Fantasy football 2019: Week 1 streaming defenses
By Bill Pivetz
There are plenty of teams available for you to stream for Week 1 for your fantasy football team if you didn’t draft a defense.
Defenses can make a difference in fantasy football. While I don’t agree with drafting one in Round 12, having a solid defense can move the needle in your favor. A sack, interception or even a tackle for a loss could be all you need to win your matchup.
Unlike kickers, there is a difference between the top and bottom defenses. If you have a defense that gives up a lot of points and yards on the field, they won’t be giving you a lot of fantasy points.
Matchups and weather play a big part in their performance. The matchup is for obvious reasons. I’m not starting a defense facing the Packers or Rams. Also, if the opposing defense is good, like the Ravens or Bears, the offense will have a hard time scoring which forces that defense to be on the field for longer.
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If you didn’t draft a defense and are looking to stream one for the first week, here are three options to go with. Who knows, maybe they will be your starting defense for multiple weeks. These defenses will have low ownerships, under 50 percent, with favorable matchups.
49ers @ TB
The 49ers go east to take on the Bucs. Tampa Bay’s offense is going to revolve around Jameis Winston and Mike Evans. They have a couple of other weapons in the passing game in Chris Godwin and OJ Howard. If the defense can manage the running game, they’ll be able to focus on the passing game.
The Bucs running game is a timeshare between Peyton Barber and Ronald Jones. I don’t like either one to break out as the other will get some carries.
Last season, the 49ers finished 13th in yards per game and 28th in points per game. The Bucs offense was 12th in points per game. With both teams’ offenses being average, the 49ers defense is a good streaming pick.
DET @ ARI
The Lions start the season against a rookie quarterback on a rebuilding offense. They will have to contain Kyler Murray. With Larry Fitzgerald still a force across the middle and Christian Kirk ready to become a star, the Lions secondary may have their hands full.
The Cardinals running game will be led by David Johnson. How he adjusts to Kliff Kingsbury’s offense will be something to watch all season.
The Lions defense recorded 43.0 sacks last year, 11th in the league. Josh Rosen was sacked 45 times in 14 games last season. Looking ahead, the Lions have a pretty favorable schedule and could make another appearance on this list.
NYJ vs. BUF
The Jets defense was bad from a statistical standpoint. They allowed 380.4 yards per game and 27.6 points per game, 25th and 29th in the league respectively. The second-string squad shutout the Eagles in the final preseason game.
The Bills went through a roster change, adding Cole Beasley and releasing LeSean McCoy. Josh Allen is looking to improve in his second season. They will go with Frank Gore and Devin Singletary in the backfield. I like the Jets offense in this game, forcing the Bills to play catchup. This is one of their few favorable matchups this season.
Next. Fantasy football impact: Kenny Stills to the Houston Texans. dark
A defense’s production will depend on game flow. If an opponent is forced to throw the ball a lot, it could lead to more turnovers or more scoring. Depending on the team, you should have a good idea on which way it goes. If you want to play the matchups, you can have a successful fantasy football season.