Streaming Defenses Week 16: D/ST Picks for Fantasy Football This Week

This article is part of our Streaming Defenses series.

Per usual, there are some key situations to watch with injury reports and NFL breaking news. QB injuries are of particular importance for weekly projections and team defense rankings, causing major shifts due to updates on Patrick Mahomes (ACL tear), Jayden Daniels (IR), Geno Smith (Q - shoulder) and Tyrod Taylor (Q - groin).

Playoff Grid

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

Top Streaming Options for Week 16

1. Buffalo Bills (at CLE)

• 54% Yahoo
• Team implied total:  26.5    Opponent implied total: 16.0
• Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 17: 15th (vs. PHI)

Buffalo's defense hasn't been a popular fantasy start recently, but a lot of forward-thinking fantasy managers have the Bills stashed for this matchup. Cleveland's implied total (16) is second-lowest of Week 16, with the shortcomings at QB now compounded by offensive line injuries (for a third straight season). The Bills haven't been consistent this season in terms of preventing yardage, but they've picked off at least one pass in seven of eight games since a Week 7 bye, reaching double-digit fantasy points three times in that span. 

2. New Orleans Saints (vs. NYJ)

• 17% Yahoo
• Team implied total: 22.5     Opponent implied total: 18.0
• Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 17: 5th (at TEN)

We can drop the Saints a spot or three if Tyrod Taylor (groin) ends up playing, but New Orleans likely would still be favored in that scenario, unless Taylor's return coincides with a Garrett Wilson return plus some bad injury news for the Saints. The more likely scenario is one where neither Taylor nor Wilson nor Justin Fields (knee) ends up playing, leaving Brady Cook, Adonai Mitchell and John Metchie to lead the passing attack against a New Orleans defense that's been playing alright recently.

3. Kansas City Chiefs (at TEN)

• 57% Yahoo
• Team implied total: 20.5     Opponent implied total: 17.0
• Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 17: 20th (vs. DEN)

This matchup between two teams that are ready for the offseason has an over/under of just 37.5, tied with the Houston-Vegas game for the lowest of Week 16. The Chiefs are favored by more than a FG even without Patrick Mahomes, which is partially a compliment to solid backup Gardner Minshew but mostly just a commentary on how pathetic the Titans have been. Any defense facing Tennessee has a shot at double-digit fantasy points, even with the Titans (or at least Cam Ward) showing some minor signs of progress the past few weeks.

4. 49ers (at IND)

• 50% Yahoo
• Team implied total: 26.0     Opponent implied total: 10.5
• Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 17: 6th (at IND)

As fun as the Colts-Seahawks game was, Philip Rivers clearly lost a lot of arm strength compared to even his 2020 self (at which point he probably had the worst arm of any starting QB). Maybe the Colts make a game of it again behind red-zone defense and key conversions, or maybe things blow up and Rivers ends up in a situation where he's trailing by multiple scores and forced to take more risks. We got a brief glimpse of that Sunday when the Seahawks took a lead in the final minute and Rivers promptly threw an interception. There is some risk here, especially after San Francisco somehow finished without a takeaway or sack against Cam Ward in Week 15.

5. Minnesota Vikings (at NYG)

• 35% Yahoo
• Team implied total: 23.0     Opponent implied total: 20.5
• Upcoming Ranks (Projected) — Week 17: 21st (vs. DET)

I still flinch when J.J. McCarthy drops back, but he's at least making progress, and the team around him is playing quite well of late. While the Giants' young QB has looked far more promising this year, Jaxson Dart doesn't have much help around him, nor is there any real sign of interim coach Mike Kafka being an upgrade on Brian Daboll. A couple weeks back, it looked like the Giants would be favored in this game, but now they're 2.5-point underdogs.

Week 16 Rankings

Tier 1: HOU

Tier 2: BUF, NO

Tier 3: KC, PHI

Tier 4: SF, MIN, TB

Tier 5: DEN, LAR, SEA

1. Texans (vs. LV)
2. Bills (at CLE) 
3. Saints (vs. NYJ) 
4. Chiefs (at TEN)
5. Eagles (at WAS) 
6. 49ers (at IND) 
7. Vikings (at NYG) 
8. Buccaneers (at CAR) 
9. Rams (at SEA)
10. Seahawks (vs. LAR) 
11. Broncos (vs. JAX) 
12. Lions (vs. PIT) 
13. Jets (at NO) 
14. Giants (vs. MIN) 
15. Titans (vs. KC) 
16. Falcons (at ARZ)
17. Jaguars (at DEN) 
18. Cardinals (vs. ATL) 
19. Bears (vs. GB) 
20. Ravens (vs. NE)

Looking Ahead to Week 17

1. Patriots (at NYJ)
2. Steelers (at CLE)  
3. Rams (at ATL) 
4. Seahawks (at CAR)  
5. Saints (at TEN) 
6. Texans (at LAC) 
7. Jaguars (at IND) 
8. Broncos (at KC) 
9. Titans (vs. NO)
10. Browns (vs. PIT) 
11. Giants (at LV)
12. Chargers (vs. HOU) 
13. Buccaneers (at MIA) 
14. Lions (at MIN) 
15. Bills (vs. PHI)
16. 49ers (vs. CHI) 
17. Raiders (vs. NYG)
18. Packers (vs. BAL)
19. Ravens (at GB) 
20. Chiefs (vs. DEN)