Best Fantasy Football D/ST Streaming Options for Week 4: Dolphins, Titans, Raiders
Ted takes a look at some widely available defenses that could help your fantasy football team in Week 4.
Last week was a mixed bag of results for my fantasy football streaming defense picks. We have officially learned that Matt LaFleur is not to be tested, even with a backup quarterback … but Mike McDaniel is. The Broncos also were able to field goal the Buccaneers’ defense to death. At least the Titans’ and Bears’ offenses still came through for us with rough performances.
For Week 4, there aren’t too many obvious picks of widely available defenses, but there are still a few sneaky teams in solid matchups. Let’s get started!
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Week 4 Fantasy Football Defense Streaming Options
Tennessee Titans (3.6% Rostered) @ Miami Dolphins
The Titans let me down massively last week, and I apologize if you played them on my recommendation. However, the key to fantasy defense streaming is never the defense — it’s the matchup. The problem last week wasn’t that the Titans’ defense was bad (although they are). The problem was that Matt LaFleur has somehow turned Malik Willis into Lamar Jackson.
However, this week, the Titans get to face the Dolphins. And last week proved that neither Skylar Thompson nor Tim Boyle has magically transformed into anyone other than themselves. Regardless of whether it is Thompson (who is dealing with a rib injury), Boyle, or recent signee Tyler Huntley under center, Miami’s offense is likely to struggle this week.
Miami managed just 205 yards and three points on Sunday, being sacked six times in the process. Their offense was so bad that the Seahawks’ defense finished as the DST7 on the week without forcing any turnovers (and the Dolphins did fumble three times; they just happened to recover them all). If the Titans let us down again in this matchup, they won’t appear on this list again for a very long time … but they shouldn’t.
Miami Dolphins (48.9% Rostered) vs. Tennessee Titans
While the Titans’ defense was disappointing last week, their offense lived exactly up to expectations. Negative expectations, that is, as Will Levis was sacked four times and turned the ball over three times (two interceptions and a fumble).
Through three weeks of the season, no one has allowed more points to opposing defenses than the Titans, and it’s not even close to close. Defenses facing the Titans have averaged 18.7 points per game; no other team is even at 12. They rank third-worst in the league in EPA per play, only ahead of the Panthers (not for long, with Bryce Young benched) and the Bears (we’ll get to them).
The Dolphins’ defense isn’t particularly good, but this play is once again about the matchup. We should be in for an ugly one in Florida this week, and the defenses on both sides are worth playing.
Las Vegas Raiders (36.8% Rostered) vs. Cleveland Browns
Speaking of games that should be ugly, this matchup between the Raiders and Browns is likely to feature offensive ineptitude on all sides. The Browns’ defense is heavily rostered, but the Raiders are widely available … which isn’t too surprising, given they just got lit up by the Red Rifle.
The thing is, Andy Dalton is currently a better quarterback than Deshaun Watson. Watson and the Browns rank second-worst in both total yards and yards per play, as well as fourth-worst in EPA per play. They also lead the league with a massive 16 sacks through three games — Maxx Crosby should add to that number on Sunday. This play isn’t for the faint of heart, as the Raiders’ defense has been absolutely dreadful through three weeks, but they should be able to bounce back in this prime matchup.
Los Angeles Rams (0.9% Rostered) @ Chicago Bears
If the previous play wasn’t for the faint of heart, this play is only for the truly desperate. The Rams rank dead last in yards per play and total yards allowed. They are second in points allowed, with over 30 points per game. But, as bad as the Rams’ defense has been, the Bears’ offense has been arguably worse. Caleb Williams has had flashes of the talent that made him the first-overall pick in this year’s draft, but so far, they’re just flashes. The Bears rank second-worst in the league in EPA per play and dead last with a putrid 3.7 yards per play.
Chicago’s point totals (24, 13, and 16) don’t look too bad on the surface, but they do once we add context. Their only two touchdowns in Week 1 came on defense and special teams, their only touchdown in Week 2 came on a drive that started on their opponent’s half, and it took them an absurd 84 plays to manage 16 points in Week 3. This is not a consistently productive offense in any way, shape, or form.
Meanwhile, Caleb Williams has been sacked 13 times on a 31% pressure-to-sack rate. For all their struggles, the Rams have been able to pressure opposing QBs, with the eighth-highest pressure rate in the league. This play is risky, but I like the Rams’ chances to go into Chicago and come out with a solid defensive performance.
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