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The Duel

Top Fantasy Football Streaming Defenses for Week 1

By Jason Schandl

Top fantasy football streaming defenses for Week 1, including the Tennessee Titans.
Top fantasy football streaming defenses for Week 1, including the Tennessee Titans. / Tim Warner/Getty Images
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If you didn't land a top tier fantasy football defense in your draft, you may already be on the lookout for a streaming option.

Since fantasy production from defenses is so closely tied to matchups, it can pay to simply grab the best waiver wire option available each week, rather than drafting a top unit and starting them regardless of matchup.

These three defenses, rostered in 50 percent or less of Yahoo! fantasy football leagues, are the top waiver wire streaming options in Week 1.

Fantasy Football Defense Streaming Options for Week 1

3. Detroit Lions (vs CHI)

The Chicago Bears have committed to Mitchell Trubisky as their starting QB (for Week 1, at least), and that means this offense should continue to struggle. Trubisky has thrown double-digit interceptions in each of the last two seasons, and in 2019 his 5.04 adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) ranked 30th among 33 qualifying passers. The Detroit Lions' defense isn't anything special, but they're available in over 90 percent of leagues, making them a viable option if the next two teams on this list are rostered.

2. Los Angeles Chargers (at CIN)

Joe Burrow is certainly an exciting rookie, but he's also a rookie QB making his first NFL start with no preseason experience following a shortened offseason. He's also playing behind an offensive line that allowed a 7.2 percent sack rate in 2019 (10th highest in the NFL). The Los Angeles Chargers' elite pass rushing duo of Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa (combined 43 QB hits in 2019) could give Burrow a rude introduction to the NFL this week.

1. Tennessee Titans (at DEN)

Monday Night Football's late game between the Tennessee Titans and Denver Broncos has one of the slate's lowest over/unders, at 40.5 points, on FanDuel Sportsbook. The game is also expected to be a close one, with the Titans sitting as slight 1-point favorites. They may be on the road, but they do get a favorable matchup against a Broncos offense that could get off to a slow start thanks to the large number of new faces they have coming in on a shortened offseason. The Tennessee defense's fantasy upside was hurt by a weak pass rush in 2019 (21.1 percent pressure rate was a bottom-10 mark), but the addition of Jadeveon Clowney (55 QB hits and 21.0 sacks since 2017) should give them a nice boost on that front.