There weren't many huge performances that streaming owners were able to take advantage of in Week 9, but owners who took a chance on the Bengals (53.7 percent owned, 7.00 FP), Giants (22.2 percent owned, 13.00 FP) and Titans (3.0 percent owned, 7.00 FP) all came away feeling good about their decisions. The New York Jets (51.8 percent owned) were the highest scoring fantasy D/ST of the week as a home matchup against the Jaguars led to six sacks and four takeaways. It surprised me to learn that the Jets are avaialble in about 48 percent of NFL.com leagues, as they're the 10th-highest scoring unit in fantasy this season. So, if for some reason someone dropped them in your league, they're worth a pickup this week in a Thursday Night Football matchup at Metlife Stadium against the Buffalo Bills.
Some of the streaming D/ST qualifications that I'll use here each week include good matchups, home teams, favorites, and obviously good defenses.
Now, we look ahead to Week 10 for some additional recommendations with the caveat that defensive fantasy points are one of the most difficult things predict with complete accuracy, but if you're in need, here are some suggestions based on the above guidelines.
Pittsburgh Steelers (24.3 percent owned) hosting Cleveland Browns
Pretty much any team going up against the Browns will be a recommended streaming option for the remainder of the season. As of Monday morning, we don't yet know if Josh McCown or Johnny Manziel will start at quarterback for Cleveland which will make a difference, but it's not big enough to keep me from recommending the Steelers D/ST as a streaming option.
The Browns ground game is pitiful, as the team is averaging 82.3 rush yards per game and has scored just two rushing touchdowns all season. Cleveland also ranks 26th in the NFL in yards per game (335.1) and 20th in the league in total points (177). The team has put up just 10 total points in its last six quarters of football. And thanks in part to the Browns' 12 lost fumbles this season, the team is allowing the third-most fantasy points per game to opposing D/STs, setting Pittsburgh up for a nice matchup.
Sure, the Steelers just let Oakland score 35 points against them on Sunday, but the Raiders are one of the hottest offenses in football right now and the game was a shootout by nature. Plus, the Steelers had four takeaways in the game. Pittsburgh's D/ST has posted fewer than 8.00 fantasy points in just two of its last eight games and is a top-10 fantasy squad in terms of total fantasy points for the season. Start them against Cleveland in Week 10.
Green Bay Packers (89.7 percent owned) hosting Detroit Lions
Before you blow up the comments section, let me get the obvious out of the way. At nearly 90 percent ownership on NFL.com, it's not very likely that the Packers D/ST is available to stream in your league. But I've included them here because the unit posted a minus two fantasy point total against the Panthers in Week 9, and had totals of just two and six fantasy points in their two games prior to that. So there's a chance that their owner is growing frustrated with Green Bay's recent output and may look to cut ties ahead of Week 10.
Either way, consider this your reminder to start D/STs against the Detroit Lions.
Detroit's run game has been absolutely anemic this season, forcing Matthew Stafford to throw the ball in order to "move" the offense. But the Lions have one of the worst pass-blocking offensive lines in the league according to Pro Football Focus, and Stafford's awful 13 to 11 TD-to-INT ratio isn't helping matters. Plus, the Lions have lost eight fumbles this season, tied for third-most in the league. Detroit also ranks 25th in the NFL in yards per game (337.8) and are heading into the unfriendly confines of Lambeau Field.
The Packers are angry after two road losses and will be looking to make up for lost time in this division matchup at home. Green Bay is tied for third in the NFL with 10 interceptions and has 23 sacks this season, so if for some reason Green Bay's D/ST is floating on your waiver wire, make sure you scoop them before their favorable matchup with the Lions.
Cincinnati Bengals (53.7 percent owned) hosting Houston Texans (MNF)
I recommended the Bengalsin this space last week, and they proved to be a good option against the Cleveland Browns, with 7.00 fantasy points on Thursday night, and tied as the sixth-highest scoring D/ST unit of the week. They can be used again with confidence this week at home in primetime against the Texans.
The Bengals have allowed a combined 20 points to opposing offenses in their last two games, and while the team didn't create any takeaways last week, the unit still ranks in the top half of the league with eight interceptions on the season and is tied for fifth with 23.0 sacks. After its Week 9 performance, Cincinnati's D/ST now has scored fewer than 7.00 fantasy points in just two of eight games, and rank just outside the top 10 in terms of total fantasy points this season.
The Texans, who rank 21st in the NFL in total points (174) are coming off a bye, but with a dreadful backfield in the wake of Arian Foster's season-ending injury one would have to assume the team's only real option is to force the ball to DeAndre Hopkins. That's not a bad plan, but when he's all you've got it's only natural to be a bit concerned. The Texans have wins against some of the worst teams in the league like the Buccaneers, Jaguars and Titans, but only one of those wins came on the road. As Houston heads into Paul Brown Stadium on Monday night, I feel good recommending an undefeated Bengals D/ST for the second straight week.
Baltimore Ravens (57.9 percent owned) hosting Jacksonville Jaguars
The Ravens will be fully rested coming off of a Week 9 bye and take on a turnover prone Jaguars team at home. Now, the Ravens have had success stopping the run this season, as they've allowed 798 total rush yards all season and just three rushing touchdowns to running backs. But it's Baltimore's pass defense that hasn't played so well. Actually, the Ravens secondary is one of the worst in the league.
Despite the fact that the Ravens haven't had a takeaway since Week 3, they should be able to take advantage of Blake Bortles' tendency to make mistakes. He committed three turnovers himself in Week 9 against the Jets (two picks, lost fumble) and has thrown at least one interception in all but two games this year. Facing the tough Ravens run defense, Bortles will likely be forced to throw, and it's only a matter of time until one (or more) of his 40-plus pass attempts is of the erroneous nature. The Jaguars have allowed the second-most FPPG to opposing D/STs this season (10.75), so while the Ravens may not be an ideal every-week option, they're a solid unit to stream in Week 10.
Oakland Raiders (2.9 percent owned) hosting Minnesota Vikings
This is somewhat of a longshot, but the Raiders are one of the hottest teams in the NFL right now on the offensive side of the ball. Oakland's defense, though, is another story. But they'll be at home against a Vikings team who may be without starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. He suffered a brutal concussion in Week 9's game against the Rams and backup Shaun Hill took over. Hill completed two of his six passes for a measly 15 yards. The four regulation drives that Hill played on all ended in Minnesota punts. He did "lead" a game-winning drive in overtime, but most of the work was done by Adrian Peterson to get the Vikings into field goal range.
Oakland is coming off a game in which they allowed 597 total yards to the Steelers but they still managed two takeaways and now have two or more takeaways in six of eight games this season. Even with Bridgewater under center, the Vikings rank 24th in the NFL in total points (168) and 30th in the NFL in yards per game (321.6). So if Hill is Minnesota's starting QB in Week 10, the Raiders D/ST is worth a look if you're desperate.
Matt Franciscovich is an associate fantasy editor at NFL.com. He's had "Holy Ghost" by Borns on repeat for about three weeks now. Hit him up on Twitter **@MattFranchise** for music recommendations and fantasy advice.
