Category: NFL

Streaming Defenses- Week 1

It’s about that time to start thinking about your week one lineup… so let’s get it started.

Analysis: If you didn’t grab an elite defense it’s not the end of the world. While other guys drafted the Niners and Hawks way too early hopefully you stashed away some running backs.

Our week one “best team to stream” has to go to the Tampa Bay Bucs. Streaming isn’t about great defenses it’s about decent ones playing awful quarterbacks. Tampa has the New York Jets in week one and this match up is a tasty one. Rookie Geno Smith should get the start for the Jets and he is expected to struggle mightily. The Jets have one proven offensive threat in the oft-injured Santonio Holmes. Even if the Jets do manage to score thirty points do we really expect Geno not to throw multiple picks/get sacked/fumble? This is where drafting fantasy defenses too high will cost you. For example- the Packers are the 9th defense being taken in drafts this year and they have an unfavorable week one match up with the Niners on the road who lit them up with 45 points in the playoffs last year.

So… the Bucs D is looking like a better choice and you didn’t have to burn a more valuable pick to get them. The Bucs D/ST are available in 70% of fantasy leagues.

Streaming Defenses- Week 17

We should expect Atlanta and possibly a few other playoff bound teams to be resting their starters come week seventeen. This will clearly impact which defenses can be relied upon in the last week of the regular season.

Analysis: An interesting defense to take a look at is the Chargers defensive unit. They have played well this year and have Oakland in week seventeen. We don’t know what the status of Carson Palmer will be but we do know that the Raiders haven’t scored over 20 points in a game since week nine. San Diego’s defense is in the top five of the NFL in sacks and ranks in the top half of the league in takeaways, interceptions, yards allowed and points against.

The Bills are another team to take a look at this week. They are at home against the Jets in week seventeen and that is always good news. The Jets rank in the bottom five of the NFL in points per game, yards per game and giveaways. It is a risk starting the Buffalo D especially when considering they turn the ball over a ton and struggle to put up points and dictate games but they are worth a look.

Mike Williams Strikes Again

Tampa Bay may not be playing well but Mike Williams is still putting up numbers.

Analysis: Mike Williams caught 7 balls on 17 targets for 132 yards and a score Sunday afternoon against the Rams. This now leaves Williams with 8 touchdowns and over 900 receiving yards this year. His targets have been inconsistent this season but he is averaging nearly 11 targets per game over his last four games. Keep in mind that Tampa is one of the more pass heavy teams in the NFL as evidenced by Josh Freeman’s 43.5 passing attempts per game over his last four games. Up next for Tampa Bay is Atlanta which should be resting plenty of starters in week seventeen.

The biggest surprise in all this seems to be that Williams is only being started in less than half of fantasy leagues. He may not be a consistent WR2 but he is an elite WR3/FLEX option that is not being utilized nearly enough in fantasy leagues. Williams is a top twenty fantasy wide out this year yet we see guys like Jeremy Maclin and Brandon Lloyd get more attention even though they have a combined 9 touchdowns in 29 games this year. It doesn’t make sense.

Blackmon In Week 16?

Justin Blackmon has been playing significantly better in the second half of the season and makes an intriguing WR3/FLEX start in week 16.

Analysis: Justin Blackmon recorded 6 receptions for 93 yards Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. This was Blackmon’s second consecutive 6 reception game and second consecutive game with 11 or more targets. Blackmon is becoming a focal point in the Jacksonville offense and week 16 should be more of the same with a match-up at home against New England. We all know New England should score tons of points against the Jags next week and that means a lot of second half “junk” fantasy points for Blackmon.

At the moment Justin Blackmon is owned in seventy percent of fantasy leagues and is being started in thirty percent of them. It is a bit of a gamble to start Blackmon but his consistency is improving. He’s caught at least five balls in four of his last five games and tight end Marcedes Lewis seems to be phased out of the Jacksonville offense. It’s risky but week 16 against New England does figure to be a high target, six plus reception game from Blackmon.

Streaming Defenses- Week 15

Week 15 is one interesting week in regards to the defensive fantasy match-ups.

Analysis: The Baltimore defense is struggling at the moment and it may get even worse when Denver visits this coming week. Denver is averaging 28.8 points per game which is third best in the NFL. Peyton Manning is on fire and Denver is riding an eight game winning streak. Baltimore on the other hand did just give up 31 points to Washington and 23 to Charlie Batch and the Steelers.

An interesting alternative to starting the Ravens’ D is the Titans. The Titans have the train wreck that is the New York Jets this week. The Jets are 26th in points per game, 29th in passing yards and are 30th with 26 giveaways on the year.

Another solid option is the Detroit defense. The Lions have Arizona in week 15 and if they haven’t mentally checked out it could be a big fantasy day. The Cardinals are on a nine game losing streak and have scored a total of 6 points over their last two games. Both the Titans and Lions are worth checking out since teams like Baltimore and Atlanta(vs. NYG) are playing such tough opponents.