Streaming Defenses: Week 17 Options

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Updated on December 24, 2019 8:14PM EST

On paper, Week 16 was a huge win for this space, with the five recommendations combining for 66 fantasy points, our second-largest total of the season. However, it was a bittersweet outcome from a personal perspective, as the top streaming pick (Denver) was the only one of the bunch to score fewer than nine points.

I started the Broncos defense (five points) over the Colts defense (30 points) in all my leagues, which proved costly when I lost a championship matchup by 6.62 points and a third-place game by 9.02. Granted, there were other questionable lineup decisions — Mike Boone! — contributing to those losses, but the D/ST aspect was especially frustrating because I'd been stashing Indianapolis for a few weeks in anticipation of the fantasy Super Bowl matchup.

I then pivoted to Denver once it became clear that Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (back) wouldn't return for Week 16, joining Marvin Jones (ankle) and T.J. Hockenson (ankle) on injured reserve. There was no way I was changing my mind again once the betting odds gave Detroit the lowest implied total of Week 16 (a full four points below Carolina!).

If we're being honest, I probably was lucky to even make it to the final week in so many of my leagues, with successful D/ST and kicker streaming allowing me to overcome some mediocre work in August drafts. My fantasy season is now over, apart from DFS, but we still have rankings, projections and recommendations for all the unfortunate souls playing in leagues that made the odd decision to include Week 17. Keep in mind that the Ravens, Bills and Vikings likely will rest some of their starters, and many other teams will scale back reps for key players.

For injury/ranking updates throughout the week, follow me on Twitter (@RotowireNFL_JD).

Note: These recommendations are limited to team defenses with ownership of less than 60 percent on Yahoo or 30 percent on ESPN as of Tuesday morning. Any references to fantasy points are based on Yahoo standard scoring, which doesn't include yards allowed.

Top Streaming Options for Week 16

1. Green Bay Packers (at Detroit Lions)

47% Yahoo ownership, 39% ESPN

Team implied total: 28.0

Opponent implied total: 15.0

Needing one more victory to lock down a bye week, the Packers will be pleased to face a team that last won a game in October. The Lions have scored more than 20 points in just one of seven games since Stafford suffered a back injury, allowing 10.0 fantasy points per game to opposing defenses. Get ready for David Blough's final NFL start!

2. Kansas City Chiefs (vs. Los Angeles Chargers)

63% Yahoo ownership, 43% ESPN

Team implied total: 27.25

Opponent implied total: 18.75

The Chiefs technically land a tick above our ownership requirement for streaming recommendations, but I cheated to include them in last week's edition, and now that I got away with it once, I feel empowered to continue breaking the rules. It's kind of like how Philip Rivers continues to chuck the ball up for grabs after getting some positive reinforcement in the form of contested catches from Mike Williams. A red-hot Chiefs defense should have no problem taking advantage, playing as an 8.5-point favorite against a team that's allowed the 11th-most fantasy points to D/ST units. Kansas City technically can still rise to the No. 2 seed or fall to No. 4, so we should see starters in the game for at least the first three quarters.

3. Dallas Cowboys (vs. Washington Redskins)

63% Yahoo ownership, 32% ESPN

Team implied total: 27.5

Opponent implied total: 17.0

The betting odds here fell a bit exaggerated, perhaps clinging to outdated ideas of the Cowboys being much better than their win-loss record or the Redskins being completely hopeless on offense. Of course, there is at least a shred of truth to both stories, with Dallas owning a plus-82 point differential, and Washington ranked 31st in scoring (16.7 per game) even after a couple good weeks. The Cowboys still have something to play for, and they'll be at home against a team that's allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to D/STs.

4. Philadelphia Eagles (at New York Giants)

55% Yahoo ownership, 54% ESPN

Team implied total: 24.75

Opponent implied total: 20.25

Daniel Jones already spoiled Chase Young's chances to avoid Dan Snyder and now has an opportunity to spoil the Eagles' playoff bid. Maybe it happens, maybe it doesn't. Either way, I'll happily stream a defense in a must-win situation against a quarterback with 16 fumbles in 12 games. Jones has been better than I expected overall, but he's done a poor job avoiding negative plays — 23rd for interception rate (2.7) and 25th for sack rate (7.6), in addition to the all-too-frequent fumbles.

5. Indianapolis Colts (at Jacksonville Jaguars)

45% Yahoo ownership, 42% ESPN

Team implied total: 23.25

Opponent implied total: 19.75

Am I chasing Gardner Minshew or am I chasing my mistakes from last week? Either way, the Jags have allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to team defenses, with their rookie QB proving nearly as fumble-prone (12) as Danny Dimes.