Welcome to Week 5, and with it, the first round of bye weeks of the young NFL season. The Buccaneers, Seahawks, Browns, and Chargers will all sit out this week, meaning you could have some work to do if you’re part of the 73% of leagues that the Cleveland Browns are owned in, or if you were the lucky one in your league who streamed the Seahawks against the Giants. Or, maybe you’ve been riding the Steelers or Cowboys all year but have been dreading their upcoming matchups with the Ravens and 49ers, respectively.
READ: FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 5 WAIVER WIRE PICKUPS
No matter your reason — we’ve got you. Here are our favorite defensive streaming options for Week 5.
DETROIT LIONS DST (12% ROSTERED ON YAHOO!)
VS CAROLINA PANTHERS | 1 PM
Your FIRST PLACE Detroit Lions are 3-1 and coming off a 34-20 win over the Packers on Thursday Night. The Lions put up 10 fantasy points in that matchup, coming away with two interceptions and five sacks on the night, and their defense has scored 13 fantasy points per game over the past two weeks. And now, the best run defense and fourth-ranked overall defense in football has a week and a half to prepare for… Bryce Young and the Panthers.
Carolina returned the fewest offensive production from 2022 of any NFL team, and their new-look offense’s lack of experience together has been clear through four weeks. They have the 25th-ranked offense overall, and new additions like Miles Sanders and DJ Chark Jr. have been non-factors around their rookie QB. The Panthers have yielded the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing defenses, and I feel good about the Lions in this one.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS DST (26%)
VS CHICAGO BEARS | TNF
Truthfully, both defenses in this matchup are generally available, and either would be a good play in what will likely be a similar game to these teams’ 12-7 Thursday Night matchup last year. But Washington is the better team and plays host in this game, so I like them a little more.
Washington is ranked 29th in scoring defense, allowing 30 points per game, but have managed solid fantasy outputs against bad teams (see: 11 points vs Arizona in Week 1 and 10 points vs Denver in Week 2). The Bears, meanwhile, had their version of an offensive explosion last week, scoring 28 points with over 300 yards through the air, but they still yielded 13 points to Denver’s defense via two turnovers and four sacks. So, even if Chicago tops the seven points they mustered up in last year’s matchup, the Commies could come away with a solid fantasy showing on defense.
You really can’t go wrong in this matchup. Chicago has allowed 14 fantasy points per game to defenses, which is tied for second-most (with Washington), and the Bears have allowed 17 sacks, the third-most in the league (trailing the Giants and …Washington). You can’t make this stuff up, folks.
GREEN BAY PACKERS DST (26%)
@ LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | MNF
I’ve been burned by the Packers already this year, picking them in Week 2 when they put up three points in a loss to Atlanta. But it’s been a few weeks and…
The Packers are ranked 11th against the pass but have really struggled against the run, giving up over 155 rush yards per game in 2023. This continued in Week 4 when David Montgomery torched them for 121 yards and three scores on the ground. That said, obviously, Josh Jacobs scares me, but with the longest possible gap between games without a bye week, Green Bay has plenty of time to game plan for 2022’s leading rusher.
Aside from Jacobs, the Raiders offense is up in the air — Jimmy Garoppolo missed Week 4 with a concussion, and his replacement, rookie Aidan O’Connell, wasn’t great in his debut. Who knows if it will be Jimmy G, O’Connell, or journeyman backup Brian Hoyer under center. But regardless, Vegas could potentially be without former Packer Davante Adams, who gutted through a shoulder injury in Week 4.
This one could go either way, but I’m putting my faith in Joe Barry and the Packers to right the ship.
MIAMI DOLPHINS DST (48%)
VS NEW YORK GIANTS | 1 PM
The Dolphins were going to land in the honorable mentions category, but after watching the Giants offense give up 11 sacks, two interceptions, a pick-six, and a recovered fumble to the Seahawks on Monday Night Football, they got bumped up into the featured section.
To be fair, the Dolphins DST got a major wake-up call from the Bills on Sunday, allowing 48 points. However, it’s tough to overlook the abysmal play by the Giants’ offense, low-lighted by Daniel Jones and his offensive line that’s allowed the second-most sacks in the league with 23. Saquon Barkley will likely return to give the team a major spark, but the offensive line remains the same.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Denver Broncos (40%): The Broncos finally got in the win column last week, and look to extend their streak to two at home against Zach Wilson and the Jets.
Indianapolis Colts (13%): Indianapolis struggled against the Rams last week, but they’ve put up eight fantasy points per game in 2023 and are currently eighth in the NFL with six takeaways. They face a Tennessee offense that’s scored just 18 points per game and is dealing with some injuries, including to wideout Treylon Burks.
