Streaming Defenses Week 17: D/ST Picks for Fantasy Football This Week

Per usual, there are some key situations to watch with injury reports and NFL breaking news. QB injuries are of particular importance for weekly projections and team defense rankings, which means we'll need to stay up to date with reports on Lamar Jackson (back), J.J. McCarthy (hand), Jordan Love (head) and Marcus Mariota (quad/hand).

I'm focusing on Week 17 here, but you'll still find look-ahead ranks for Week 18 at the bottom, and the article will run next Tuesday as it has all season.

Note: These recommendations are limited to team defenses that are rostered on less than 60 percent of teams on Yahoo. Any references to fantasy points are based on Yahoo standard scoring, which doesn't include yards allowed.

Top Streaming Options for Week 17

1. New England Patriots (at NYJ)

• 49% Yahoo
• Team implied total: 27.5     Opponent implied total: 15.0

 The cascade of QB injuries and benchings has made D/ST streaming rather easy of late. The Jets have hit both categories, with Brady Cook initially starting due to Tyrod Taylor's groin injury but now being kept in even though Taylor is healthy enough to play. New York's implied total of 15 points is tied for the second-lowest this week, and only the Chiefs (+13.5) are a bigger underdog.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars (at IND)

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• 52% Yahoo
• Team implied total: 26.5     Opponent implied total: 20.0

Jacksonville's defense scored at least six fantasy points in each of the past seven games, piling up 13 takeaways during that stretch (which includes six straight wins). One of those games was a 36-19 victory over the Colts in which the Jags put up 10 fantasy points. That's about what we can expect this week if the Colts fall behind and Philip Rivers has to throw repeatedly.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at MIA)

• 40% Yahoo
• Team implied total: 25.5      Opponent implied total: 20.0

The Dolphins got off to a good start in Quinn Ewers' first NFL start before a trio of third-quarter turnovers (including two INTs) broke the game wide open for Cincinnati. Ewers did throw for 260 yards, but he's unlikely to match that against a half-decent defense (instead of the Bengals). The Bucs are favored by 5.5 points, despite their poor recent form and Baker Mayfield's continued struggles.

4. Green Bay Packers (vs. BAL)

• 47% Yahoo
• Team implied total: 21.5     Opponent implied total: 19.0

The Packers are an unexpected addition here after Lamar Jackson suffered a back injury during Sunday night's loss to the Patriots. Green Bay opens the week favored by only 2-3 points, but that's because Jordan Love (concussion) is also in danger of missing the game. Baltimore's playoff hopes are slim, and the team is on a short week ahead of Saturday's matchup (whereas the Packers also played on Saturday in Week 16 and thus have the normal amount of time between games). 

5. Detroit Lions (at MIN)

• 55% Yahoo
• Team implied total: 25.0     Opponent implied total: 19.5

Detroit's defense has been awful lately, but Minnesota's offense will probably be even worse if Max Brosmer replaces J.J. McCarthy (hand) as the starting quarterback. McCarthy has also been a favorable matchup, but he at least looked semi-competent the past few weeks. Brosmer avoided big mistakes in Sunday's 16-13 win over the Giants, but he tossed four interceptions when he made a start at Seattle three weeks earlier.

Week 17 Rankings

Tier 1: NE, DEN

Tier 2: PIT, SEA, NO

Tier 3: LA, JAX, TB

Tier 4: HOU, LAC

1. Patriots (at NYJ) 
2. Broncos (at KC) 
3. Steelers (at CLE)  
4. Seahawks (at CAR)  
5. Saints (at TEN) 
6. Rams (at ATL) 
7. Jaguars (at IND) 
8. Buccaneers (at MIA) 
9. Texans (at LAC) 
10. Chargers (vs. HOU) 
11. Raiders (vs. NYG) 
12. Browns (vs. PIT) 
13. Titans (vs. NO) 
14. Ravens (at GB) 
15. Bills (vs. PHI) 
16. Eagles (at BUF)  
17. 49ers (vs. CHI) 
18. Vikings (vs. DET)
19. Bengals (vs. ARZ)
20. Giants (at LV)

Looking Ahead to Week 18

1. Jaguars (vs. TEN)
2. Patriots (vs. MIA)
3. Bills (vs. NYJ)
4. Texans (vs. IND) 
5. Rams (vs. ARZ)  
6. Eagles (vs. WAS)
7. Buccaneers (vs. CAR) 
8. Broncos (vs. LAC)
9. Packers (at MIN)
10. Bengals (vs. CLE) 
11. Seahawks (vs. SF)
12. Chiefs (at LV) 
13. Steelers (vs. BAL)
14. Falcons (vs. NO)
15. Vikings (vs. GB) 
16. Chargers (at DEN) 
17. Saints (at ATL)
18. 49ers (vs. SEA) 
19. Cowboys (at NYG)
20. Raiders (vs. KC)