Fantasy Football Week 5 waiver wire pickups: Top 5 D/ST
Streaming defenses is a strategy that continues to pay off for fantasy football owners. The strategy is based on taking a defense that faces a turnover-prone offense or one that has a suspect offensive line. Some weeks there aren’t a lot of options, but this week there are some widely available D/ST units with very favorable matchups.
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For the sake of all our waiver wire posts, all players or in this case defensive units on the lise are owned in less than 50% of ESPN leagues. If you have a specific question about a D/ST on your waiver wire or whether or not you should make a move, you can ask always find us at @FansidedFantasy on twitter.
Here are the defenses you should be looking to grab before week 5 kicks off:
The Eagles D/ST scored three TD’s last week in their loss to the 49ers. In fact, they were the only units that found the end zone as the Eagles offense sputtered. So far this season, Phily has forced a turnover in every game and scored a touchdown in all but one. This week, they return home to take on the Rams who have given up the third-most points per game to opposing D’s with turnovers in every game and alowing defensive TD’s in two of their three games.. 8.2% owned. Week 5 vs Rams. Philadelphia Eagles. 1. player. 54
Week 5 vs Bills. Detroit Lions. 2. player. 50. Although they haven’t scored nearly as many defensive TD’s the Lions D has been solid allowing less than 20 points in all but one game this season. They’ve forced a turnover in three of their four games and have a favorable matchup at Ford Field where they shut down the Packers in their previous home game. This week they’ll face the newly-installed starting QB of the Bills Kyle Orton in what should be another solid game for Detroit’s defense.. 41.1% owned
Week 5 @ Titans. Cleveland Browns. 3. player. 53. The Browns come off their bye in a favorable matchup as they travel to Tennessee. The Titans have struggled to run the ball all year even with their three back rotation. They also have an ailing starting QB in Jake Locker and two backups who struggled last week filling in. The Titans offensive struggles have resulted in multiple turnovers along with multiple sacks allowed in each the last three games. If Locker isn’t able to practice and play, the Browns are a top-5 defense to start this week, but even if Locker plays they are definitely worth starting consideration. . 4.9% owned
123. In one of the biggest surprises of the NFL season, the Cowboys defense is much better than everyone expected. they’ve forced multiple turnovers in every game but the opener against the 49ers, and on Sunday night they held the mighty Saints to just 17 points. This week, they face a Texans team that has three turnovers in each of their last two games. Dallas is a sneaky play at home as they look to take it to their in-state rivals and a beatable Ryan Fitzpatrick offense.. 3.8 % owned. Week 5 vs Texans. Dallas Cowboys. 4. player
Week 5 @ Jaguars. Pittsburgh Steelers. 5. player. 55. The Steelers have the most obviously favorable matchup, but they come in as a battered and injury-depleted unit. They only managed two points against a struggling Tampa Bay squad last week, but they’re still playable in Jacksonville against a Jaguars team that has allowed by far the most points to opposing D/ST this year. Pittsburgh isn’t a start to feel great about, but is still a unit to check on this week.. 20.6% owned