Week 4 is just about in the books, and with it, we are a quarter of the way through the fantasy football season. It’s a bittersweet feeling as we see the best time of the year quickly dwindling away, but that’s how we get into the real meat of the NFL season.
We were treated to yet another chaotic day of football, including a shocking upset by the Giants, a surprising beatdown in Kansas City, and, to wrap it all up in a nice bow, a 40-40 tie on Sunday Night Football in Arlington. We also got some reassurance of what the bottom of the league looks like through four weeks, with Carolina, Cleveland, and Tennessee all losing in convincing fashion.
Our picks had a solid showing this week — the Chargers disappointed as our number one selection, losing to Jaxson Dart and the Giants, but they ended up with a respectable seven fantasy points on the day. Detroit and New England, meanwhile, were both aided by punt return touchdowns in their big wins, finishing with 20 and 12 points, respectively. The Lions in particular were the top scorer of the week through Sunday’s games, adding three turnovers and three sacks to the Khalif Raymond punt return TD in a 34-10 win over Cleveland.
As we get ready for another week of NFL football, let’s take a look at the best fantasy football week 5 defense streamers (D/ST) that should be available on the waiver wire.
TEAMS TO AVOID IN WEEK 5
Denver Broncos (95% rostered): After leading all D/ST scoring a season ago with over ten points per game, the Broncos were a popular pick heading into 2025, especially starting with a Week 1 matchup with Tennessee. They’ve hit double digit points in two of their three games heading into a MNF with Cincinnati in Week 4, but regardless of how that game plays out, I’m hesitant to keep riding them in Week 5. Philadelphia is 4-0 and coming off a big win over the Buccaneers, and even though the numbers weren’t great for them on Sunday against Tampa (Jalen Hurts was 0-8 passing in the second half), they’re a hot offense with a number of guys that can beat you on any given play. Denver is worth a stash with the Jets and Giants on deck, but I’m looking elsewhere for Week 5.
Houston Texans (77%): The Texans won the “get to face the Titans” sweepstakes in Week 4 and didn’t disappoint, pitching a shutout with two sacks and a turnover to finish the day with 14 points. Their inflated ownership rate is mainly due to this matchup, but they’ve actually been a top ten fantasy defense to this point in the year, weathering some tough matchups with the Rams and Buccaneers, and currently boast the league’s number one scoring defense. Unfortunately for them, they run into a Baltimore team this week that’s desperate for a win. They’re still the favorites to win the AFC North, but time is running out for them after a bad loss to the Chiefs dropped them to 1-3. Lamar Jackson left that game with a hamstring injury, but I would be surprised to see him miss any time with Baltimore’s backs against the wall. Houston follows this week with a bye and a tough stretch of games (Seattle, San Francisco, Denver, Jacksonville), so they may reside on the waiver wire in most leagues until they get Tennessee again in Week 11.
FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 5 DEFENSE STREAMERS (D/ST)
ARIZONA CARDINALS (19% ROSTERED)
In my online correspondence with readers to this point in the year, the most common omission I’ve been asked about has been the Cardinals. They weren’t a particularly great defense a season ago and didn’t make many improvements, but starting the season with the Saints and Panthers had fantasy managers salivating at their potential. They didn’t do a ton during those first two games but managed to average over nine points per game, and have followed it up with two six point showings against San Francisco and Seattle.
Arizona dropped a tough one at home to Seattle on Thursday Night, but they’ll stay at home this week for a juicy matchup with the winless Titans. I don’t really have to say anything about Tennessee; I’ll let their own QB spell it out for you.
Well said, Cam.
“Ass” is the perfect way to describe the Titans offense through four weeks with Cam Ward under center. After a shutout loss to the previously-winless Texans, Tennessee is dead last in total offense, passing offense, and scoring, and they’re 29th in rushing. Only the Bengals have allowed more points to fantasy defenses in 2025, and one could argue Cincy’s number is artificially inflated by the beatdown the Vikings put on them in Week 3.
Arizona is pretty average in the key stats for fantasy defenses (T-20th in sacks, T-13th in takeaways) but they’re fifth in scoring defense, allowing 18.5 points per game, and have averaged ten points per game in two home games so far this year. Tennessee has allowed 17 sacks on the year, second-most in the league behind only Minnesota, and although they’ve kept the turnovers relatively low with only five, that likely isn’t sustainable if they continue to allow an insane amount of pressure on their rookie QB.
The Cardinals are likely just a one-week stream with the Colts and Packers upcoming followed by a bye, but they should be one of the top options available in Week 5.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (18%)
Indianapolis fell to 3-1 this week with a loss to the Rams, but they managed a decent fantasy day with six points on three sacks and a turnover. They struggled to contain Puka Nacua (13 catches for 170 yards and a touchdown) and Kyren Williams (77 yards on 5.9 YPC), but ultimately they beat themselves — or, rather, Adonai Mitchell beat them by dropping the ball before the goal line on a sure touchdown and later negating a grown man TD run by Jonathan Taylor with a holding penalty.
Still, things are looking up for the Colts compared to the last few years, and they’re currently the favorites to win the AFC South despite a shockingly good start from Jacksonville. Defensively, they’ve beat up on bad offenses (29 fantasy points in two games against Miami and Tennessee) and struggled against good ones (seven fantasy points in two games against Denver and the Rams). But with the Raiders on deck, I’m back on Indy to come out swinging and improve to 4-1 in the process.
Geno Smith had a great quote after Sunday’s loss to the Bears: “The guy that I’m supposed to be hasn’t shown up yet.” After a career resurgence in Seattle, Smith joined up with Pete Carroll in Vegas and signed a two-year, $75 million extension this past offseason. He started off the year with a solid showing, throwing for 362 yards in a win over New England, but the Raiders are 0-3 since and Smith leads the league with seven interceptions.
Sunday was a mixed bag for the Raiders – Smith completed just 14 passes and threw three interceptions, but Ashton Jeanty finally had his breakout game, rushing for 138 yards and a score and adding another two touchdowns through the air. The Colts, however, boast a top ten run defense through four weeks and should put up a better fight in slowing down Jeanty than Chicago did, especially since they now fully see what he’s capable of. As long as Indy can keep him in check and force Geno to make plays, they should be in for a big day.
CLEVELAND BROWNS (4%)
Overall, things are not looking good for the Cleveland Browns. Joe Flacco has undoubtedly showed his age thus far this year and has the Browns sitting 26th in total offense and 31st in scoring through four weeks. The team is 1-3, but their one win was a shocking upset of the Packers in Week 3 in a game that the defense really came to play, finishing the day with five sacks, a turnover, and just ten points allowed for a 14-point fantasy afternoon.
While the team is in trouble overall, Cleveland’s defense has absolutely been a bright spot on the young season. They’re currently the top defense in the NFL in total yardage and run defense and they’re fourth against the pass. That has somehow translated to being the league’s 24th-ranked scoring defense and scoring four fantasy points or less in three of their four games, but that’s the Browns for you.
Cleveland gets a nice change of scenery in Week 5 with a trip to London to face the Vikings. So, even if they lose miserably, at least they get to do it in front of a bunch of British dudes who have no idea what’s going on.
Despite a 2-2 record, Minnesota is reeling and has given up the fourth-most points to fantasy defenses through four weeks. JJ McCarthy is still unavailable, and the Vikings are getting the full Carson Wentz experience that they’re paying for. That experience in Dublin this week against the Steelers included two interceptions, six sacks, and a 12-point day for Pittsburgh en route to a win.
With Cleveland’s run-stopping prowess putting them in a great position to contain Jordan Mason and an average offensive line for Minnesota, the Vikings will have to excel in the pass game to have a shot in this one. And while Justin Jefferson is still undoubtedly a beast and Jordan Addison had a solid game in his return to the lineup, it remains to be seen if Carson Wentz can make use of his weapons for a full four quarters.
The Browns follow this game up with the Steelers, Dolphins, and Patriots before a Week 9 bye, so they could be set for a nice little run here — even if it doesn’t result in many actual wins for the team.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
New York Giants (4%): The Giants put up seven points against the Chargers on Sunday in a shocking home win to improve to 1-3. They’ll look to stay hot in Week 5 against the winless Saints.
Miami Dolphins (6%): The Dolphins have allowed 30+ points in all three of their games heading into a MNF matchup with the Jets in Week 4, but in Week 5 they’ll face the Carolina Panthers, who started their loss to New England by scoring on the first drive before allowing 42 unanswered points in a 42-13 defeat.
Los Angeles Rams (24%): The Rams have averaged just under nine points per game through four weeks after putting up eight in a win over the Colts in Week 4. They’ll face the injured 49ers at home in Week 5.
