Typically, this weekly Streamable Defenses of the Week article will be released Tuesday night, with the impending weekly waiver wire being completed and therefore, options are there for the taking. However, for this initial week of the 2023 NFL season, I’m releasing this edition early as most re-drafts are set for this upcoming weekend. Therefore, when you are looking to draft your defense (hopefully with your last pick) you can look out for the teams I’ve suggested below. Either way, it sure does feel good getting the first of many weekly fantasy football articles out!
I’m one to never invest a high draft stock into team defenses. I play the waiver wire every single week to find my D/ST for the upcoming week. Due to this, I find myself never drafting a defense and waiting for just before the start of Week 1 to grab my first defense of the season. This is where this series comes into play. Every week I will be suggesting my favorite three team defenses that are regularly available on waiver wires across most formats. I will also keep a running total of how my selections measure up across the season below.
The premise of this article is to bring forth three streamable defenses that fantasy football players should look to use for that respective week. To qualify for this series, defenses must be owned in less than 40-percent of Yahoo and/or ESPN leagues. At least one of the suggested defenses will be owned in less than 10-percent of Yahoo and/or ESPN leagues to cater to as many fantasy players as possible. You can find last week’s results below and previous week’s results at the bottom of this article.
In future editions of this series, I will be posting the results of my Week 1 suggestions here. Additionally, I will be keeping track of my suggestions week-to-week, totaling the points and comparing that to the rest of the D/STs. Each week, I offer three streamable defenses. My top option is my favorite play of the week. My middle option is a team owned in less than 40-percent of Yahoo and/or ESPN leagues that I’m not as high on as my top suggestion and my less than 10-percent owned team is just that, a weekly suggestion that is available in less than 10-percent of Yahoo and/or ESPN leagues.
Week 1 Suggestions
Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts (Owned in 21% of Yahoo and 12.2% of ESPN Leagues)
There’s a changing of the guard (I guess) in the AFC South as the Jacksonville Jaguars are now the team to beat. That holds true as they open the season with a matchup with divisional rivals, the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts are an exciting young team led by rookie phenom quarterback Anthony Richardson. And their quarterback situation is why I love the Jaguars’ defense in Week 1. I am one of the biggest Richardson fans you will find. I’m all over the kid and want him to have a fantastic career. However, that isn’t going to start in Week 1. He was named the Colts’ starting quarterback and one of his biggest knocks coming into the NFL Draft was how raw he was and his inexperience. There’s going to be a drastic learning curve for Ricardson and that’s perfect for us looking to secure some fantasy points on the waiver wire in Week 1. The Jaguars were not a good defense last year and their improvement lies in the hands of 2022 first overall selection Travon Walker and his improvement from 2022. Walker recorded just 3.5 sacks a year ago.
Minnesota Vikings vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Owned in 4% of Yahoo and 3.4% of ESPN Leagues)
The Tampa Bay roster is not that good. Tom Brady has finally left the team and the NFL as a whole, making way for the likes of Baker Mayfield to lead the team heading into the 2023 NFL season. Of course, the receivers are still talented with the likes of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin but there is set to be a significant drop off with Mayfield throwing the football. The team’s rushing attack too is very poor, led by Rachaad White behind a rather poor offensive line. These are the reasons why I like the Vikings’ defense in Week 1. The Vikings are going to be very good against the run this season and will be competent rushing the passer, led by Danielle Hunter. As long as the secondary can play to an average level, the rest of the defense will elevate them.
Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers (Owned in 3% of Yahoo and 5.3% of ESPN Leagues)
Don’t get me wrong. The Falcons’ defense was bad in 2022 and I don’t think they’re going to be good in 2023, but this Week 1 matchup against a rookie quarterback and an overall poor roster is too good to pass up. Of course, the Panthers will be led offensively by first overall pick Bryce Young. Young does not have many options around him although, making a difficult task for a rookie quarterback that more difficult. This Falcons’ defense has made some significant improvements from a season ago as well, adding safety Jessie Bates and defensive lineman Calais Campbell. Owned in five-percent or less in both Yahoo and ESPN leagues, you can’t go wrong opening your season with the Falcons’ D/ST on your roster.