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 17. (Note: All defense mentioned are rostered in less than 50 percent of ESPN leagues)
*All stats and rankings from before Monday Night Football
1. Chicago Bears
Chicago has had a below-average fantasy defense this season, scoring 5.4 points per game and ranking 20th. They have four double-digit outings this season, including in week 15 against the Vikings. The Bears have three negative-scoring performances, with the latest being in week 8.
Their matchup in week 17 is a favorable one, as the Bears play the Giants. New York scores just 16.5 points per game and on top of that they are without Daniel Jones the rest of the season. Jake Fromm did not have a good start against the Eagles, which gives the Bears a chance for a huge game this week. They are rostered in just 13 percent of ESPN leagues.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh isn’t having the season they are accustomed to on defense, scoring 4.2 points and ranking 21st in the country. They have two double-digit performances on the season. On the flip side, they four negative-scoring performances. The defense has specialized in getting after the quarterback, as T.J. Watt has 17.5 sacks on the season.
In week 17, the Steelers play the Browns. Cleveland scores just 20.9 points per game, which ranks in the bottom half of the league. The Browns are also dealing with COVID issues and are watching their playoff chances fade. There is a big opportunity for the Steelers’ defense on Monday night.
3. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks have had one of the worst fantasy defenses in the league, ranking 25th and scoring 3.4 points per game. They have one double-digit scoring game, which came against the Jaguars. Seattle has scored negative points in a game four times, with the last time being in week 11.
This week the Seahawks play the Lions. Detroit scores 17.3 points per game, ranking 29th in the league. While Jared Goff has cleared COVID protocols, they have still had a tough time with injuries in their backfield. It will be hard for them to move the ball consistently. The Seahawks are available in over 60 percent of ESPN leagues.
4. New York Giants
The Giants have had the 23rd-ranked fantasy defense at 3.7 points per game. They have three double-digit scoring performances, including week 12 against the Eagles. They have scored negative points four times during the year.
Chicago is the matchup for the Giants this week. The Bears score 17.7 points per game, ranking 28th in the league. They started third-stringer, Nick Foles, started the week 16 game against the Seahawks because of injuries and COVID. TEven after winning that will make things difficult moving forward. With the Bears having nothing to play for, the Giants could have a decent day. They are rostered in less than four percent of ESPN leagues.
5. Carolina Panthers
Carolina has had an average fantasy defense, scoring 5.9 points per game and ranking 15th. They have scored double-digits six times this season. There have been two times the Panthers have scored negative points this season.
In week 17, the Panthers play the Saints. New Orleans is starting Ian Book, their fourth-string quarterback, against the Dolphins on Monday night. On top of that, they will be on a short week. If the COVID cases and injuries don’t clear up for the Saints, the Panthers could be played in fantasy. They are rostered in 36.8 percent of ESPN leagues.
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