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Week 7 Defenses to Stream (Fantasy Football)

Week 7 Defenses to Stream (Fantasy Football)

Two of this week’s defenses are coming off of a bye. At least one of these defenses faces a rookie quarterback this week (and is also coming off of a bye), and at least one faces a backup quarterback. The matchups for the four units touted drive the streaming suggestions, though, one of the defenses has also played extremely well thus far this year.

*Spreads and over/under totals are from Pinnacle, and the stats and ranks in the tables are from Pro-Football Reference.

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Tennessee Titans

Opponent Spread/Total Ownership
ESPN/Y!
Points Allowed Per Game (Rank) Turnovers Forced (Rank) Sacks (Rank)
@ CLE  Not Posted  45.9%/30%  26.3 (T-28th)  7 (T-20th)  8 (30th)

 
The Titans defense has been below average this year, but they showed up in prime time last night and held the Colts to under 300 yards of total offense (297 to be exact, per ESPN’s box score) and 16 points (the Colts scored a defensive touchdown accounting for the other six points of their 22 points). The bad news is that they failed to sack Jacoby Brissett and only forced one turnover. Tennessee has done an abysmal job of forcing turnovers and getting after the quarterback, but this week, the Browns are here to help them pad their totals. Cleveland has the most turnovers (16) and are tied for the seventh most sacks allowed (18) this season. It doesn’t matter if Kevin Hogan starts this week or the team returns to rookie DeShone Kizer, this is a plus matchup for the Titans defense.

Buffalo Bills

Opponent Spread/Total Ownership
ESPN/Y!
Points Allowed Per Game (Rank) Turnovers Forced (Rank) Sacks (Rank)
vs. TAM  Not Posted  24.1%/24%  14.8 (1st)  10 (T-6th)  12 (T-21st)

 
The Bills were on bye last week, and that’s reflected in their low ownership rate despite their strong start to the season. Coming off of the bye, they’ll be fresh and have had extra time to prepare for the Buccaneers. The Bills have the added benefit of being at home where they’ve held the Jets and Broncos to a combined 28 points and 680 yards of total offense while forcing four turnovers. Additionally, there’s no posted spread and over/under total because Jameis Winston suffered an AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder against the Cardinals last week. As Ian Rapoport tweeted out, Winston might be able to play through the injury, but oddsmakers will likely hold off on releasing a spread until he gets some practice work under his belt and illustrates he’ll play this week. If Winston plays, he’ll be less than 100%, and if he’s out, Ryan Fitzpatrick makes for a dreamy matchup for a defense that’s done an outstanding job of forcing turnovers.

Dallas Cowboys

Opponent Spread/Total Ownership
ESPN/Y!
Points Allowed Per Game (Rank) Turnovers Forced (Rank) Sacks (Rank)
 @ SF  -6/47 5.7%/6%  26.4 (29th)  4 (30th)  16 (T-7th)

 
Like the Bills, the Cowboys are coming off of a bye. They are also facing a rookie quarterback. The Cowboys defense ranks poorly in points allowed per game and have struggled to force turnovers, but they’ve done a good job of getting after the quarterback. Their ability to pressure and sack opposing signal callers bodes well for them adding to their turnover total this week. Rookie C.J. Beathard relieved Brian Hoyer last week and nearly led a comeback victory in relief. That said, he was far from great completing just 19 of 36 passes and matching his touchdown with an interception. The 49ers’ third-round pick in this year’s NFL Daft is likely to have many hiccups transitioning to the caliber of play he’ll face in the NFL. In his last two years at Iowa, Beathard threw 15 interceptions in 27 games and just 663 passes thrown, per Sports-Reference. He threw a whopping 10 interceptions in 301 attempts in his last 13 games played as a Senior. If the Cowboys are able to stake themselves to a lead, the defense will be in a great spot to fluster and turn over Beathard.

New Orleans Saints

Opponent Spread/Total Ownership
ESPN/Y!
Points Allowed Per Game (Rank) Turnovers Forced (Rank) Sacks (Rank)
@ GB  -5.5/48 2.6%/3%  23.2 (21st)  9 (T-9th)  16 (T-7th)

 
This pick probably feels like point chasing, but it’s not. The Saints have done an excellent job of piling up sacks and turnovers, and they’ve held their last three opponents to under 350 total yards of offense. They’ve also forced all nine turnovers this year in that three-game stretch. They should continue their run of strong play against the Aaron Rodgers-less Packers. Rodgers is expected to miss the rest of the regular season with a broken right collarbone. Brett Hundley was thrust into duty after Rodgers’ injury, and the third-year quarterback threw three interceptions. The high-powered Saints offense is capable of hanging points in bunches, and if they do so this week, that sets up an ideal situation of allowing the defense to pin their ears back and get after an inexperienced quarterback in predictable passing situations.

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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.

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