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 18. (Note: All defenses mentioned are owned in less than 50 percent of ESPN leagues. Stats from before Monday Night Football)
1. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons have had a decent fantasy defense this season, ranking 14th at 5.6 points per game. They have four double-digit scoring games this season, which were against the Saints, Chargers, Raiders and Giants. Atlanta has registered three negative-scoring outings, which came to the Saints, Broncos and Vikings.
In week 18, the Falcons play the Carolina Panthers. They score 18.6 points per game and have scored under that average in three out of their last four games. Carolina is banged up, while the Falcons still have a chance at the playoffs, so they will be focused. They are rostered in 23.8 percent of ESPN leagues.
2. Washington Commanders
The Commanders have a below-average fantasy defense ranking 21st at 5.1 points per game. They have two games in which they scored double-digit points: against the Browns and Panthers. Washington has four negative-scoring games, which were to the Buccaneers, Bengals, Ravens and Eagles.
This week, the Commanders play the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas is without starting quarterback Dak Prescott and star receiver CeeDee Lamb. Without those two, they scored just seven points in week 17 against the Eagles. Washington is still playing for seeding and can play well. They are rostered in 38.4 percent of ESPN leagues.
3. Tennessee Titans
Tennessee has had a bad fantasy defense this season, ranking 28th at 4.3 points per game. They have four double-digit scoring games, which were to the Dolphins, Patriots, Texans and Jaguars. The Titans scored negative points three times this season: against the Bills, Commanders and Colts.
In week 18, the Titans play the Houston Texans. Houston is locked into the no. 4 seed in the AFC, so they have nothing to play for. Tennessee can play well against backups (or a team not motivated to win). They are rostered in 22 percent of ESPN leagues.
4. New England Patriots
The Patriots are a bad fantasy defense, ranking 30th at 2.8 points per game. Their two double-digit scoring games were against the Bengals and the Bears. They have five negative-scoring games this season: against the Jets, Jaguars, Rams, Cardinals and Chargers.
The week 18 matchup for the Patriots is with the Buffalo Bills. Buffalo is locked into the no. 2 seed and have nothing to play for in week 18. New England can have one of their better games of the season with the Bills possibly playing their backups. The Patriots are rostered in 2.5 percent of ESPN leagues.
5. New York Jets
The Jets have a subpar fantasy defense, ranking 23rd at 4.8 points per game. They have five double-digit scoring games, which were to the Titans, Patriots, Vikings, Texans and Seahawks. New York also has five negative-scoring games, which were to the 49ers, Steelers, Cardinals, Dolphins and Bills.
While the Jets don’t have anything to play for in week 18, they are playing the Dolphins, who could be without starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. The Dolphins do have the playoffs on the line, but could be exposed with a backup quarterback. Only play the Jets in extreme desperation, but they are rostered in just 40.3 percent of ESPN leagues.
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