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For the first time this season, the Bengals are the number one ranked defense, thanks in part to the Brownshaving typical Browns problems, especially at the quarterback position. Austin Davis did a viable job filling in forJosh McCown, but the Bengals defense should be a much tougher task. The Browns run game is also abysmal and won’t help Davis to get settled in.
Green = must start.
Blue = Sleeper/Streamer picks.
Red = Defenses with good value on Draft Kings.
Rank | Team | Opponent |
1 | Cincinnati Bengals | at Cleveland Browns |
2 | Arizona Cardinals | at St. Louis Rams |
3 | Denver Broncos | at San Diego Chargers |
4 | New England Patriots | Philadelphia Eagles |
5 | Seattle Seahawks | at Minnesota Vikings |
6 | Carolina Panthers | at New Orleans Saints |
7 | Houston Texans | at Buffalo Bills |
8 | Chicago Bears | San Francisco 49ers |
9 | Kansas City Chiefs | at Oakland Raiders |
10 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Indianapolis Colts |
11 | Minnesota Vikings | Seattle Seahawks |
12 | Washington Redskins | Dallas Cowboys |
13 | New York Jets | at New York Giants |
14 | Miami Dolphins | Baltimore Ravens |
15 | Buffalo Bills | Houston Texans |
16 | Detroit Lions | Green Bay Packers |
Arizona is one of the toughest run defenses in the league and have given up the fourth lowest total rushing yards. Todd Gurley appears to be in a rut, as evident by his 2.1 and 2.6 yards per carry numbers in the Rams last two games. The Cardinals secondary has also contributed to a team total of 15 interceptions, good enough for second in the league. The shaky Nick Foles should have trouble putting up a clean stat sheet against them.
It looks like the Patriots will be facing Sam Bradford instead of Mark Sanchez, which is unfortunate based on how poorly of a job Sanchez has done filling in for the concussed Bradford. But the Patriots are still a safe bet for fantasy points as they have been one of the more consistent defenses. They’re vulnerable to the run right now as their linebackers Jamie Collins and Dont’a Hightower have missed time, but both were reported practicing this week.
For the past four weeks, the Broncos and Rams defenses have significantly cooled off. In that time span, they have scored the fourth and third lowest point totals, respectively. I still think the Broncos are trustworthy going up against the slumping San Diego Chargers, but the Rams are harder to trust. Their defensive unit is too heavily depended upon to carry the team with Nick Foles and Todd Gurley struggling. Now they face a fresh running back in rookie David Johnson, who I expect to wear them down. Carson Palmer should also be able to find holes in the defense with three quality receiving options.
A few weeks ago I prematurely declared the Broncos as the defense who will surely end the year with the most fantasy points. Now the Carolina Panthers are just two points behind them with plenty of fantasy left to play. They get a fishy matchup this week against the Saints, who failed to record a touchdown against the Houston Texans. I expect Drew Brees to perform better in this division rival match - but you can’t sit the Panthers with how they have performed over the past four weeks as they lead all defenses with 54 points. The next best is 44 by Kansas City.
The Packers defense was very close to grabbing that 16th spot, and if Calvin Johnson is ruled out for tomorrow’s game, then they should be bumped up ahead of Detroit’s defense.