Charlie Cummings breaks down his favorite defense streamers for the fantasy football playoffs in NFL Week 15.
We’ve finally made it, folks. The fantasy football playoffs are upon us. If you made it, congrats. If you’ve been eliminated, this may not be the article for you, but I respect setting lineups just for the love of the game. Every lineup decision must be agonized over, and that includes your defense spot. I’m going to break down some of my favorite streaming plays for any manager looking to get a new D/ST in the lineup.
Eagles D/ST
The Eagles should be a popular add this week. They’re facing the Las Vegas Raiders, who recently did the impossible: they surpassed the Tennessee Titans for the worst scoring offense in the league.
Ashton Jeanty has done nothing to help a run game with no blocking; the Raiders are dead last in yards per carry. They’re also 28th in net yards per pass attempt to go with 14 interceptions (29th in the NFL). They can’t make the big plays and are awfully turnover-prone. Philly’s defense has looked strong over the past few weeks and is a good floor play with decent upside here.
49ers D/ST
If you can’t go against the worst offense, the second-worst will have to do. San Francisco’s defense has suffered plenty of injuries this season, yet it continues to produce solid results. They can’t hold up against the best offenses; however, that won’t be a problem against the Tennessee Titans.
The 49ers’ makeshift pass rush has gotten the job done recently. Bryce Huff and Clelin Ferrell are getting good pressure, and will be able to make hay against the most-sacked quarterback in the NFL, Cam Ward. The run defense will be solid enough against Tennessee’s feeble rushing attack. They don’t have a lot of turnover upside, but if you’re looking for a good floor from your defense, this is the move.
Falcons D/ST
If you need a deep cut, look the Falcons’ way. They’re inside the top 12 in standard D/ST scoring on the year, primarily due to their strong secondary. Getting torched by the Seahawks last week shouldn’t scare you away; Seattle has done that to most teams this year. They’re facing a Buccaneers offense with considerably less upside this week.
Tampa Bay has 47 combined points over the last three weeks, and has cleared 300 yards of total offense just once. The previous two games have seen them put up 20 against the Cardinals and 20 against the Saints. The offense is beginning to crumble under the pressure of injuries. Atlanta’s solid pass rush and strong secondary can cause problems for them. They’re not the highest-floor pick, but could deliver some real upside.