The fantasy football process looks (roughly) the same each week—fantasy football waiver wire research on Tuesdays, trade considerations throughout the middle of the week, and setting lineups toward the end of the week.
One of the most overlooked pieces of that process is figuring out which team's defense to stream.
If you don't have a locked-in option each week like the Steelers, playing the matchups can be an effective way to manage that roster spot each week.
To assist, I'll be consolidating a list of team defenses that every fantasy manager needs to know to prepare for the week ahead.
*Availability is based on Yahoo Fantasy Football Leagues.
Best Defense To Stream For Fantasy Football Week 15
New York Jets @ Jacksonville Jaguars (57% available)
The New York Jets lost to the Miami Dolphins in overtime this past weekend (and their defense scored negative fantasy points in the process). However, they are in a prime spot for a bounce-back game next weekend as they travel to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Jags were already underwhelming on offense for much of this season but have reached new lows with Mac Jones taking over for the injured Trevor Lawrence. In his last four games, Jones has thrown just two TDs to go along with five INTs. In that same time, the offense has posted 10 or fewer points three times.
This naturally makes them an ideal team to stream a defense against.
Currently, the Jets are available in over half of Yahoo (and ESPN) fantasy football leagues, and that number could dip even lower once the various platforms account for this weekend. That makes this New York team the ideal Week 15 streaming option at their current price point.
More Fantasy DST Streamers For Week 15
Arizona Cardinals (64% available)
The Cardinals will host the New England Patriots in Week 15 and their team defense has a pretty solid matchup on deck, especially for a unit that's available in almost two-thirds of leagues.
While the Patriots will be well-rested coming off their Week 14 bye, their season-long offensive numbers don't look great.
Heading into Week 14 they had just three wins and ranked 31st in scoring (17 points per game). They've scored more than 20 points just four times this season and never more than 24 points in any single game.
Dec 1, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Roy Lopez (98) celebrates his fumble recovery against the Minnesota Vikings in the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
On the flip side, the Cardinals' defense entered Week 14 as the 12th-ranked unit overall. While they did get shelled by the Seahawks on Sunday, they had been on a pretty good streak over the previous month. From Weeks 9-13 (four games), the Cardinals' defense tallied:
- 19 total sacks
- 12 points allowed per game
If you need a viable defensive streaming option for the first week of the fantasy football playoffs, you could do much worse than the Arizona Cardinals.
Los Angeles Chargers (60% available)
Heading into Week 14, the No. 8 ranked defense was available in 60% of leagues. Yes, they faced the Chiefs on Sunday Night Football, but there were certainly some business decisions made by fantasy managers looking to secure a playoff spot.
The Chargers tallied 13 INTs through Week 13 and were also consistently getting to opposing QBs (39 sacks and counting by halftime of SNF).
Looking to this upcoming week, the Chargers host the Buccaneers in what will be a pivotal matchup for both teams. As great as Tampa Bay's offense was earlier in the season, it's cooled off a bit, especially in the passing game. In his last seven games, Baker Mayfield has eight INTs.
There will be opportunities for the Chargers' defense to make some plays, and this unit could even find its way into your fantasy lineup in Week 15.
Honorable Mentions - Deep DST Streamers For Week 15
Indianapolis Colts (85% available)
The Colts will travel to Mile High to take on the Denver Broncos this weekend. Both teams enjoyed their bye week this past weekend, so we should be in for an entertaining matchup between two good, young QBs.
For our purposes, the Colts' defense will be looking to shut down the suddenly potent combination of Sean Payton and Bo Nix.
Heading into Week 14, the Colts' defense came in at No. 13 overall. Over their last five games, they've averaged:
- 3.2 sacks
- 1.2 takeaways
- 7.8 fantasy points
They've been the definition of a "bend but don't break" defense. In that five-game span, they've given up an average of 24 points and 379 yards per game, but have never really been blown out in any game this season.
The Broncos have struggled to run the ball but have been airing it out with success in recent weeks. If they can get pressure on Nix and either get home (sack) or force him into some tough throws (INTs), this defense could stack some points in a hurry.
Dallas Cowboys (60% available)
The Dallas Cowboys, who played on Monday night, entered Week 14 on a bit of a hot streak on the defensive side of the ball. Their numbers against both the Commanders and Giants were elite from a defensive perspective. In those games, Dallas tallied 10 sacks and five turnovers, topping 18 fantasy points in both contests.
They'll travel to take on the Carolina Panthers and resurgent Bryce Young. While he may have found his footing a bit over the last month or so, he's still lacking that high-end, game-changing ability we want to see from a franchise-hopeful.
If the Cowboys' defense can stop (limit) the run, which in itself is a tall task, and force Young and this offense to air it out, it could turn into a long afternoon for the sophomore QB.
If you need a viable option for your fantasy playoff matchup, Dallas could be your key to punching your ticket to the next round.
