Week 2 of the NFL season has come and gone, and collectively we’re clearly still figuring out what this season is going to look like.
This week’s three top fantasy defenses through Sunday’s action were all owned in less than 50% of Sleeper leagues. Most notably, the Vikings were owned in just 5% of leagues and started in only 4%, and they made us all look silly, racking up six sacks and 14 fantasy points en route to a surprising win over the CMC-less 49ers.
While we’re definitely still learning the ins and outs of the 2024 NFL season, some trends are starting to emerge. If you lean into the streaming strategy for your D/ST spot, you know that matchups are everything. And even just two weeks in, we’re figuring out that any team playing the Panthers, Giants, or Titans is likely going to have a solid week.
You also have to know what stats to look at. Sure, limiting teams to low point and yardage totals is great and helps win games, but things like sacks and turnovers are what separates a good real-life defense from a great fantasy defense and propels you from a close loss to a crucial win on the way to fantasy glory.
With all of that in mind, let’s take a look at the best D/ST streaming options (less than 50% owned on Sleeper) for Week 3.
FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 3 DEFENSE STREAMERS (DST)
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (42% ROSTERED ON SLEEPER)
vs. Denver Broncos | 1 PM
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before — Baker Mayfield was being counted out, and he’s proving his doubters wrong. The Buccaneers improved to 2-0 this week after upsetting the Detroit Lions on the road as eight point underdogs. Baker and the offense did enough to stay competitive, but Tampa Bay’s defense was the real catalyst of the winning effort, intercepting Jared Goff twice and holding one of the league’s most prolific offenses to 16 points at home, including a shutout for the final 18 minutes of the game.
The Bucs were dealing with multiple injuries on their defense, including starting defensive tackle Calijah Kancey and starting safety Antoine Winfield, Jr., but it didn’t matter. In traditional bend-don’t-break fashion, they surrendered just one touchdown on seven Detroit red zone trips and turned the Lions over on downs twice inside their own 30 yard line in the final minute, securing a huge win in a playoff rematch from a season ago.
Looking to improve to 3-0 and keep pace with the red-hot Saints in the NFC South, Tampa Bay will host the Denver Broncos, led by rookie QB Bo Nix. Denver has gotten off to a slow start in large part due to their offense, which has scored just 26 points in two games thus far, including six in a losing effort to Pittsburgh in Week 2.
The Broncos have yielded the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing defenses through two games, giving up four sacks and turning the ball over five times. Nix isn’t playing well to start his career, completing less than 60% of his passes with zero touchdowns and four interceptions, but Denver’s inability to establish any sort of rushing attack definitely isn’t helping their young QB.
In fact, Nix is Denver’s leading rusher on the season with 60 yards and a touchdown, while starting running back Javonte Williams has recorded just 40 yards on a dismal 2.1 yards per carry.
It sounds like Tampa Bay will be without Winfield and Kancey again in Week 3, but if they managed to shut down Detroit on the road with their current depth chart, they should have no trouble with Denver at home. Unfortunately, they follow this matchup with the Eagles, Falcons, Saints, and Ravens, so they’re looking like a one-week streaming option as of now.
GREEN BAY PACKERS DST (6% ROSTERED)
@ Tennessee Titans | 1 PM
This is the third D/ST streamer roundup I’ve written so far on the young season, and the Packers have been in every single one. And so far they’ve lived up to my hype, averaging over nine fantasy points per game in matchups with Philadelphia and Indianapolis.
Virtually nobody expected Green Bay to improve to 1-1 against the Colts with Jordan Love sidelined and new acquisition Malik Willis thrust into starting duties, but the defense held Indy’s offense to ten points and secured a much-needed win. They only sacked Anthony Richardson once, but managed to pick him off three times, including a game-sealing INT on a Hail Mary attempt to end the game. And now, the Packers get rewarded for their win in Week 3 as they head to Nashville to take on the struggling Titans.
There was an air of optimism around the Titans’ offense entering the 2024 season, with Will Levis heading into year two and offseason acquisitions like Tony Pollard, Tyler Boyd, and Calvin Ridley joining him. Granted, they’ve faced two solid defenses in Chicago and the Jets, but the results have not been good. Tennessee has yielded the most fantasy points to opposing defenses through two weeks, giving up seven sacks and turning the ball over five times. It’s safe to say that rookie head coach Brian Callahan is experiencing some growing pains early on.
Tennessee’s ability to turn things around starts with their offensive line, which has struggled to give Levis any time to throw so far this year. Levis is certainly a part of the issue as well — last season, he had the league’s seventh-highest pressure to sack rate, putting him toward the top of a list with guys like Bryce Young, Zach Wilson, and Desmond Ridder, and he’s been just as bad (if not worse) in 2024. When under pressure in Week 1 against the Bears, Levis completed five of 13 attempts for 61 yards and two interceptions. And with teams generating pressure on him on nearly 50% of dropbacks, those numbers will continue to get worse if Levis doesn’t figure out how to improve when the pocket collapses.
The Packers may be a one-week streamer with the Vikings, Rams, Cardinals, and Texans on deck, but they’re a great option for this week and owned in only 6% of leagues.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS DST (7% ROSTERED)
vs. Carolina Panthers | 4:05 PM
After a tough divisional loss to the Chargers to kick off their season, the Raiders bounced back in a big way in Week 2, holding the Ravens to 40 yards on three possessions in the final 12 minutes and scoring 13 unanswered for a 26-23 win. Given the Ravens’ propensity for blowing fourth quarter leads, this may not seem so impressive, but they were still able to shut down the reigning MVP when it counted and avoid falling to 0-2.
Maxx Crosby did Maxx Crosby things, finishing the game with two sacks and four tackles for loss, and Jack Jones made a huge play late, knocking a sure completion that would’ve put the Ravens in field goal range to tie the game out of Isaiah Likely‘s hands.
As a reward for their big win, the Raiders get to stay in Vegas and face the Panthers, who have been one of the most generous teams to opposing defenses. Through two weeks, they’ve yielded the third-most points to fantasy defenses, giving up six sacks and turning the ball over four times. Carolina announced Monday that Andy Dalton will be getting the start over Bryce Young, which may give them a bit of a boost, but the quarterback play is really only part of the issue for the Panthers.
The Raiders have loads of momentum, a defensive-minded head coach who has his team bought in early, and a great matchup against what’s been one of the league’s worst offensive units for over a year now. They’re a great option for Week 3, and with the Browns, Broncos, and Steelers up next, you may be able to hold onto them for a few weeks.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Buffalo Bills (20%): The Bills weren’t a popular option in Week 2 as they faced the Dolphins, but they were stifling Tua Tagovailoa even before he left the game with an injury. They play on Monday Night Football this week and will host the struggling Jaguars, who have given up seven sacks through two games.
Houston Texans (45%): The Texans are 2-0 after a seven-sack, two-interception performance in a Sunday night win over the Bears. They’ll go on the road this week to face the surprising Vikings, who have given up five sacks and committed four turnovers on the young season.
Indianapolis Colts (21%): Coming off a disappointing loss to the Packers that can be pinned primarily on the offense, the Colts head back home to face the Bears. Caleb Williams has yet to play like a number one overall pick so far, with Chicago surrendering nine sacks through two weeks.
