Fantasy Football: 3 Defenses to Stream for NFL Week 6

Defenses to Stream at a Glance

• Colts D/ST
• Chiefs D/ST
• Giants D/ST

Every point matters when it comes to winning in season-long fantasy football, meaning you can't afford to leave points on the table. While we don't spend top-notch draft capital on D/STs in our fantasy football drafts, ignoring them during the season can cost you dearly.

Streaming defenses throughout the year is a great way to ensure you get the most out of your D/ST slot. Even the best defenses draw tough weekly matchups, and even the worst defenses are capable of strong fantasy outings in the right situations.

This article is here to help you parse through all of those situations and to present you with three streamers that are available in most leagues.

All NFL projections via our numbers at FanDuel Research, and NFL odds references are to FanDuel Sportsbook.

D/ST Streamers for Fantasy Football Week 6

Indianapolis Colts D/ST

Matchup: vs. TEN

The Indianapolis Colts‘ defense has been pretty bad, giving up the third-most yards per play (6.2). I’m not sure how much that matters this week as they get a home date with the Tennessee Titans.

Cameron Ward and the Titans’ offense have really struggled. They’re averaging a league-worst 4.5 yards per play and have scored only 58 points through five games, which is another league-worst mark.

Ward has a pick in three straight games, and for his career, he’s recorded seven interceptions and four fumbles over 10 road games.

The Colts have an argument to be this week’s top D/ST.

Kansas City Chiefs D/ST

Matchup: vs. LAC

The Kansas City Chiefs’ defense is available in roughly half of Sleeper leagues, and they have a friendly home matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers.

KC opened the year with a lights-out defensive performance against the Denver Broncos. But they’ve been more good than great since then, sitting 10th in yards per play allowed (5.0).

However, they’re at home for this one and are coming off a bye.

Oh, and the Chargers’ O has been bad, gaining the ninth-worst yards per play (4.8) and topping 17 points just once through five weeks.

This is a smash spot for the KC defense.

New York Giants D/ST

Matchup: vs. NO

After those two D/STs above, the Week 6 streaming options fall off a cliff. I can at least see a path for the New York Giants‘ D to have a good day.

They’re playing the New Orleans Saints at home. The Saints’ offense sits 11th-worst in yards per play (4.8) and have the third-most turnovers (11).

New Orleans has not been able to run the ball well, ranking fourth-worst in yards per carry (3.5). That should force them into passing situations, and that suits Big Blue as New York boasts a quality pass rush.

If you can’t get the Colts or KC, the Giants’ defense is a decent fall-back option.

Fantasy Football Defense Streaming FAQ

What does streaming defenses mean in fantasy football?

Streaming defenses means changing your starting D/ST based on weekly matchups rather than relying on one defense for the entire season. The goal is to target defenses facing offenses that allow sacks, commit turnovers, and/or struggle to score.

What should I look for when streaming a fantasy defense?

Matchup quality is usually the biggest factor. Look for defenses facing inexperienced — or backup — quarterbacks, weak offensive lines, turnover-prone QBs, or teams with low projected point totals.

How early should I pick up a streaming defense?

It can be helpful to look ahead one or two weeks, especially in competitive leagues. Adding a favorable defense before waivers run can keep you from competing with several other managers for the same option. With that said, depending on how many bench spots you have, you likely will want to roster just one defense each week rather than dedicate two roster spots to D/STs.

Is it better to stream defenses or draft an elite D/ST?

Streaming can be a strong strategy because defensive fantasy production is often matchup-dependent. Rather than spending an early pick on a defense, managers can wait until late in the draft to take a D/ST and rotate options throughout the season.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.