Denny’s Deals - Week 4 Fantasy Football Defenses
Cash in with these Week 4 fantasy football defenses.
Only two defenses with top-5 Streaming Scores last week posted usable fantasy production, showing once more how volatile defenses can be in this fickle little game.
The Colts and Bears put up top-end fantasy numbers, while the Patriots, Texans, and Saints were somewhere between unexciting and horrendous. New England’s defense failing to force turnovers and collect sacks against Oakland’s offense should be a red flag for the remainder of the season.
The Patriots aren’t who we (I) thought they were.
It’s important to put process ahead of results in daily fantasy football, so I’m going to stick with my Streaming Scores as a guide for spotting the best 50/50 plays and tournament options for DraftDay gamers.
Below are the Week 4 fantasy football defenses I think best fit as options for head-to-head matchups and 50/50s, and the Week 4 fantasy football defenses with more variance ideal for tournament play. My analysis is largely based on Streaming Scores – numbers assigned to each and every defense indicating how good or bad their matchup is that week.
A team’s Streaming Score doesn’t incorporate the how stifling or generous a certain defense has been. It’s entirely matchup based.
Week 4 Fantasy Football Defenses for Cash Games
San Diego Chargers ($5,750) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Chargers’ are the ninth most expensive option on DraftDay and they sport Week 4’s highest Streaming Score of 6.5. They’ll be heavily used this week even after the Chad Henne era came to a merciful end, and a more-than-serviceable Blake Bortles steps in and threatens to ignite an offense with plenty of talent.
Jacksonville’s defense has no chance of keeping up with the Chargers, meaning San Diego’s secondary should have plenty of opportunity to pressure Bortles and create turnovers as the Jaguars flail about.
Detroit Lions ($5,900) vs. New York Jets
The Jets, quite amazingly, are allowing eight fantasy points per game to opposing defenses in New York. Geno Smith will continue to make devastating errors even while he posts respectable fantasy numbers, and the Detroit front seven will certainly force Geno to chuck the ball quite a bit as they shut down opposing running attacks.
The Lions are pricey this week, but I think their high floor and sky-high ceiling make them a reasonable investment against Gang Green. Detroit’s Streaming Score of 4 is the week’s third highest. Use them with confidence.
Week 4 Fantasy Football Defenses for Tournaments
Oakland Raiders ($4,100) vs. Miami Dolphins
The Raiders have quietly not been horrendous on defense through the first three weeks of 2014, and their Week 4 Streaming Score is among the most surprising of the young season. They notch a score of 3.5 this week, higher than all but five teams.
Miami’s offensive line has given up nine sacks through three games as the Dolphins allow 10.5 fantasy points per game to opposing defenses. Oakland isn’t playing at home — this one is in London — but after watching the Raiders hang tough against Tom Brady and company, it isn’t a stretch to think the struggling Ryan Tannehill could be ripe for the picking this week.
Perhaps the best thing about rolling with the Raiders’ defense in tournaments: hardly any other daily gamer will have them in their lineup, meaning you’ll be right or wrong alone. Just the way we like it.
New Orleans Saints ($4,850) at Dallas Cowboys
It’s possible that Rob Ryan’s defense just stinks. But no matter against Dallas, which once again is proving to be a sieve against opposing defenses, no matter the caliber.
Only eight defenses are cheaper on DraftDay this week than the Saints. Their Streaming Score of 4 is among the week’s five highest scores, and they get to play the fourth most generous offense in allowing fantasy production to defenses. Vegas’ projected total is certainly scary here — meaning New Orleans has a terrifying fantasy floor — but if you’re looking to swing for the fences, there’s hardly a better play than the Saints against Tony Romo’s calamitous crew.
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