Sauce Gardner and DT Quinnen Williams. I've dropped them two spots in the Week 10 rankings, now below Baltimore and Indianapolis, though there is still some degree of streaming appeal for any defense facing Gabriel.

Week 10 Rankings

Tier 1: CAR, DEN, HOU

Tier 2: SEA, BUF, CLE

Tier 3: DET, JAX, BAL, IND, NYJ

1. Panthers (vs. NO) 
2. Broncos (vs. LV) 
3. Texans (vs. JAX) 
4. Seahawks (vs. ARZ) 
5. Bills (at MIA)  
6. Browns (at NYJ)   
7. Lions (at WAS) 
8. Jaguars (at HOU) 
9. Colts (vs. ATL)  - moved up two spots after Gardner/Quinnen trades.
10. Ravens (at MIN) 
11. Jets (vs. CLE)  - moved down two spots after Gardner/Quinnen trades.
12. Chargers (vs. PIT) 
13. Rams (at SF) 
14. Bears (vs. NYG)
15. Saints (at CAR)
16. Eagles (at GB)
17. Steelers (at LAC) 
18. Vikings (vs. BAL) 
19. Buccaneers (vs. NE)
20. 49ers (vs. LAR)

Looking Ahead to Week 11

1. Texans (at TEN) 
2. Ravens (at CLE)
3. Patriots (vs. NYJ)
4. Packers (at NYG)
5. Falcons (vs. CAR)
6. Vikings (vs. CHI)
7. Bears (at MIN)
8. Steelers (vs. CIN) 
9. Chargers (at JAX)
10. Chiefs (at DEN)
11. Rams (vs. SEA)
12. Cowboys (at LV)
13. Seahawks (at LAR)
14. 49ers (at ARZ)
15. Bills (vs. TB) 
16. Eagles (vs. DET) 
17. Cardinals (vs. SF)
18. Commanders (at MIA) 
19. Lions (at PHI)
20. Browns (vs. BAL)

Rest-of-Season Rankings

1. Houston Texans  
2. Denver Broncos 
3. Los Angeles Rams  
4. Kansas City Chiefs    
5. Seattle Seahawks 
6. Baltimore Ravens 
7. Philadelphia Eagles 
8. Buffalo Bills    
9. Green Bay Packers    
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 
11. Detroit Lions 
12. New England Patriots 
13. Pittsburgh Steelers   
14. Indianapolis Colts  
15. Minnesota Vikings  
16. Los Angeles Chargers 
17. Cleveland Browns 
18. New Orleans Saints
19. Washington Commanders
20. Jacksonville Jaguars