Top Streaming Fantasy Defenses: Week 14

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Squeezing the Defense:

Top Streaming Options for NFL Week 14

Whether it’s your college re-draft league, your intense dynasty team, or daily tournaments, the golden rule in fantasy football is to never break the bank for a defense.

As the most volatile position in fantasy football, nearly every defense in the league is a viable starting option for a given week. In daily fantasy, creating new rosters and therefore selecting new defenses is the name of the game. In other formats, over-drafting a defense or sticking with the same unit for an entire season is more like shooting yourself in the foot. With that approach, you’re simply not squeezing the position for all it’s worth.

Take these fun numbers from last season for example:

• Every one of the league’s 32 defenses posted at least two top-12 finishes
• 28 of the league’s 32 defenses posted at least one top-five finish
• 22 defenses recorded at least two top-5 finishes

There’s value to be had with every defense. Knowing who to play and when to play‘em is the key.

Using a rough criteria consisting of everything from turnover opportunities to betting lines, GX will help you manage fantasy football’s most volatile position by bringing you the top streaming defensive options each week for the entire season.

* * *

Last week gave us a trio of strong plays during a crucial part of the season. Here’s to keeping that streak alive in Week 14.

Houston (@ Jacksonville)

Not only are the Texans on a nice run, averaging better than 12.5 points per game over their last four, but they also fit nicely into the trend of streaming anyone and everyone against the Jaguars this season.

Jacksonville shocked everyone by not turning the ball over last week against the Giants and wouldn’t ya know it, they came out with a win. However, given their nasty track record over the course of the season, Jacksonville is a safe bet to return to form this Sunday against a defense that’s much more threatening than New York. Unfortunately for the Jags, Houston is talented enough to make them pay for it.

Houston will cost you the most on DraftKings this week ($3,700) and it would likely require some luck to find them left hanging around the waiver wire. If you can afford the add and/or find them forgotten in the free agent pool, the Texans feel like the safest stream of the weekend.

Minnesota (vs. New York Jets)

New York has scored less than 20 points in eight of their 12 games this season and the Geno Smith-led Jets have comfortably made their way into the stream-against category.

Meanwhile, the Vikings are one of the more underrated defenses in the league with one of the best pass-rushing units (35 sacks) and coming off a nice 26-point outing against the Carolina Panthers last Sunday.

You’re likely to find Minnesota available for an add, but they’ll cost you a decent $3,400 in daily formats. Still, for a game that Vegas puts at 39.5 (the lowest under on this week’s card) with the Vikings getting six points, Minny carries good value.

Green Bay (vs. Atlanta)

Green Bay is on an absolute tear at the moment and they appear unstoppable at Lambeau. The Packers defense is averaging 13.3 points per game at home this season (compared to just 5.2 per game on the road) and Aaron Rodgers should have no problem hanging 30 on a pitiful Atlanta defense playing well outside its element.

After two quiet weeks in a row, you might be able to add the Packers defense as a free agent before the weekend kicks off. While they’ll still cost you a pretty penny ($3,500) in daily formats, Green Bay’s dominance and current four-game win streak is worth the price against a rather one-dimensional Falcons offense.

Denver (vs. Buffalo)

While the Broncos defense is nothing special, their $2,700 DraftKings price tag is friendly enough to give them a shot against a traveling Buffalo squad this week.

Is it a streamer to love? Probably not. Denver is a near double-digit favorite and the anticipated game script makes the potential roster flexibility worth the play. Expect the Broncos’ pass-rush to welcome Kyle Orton back to the Mile-High City.