Three fantasy football streamers at defense for Week 8, including the Atlanta Falcons DST.
With six teams on bye in Week 8, it is no doubt the toughest week of the year to find defense fantasy football streamers. Luckily, some of the worst offenses in the NFL are slated to be in action this week, which still presents some opportunities for savvy fantasy managers. Then again, some of the teams that get these beneficial matchups have real concerns as far as their defensive competence. Thus, it’s up to us to try and sift through the bye week frenzy to determine which defenses to trust and which to avoid!
Given that so much of the DST position is predicated on forcing turnovers and generating sacks, streaming the position weekly to attack the best matchups is arguably the most surefire way to achieve consistent success. Below, we discuss our favorite defense fantasy football streamers for Week 8. Be sure to also check out our Week 8 fantasy football rankings!
Note: Players must be owned in less than 60% of ESPN leagues to be included in the best defense fantasy football streamers column.
Week 8 Defense Fantasy Football Streamers
Atlanta Falcons Fantasy DST (59.7%)
While the Atlanta Falcons have seen a massive 41% bump in ownership over the past week on ESPN, they still do meet our maximum criteria to qualify as a defense fantasy football streamers option in Week 8. If you find yourself in one of the leagues where they are still available, regardless of platform, they have to be viewed as an elite option this week. For starters, this unit has been rock solid so far. Despite having already had their bye week, the Falcons rank tenth in fantasy scoring at the DST position. Naturally, not every game has been other-worldly, but Atlanta has managed to score at least three fantasy points in every game played to date.
Despite lacking household name players, the Falcons’ have amassed a talented young defensive front that has speed to burn. Most likely, they will be without linebacker Divine Deablo in Week 8, but Kaden Elliss will still be patrolling the middle. Most importantly, Atlanta will be matched up against a Miami Dolphins outfit that looks to be in complete disarray. Tua Tagovailoa poured gasoline all over the fire within last week, and Miami put forth the kind of performance one would expect from a team dealing with chemistry woes and a lack of leadership.
Tagovailoa has thrown three interceptions in each of the last two games, and the Dolphins have ceded the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing defenses. The offensive line is not good, and Miami only has two reliable offensive weapons to count on. It’s difficult to envision a scenario where a Falcons DST that ranks eighth in defensive EPA/play doesn’t capitalize on this matchup.
More Fantasy Football Streamers Week 8
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Fantasy DST (34.7%)
Despite being 5-2, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers continue to fly a bit under the radar when it comes to both the national conversation and defense fantasy football streamers production. The Bucs rank 16th in fantasy scoring at the DST position, but have managed to score at least five points in five of their seven games to date. While Todd Bowles deserves way more credit than he gets for his overall coaching job down in Tampa, his scheming and play-calling defensively is more widely recognized as being among the best in football.
Running the ball against Vita Vea and the Bucs’ front has been no easy task for anyone not named Jahmyr Gibbs, a trend that dates back to last season. Meanwhile, Bowles’ propensity to dial up timely blitzes has continued to mask various injuries that the Buccaneers have been dealing with in the secondary. Solid run defense and tricky blitzing figures to yield more success for the Bucs in Week 8 as they face off with the division rival New Orleans Saints.
It seems that whichever defense is facing the Saints in a given week has become a staple of our fantasy football streamers column. While Spencer Rattler deserves some credit for being better than expected at times this season, this is clearly still a bad offense. New Orleans ranks just 27th in EPA/play through the first seven weeks. Things have gone off the rails a bit in the last two weeks, specifically as the Saints have turned the ball over seven times and allowed seven sacks. That trajectory only adds to our confidence in streaming the Buccaneers in this matchup.
Los Angeles Chargers Fantasy DST (29.5%)
There are two key factors that should rightfully give managers a bit of pause when considering the Los Angeles Chargers as a defense fantasy football streamers option this week. First is the fact that the Chargers have been trending in the wrong direction on that side of the ball for three weeks now after a strong first month. The second thing may be more personal to me, but it’s the fact that L.A. is playing on Thursday night this week. It seems that every single TNF game this year has been an offensive shootout, but this is presumably somewhat based on the matchups we have gotten.
At any rate, Jim Harbaugh’s group finds itself in dire need of a win as a 3-0 start to the year is nothing more than a distant memory at this point. Coming into the year, it wouldn’t have felt like a matchup against the Minnesota Vikings would be that appealing for a DST in fantasy. However, that sentiment has changed based on what we have seen through seven weeks. Despite playing one fewer game by virtue of already having their bye, the Vikings enter Week 8 having allowed the fourth-most sacks (23) and throwing the fifth-most interceptions (seven) of any team.
Minnesota is also one of only four teams that have allowed multiple touchdowns to opposing defenses. The byproduct of all of these dubious stats is the Vikings allowing the fourth-most fantasy points per game to the position. With Carson Wentz prone to turning the ball over and the Vikes’ offensive line still having major concerns, the Chargers figure to have a real opportunity to produce on Thursday night.
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