Defense
Not all fantasy owners were lucky enough to get a top-tier fantasy defense such as the New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, or the Baltimore Ravens.
However, now that you are in the fantasy playoffs, fantasy managers are looking to find the best streaming options for Week 14 and beyond. Here are the top defenses to stream to get your fantasy championship belt.
Pittsburgh Steelers
"They're back. This is old school Steelers now" @PatKirwan_NFL and @JimMiller_NFL talk about the red hot @steelers defense.
👇 #SteelerNation 👇 pic.twitter.com/aQN0zMCHLH
— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) December 2, 2019
Weeks 14-16: Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, New York Jets
The trade for Minkah Fitzpatrick seemed strange for the Steelers after going 0-2 and losing Ben Roethlisberger for the season. His presence in the middle of the Steelers defense has turned this unit into a considerable threat. Fitzpatrick has five picks, knocked down nine passes and scored two touchdowns since arriving in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers have elite defensive weapons in defensive end T.J. Watt and rookie linebacker Devin Bush to go along with Fitzpatrick. Regardless of the opponent, this is the type of defense that can lead to fantasy championships. Matchups against Kyler Murray, who has struggled as of late and Sam Darnold and the Jets in Week 16, make the Steelers an appealing streaming option for fantasy managers.
Green Bay Packers
Weeks 14-16: Washington Redskins, New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings
The Packers are a Top 10 defense in sacks and interceptions which bodes well for fantasy managers who love to stream defenses. With matchups against the Redskins and the Giants, the Packers should have a fantasy feast in the fantasy playoff matchups. The matchup against the Vikings may not look promising now, but everyone knows how Kirk Cousins performs when things aren’t clicking. We were witnesses to that ugliness in the first half of the 2019 season. Cousins gets rattled easily, and with Preston Smith (10.5 sacks) and Za’Darius Smith (10.0 sacks) creating havoc, look for the Packers to thrive in Week 16.
Philadelphia Eagles
Weeks 14-16: New York Giants, Washington Redskins, Dallas Cowboys
The defensive stats for the Eagles are not that impressive, but their Week 14 and Week 15 matchups are tasty. Week 14 brings the return of Eli Manning to be Giants’ signal-caller as rookie Daniel Jones is suffering from a high-ankle sprain. The name Eli Manning sounds like music to a defense ear with his lack of mobility and arm strength. Rookie Dwayne Haskins will have to face the Eagles in Week 15. To say the former Buckeye is experiencing growing pains is putting it mildly. Eagles will probably be playing for NFC East supremacy in their Week 16 matchup against the Cowboys. Hard to predict which Dak Prescott shows up, but in a crucial road matchup, look for the bad Prescott to rear its ugly head.
Kansas City Chiefs
Weeks 14-16: New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears
Is the Kansas City Chiefs defense carrying the team? – National Football League News – https://t.co/kNfNR06rCj pic.twitter.com/9DR5V0MAs1
— Los Angeles Sports News (@Lakers_newsnow) December 2, 2019
Understandably, the Week 14 matchup against the Patriots is not one that fantasy managers should target, so this choice is for the streaming options the following weeks.
In Week 15, the Chiefs take on the Denver Broncos, who will be starting rookie quarterback Drew Lock. Lock was not impressive in his rookie debut while averaging a measly 4.8 yards per pass attempt. The Chiefs will look to replicate their outstanding defensive performance from their previous matchup in Week 7. The defense held then-quarterback Joe Flacco to six points and sacked the pedestrian Flacco a whopping nine times. It’s doubtful that the inexperienced Lock will be fortunate enough to avoid the Chiefs’ defensive onslaught.
During the Week 16 fantasy championship week, the Chiefs visit the Chicago Bears. The Bears are clinging to a playoff spot, but by this matchup, their season could be toast. Bears signal-callers are getting sacked at a 2.8 rate per game, and who can rely on Mitchell Trubisky? The former Tar Heel has played well in good matchups, but against this Chiefs defense, look for Trubisky to commit ill-advised throws and turnovers, which led to his benching earlier this season. Kansas City will be playing for home-field advantage in this Sunday Night matchup, while the Bears will be thinking about Christmas travel plans.
Good luck, fantasy friends, and foes in your fantasy football playoffs! Full stream ahead!