One of the biggest strategies in fantasy football is streaming defenses. Each week owners will look at matchups and make waiver wire acquisitions to find their starting defense. Here are fantasy football defenses to stream week 1. (Note: All defenses mentioned are owned in less than 50 percent of ESPN leagues. Stats from before Monday Night Football)
Last season, the Commanders had the eight-ranked scoring defense in fantasy football. They scored 120 total points and had four performances where they scored double-digit points. The Commanders actually had some success against the Eagles and Cowboys, as those were two of their double-digit scoring outings.
The week 1 matchup is against the Arizona Cardinals. Kyler Murray isn’t healthy enough to play and the Cardinals cut his backup, Colt McCoy. That means either rookie Clayton Tune or newly-acquired Josh Dobbs will be starting for the Cardinals. The Commanders should be able to take advantage and have a great first week. They are rostered in 45.4 percent of ESPN leagues.
Cincinnati ranked 16th for fantasy defenses in 2022, as they scored 100 points on the season. They scored double-digit points in three different games during the 2022 season. In their last two games of the 2022 season, they performed well and reached double-digits.
The Bengals have their first game against the Cleveland Browns. Cleveland scored 21.5 points per game last season. Deshaun Watson had trouble knocking off the rust and that could still be there. The Bengals have Super Bowl aspirations and getting there would be aided by taking care of business early in the season to help secure home-field advantage. They are rostered in just 29 percent of ESPN leagues.
In 2022, the Seahawks ranked 17th for fantasy defense. They scored 98 total points with five double-digit scoring performances. After a solid season last year, they added to their defense in the draft after selecting Devon Witherspoon in the first round.
Their first game of the 2023 season will have the Seahawks facing the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams scored just 11.3 points per game last season. They had trouble dealing with declining offensive line play, Matthew Stafford’s injury and Cooper Kupp’s as well. None of these are for sure fixed and Kupp is questionable to play in the first week of the season. Seattle could take advantage with a solid performance. They are rostered in 7.6 percent of ESPN leagues.
Atlanta did not have the best fantasy season defensively in 2022. They ranked 29th, but did show flashes of potential with three double-digit scoring performances. In the offseason, they added some key veterans in free agency, which should help the defense take a step forward.
They could be picked up and played in week 1 because of their matchup. The Falcons square off with the Panthers in week 1. They have a new head coach, Frank Reich, and a rookie quarterback, Bryce Young. Things likely won’t go smoothly in week 1 for all their new pieces, especially with an offensive line that has had its fair share of struggles. The Falcons are available in over 94 percent of ESPN leagues.
The Cardinals were the 21st-ranked fantasy defense in the 2022 season. They had five double-digit fantasy games, but lost some key players this offseason. Arizona could be a last resort to start this week based on the matchup.
Their week 1 matchup is with the Washington Commanders. The Commanders are turning the reins of the offense over to Sam Howell, who was a fifth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He looked good in his appearance against the Cowboys last season, but is still inexperienced, which could allow the Cardinals to play decently. They are rostered in 0.4 percent of ESPN leagues.
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