Breakdowns
10/5/21
5 min read
Fantasy Football: Streaming Defenses and Kickers – Week 5
As we head into week 5, it’s becoming more and more evident which teams are the best to stream against and which defenses and kickers are still being overlooked. Below we will break down those best options to stream for week 5 at both defense and kicker and the reasons why we feel they are great options. There are certain defenses and kickers, for example the Patriots defense, that will not be mentioned because their ownership rate exceeds 50 percent, so they are not a true stream option for most people. But if you have them and/or can get them, you absolutely should.
Defenses:
Green Bay (@ CIN)
Averaging 8 points per week over the last three weeks, Green Bay seems to have fixed the defensive issues they had in Week 1. Cincinnati ranks 9th in points allowed to opposing defenses, so Green Bay is an excellent option for this week and should be your number one target for streaming at the position. This likely isn't a defense that will win you the week, but they will put up a good number of points that will put you in a great position.
New York Jets (@ ATL)
The Jets defense has been consistently decent this season, ranking 19th with 3.8 points per week. This past week against a very solid Titans offense, they put up 5 points on the back of 7 sacks. Now, going up against a Falcons team that has been the second-best opponent for a fantasy defense to face, — allowing 10.25 points per week — the Jets defense has a great opportunity for a breakout. What was once a feared and dynamic offense in Atlanta now has the 8th fewest points per game in the NFL. The Jets may seem like a risky choice, but there is upside here and a safe floor that they have showed thus far.
Las Vegas (vs. CHI)
Las Vegas is another team that has been pretty consistently average this season, before Week 4 at least. This is more about the matchup than Vegas’ defense though, as Chicago has been the 5th best offense for a fantasy defense to go up against and now, they lost their best offensive weapon, RB David Montgomery. Justin Fields had a very good game against Detroit in Week 4, but he may not be starting Week 5, as Bears coach Matt Nagy has said that Andy Dalton will start if he’s healthy. A Dalton-led offense is safer, lowering the upside of Raiders defense, but likely solidifying them as a good starting option.
Minnesota (vs. DET)
Minnesota’s defense has performed impressively well thus far against good offenses and now gets something of a reprieve. Detroit hasn’t been the best option to stream a defense against, but they do rank 10th and the lowest point total against them is 5, so this is a very solid, low-floor option to get you a decent amount of fantasy points from your defense position.
Kickers:
Greg Joseph (vs. DET)
Joseph had a down week in Week 4, but had been very good through the first three weeks and now gets a matchup against an opponent tied for fourth most points allowed to kickers. Minnesota's offense should definitely be able to get back on track against Detroit in Week 5, which will mean increased opportunity and a better week from Joseph, who should be your top target at the position.
Nick Folk (@ HOU)
Even after a disappointing Week 4, Nick Folk has been a very good kicker so far this season, averaging just under 10 points per game. Folk faces a Houston Texans defense this week that allowed the most fantasy points to a kicker in Week 4, and he should be able to capitalize on that. As ironic as it may sound after a disappointing Week 4, Folk should be a relatively safe option, as he still had two field goal attempts in that game, a number he has met or exceeded in every game this season.
Matt Prater (vs. SF)
Prater makes this list more because of his own value than because of his matchup. San Francisco is an average matchup for kickers, but Prater is an excellent option that is being overlooked by most. Like Folk, Prater has had at least two field goal attempts in every game, as well as at least four extra points. Arizona’s offense has been dynamic and borderline unstoppable, allowing Prater to earn his current ranking as the third best fantasy kicker.
Randy Bullock (@ JAC)
Bullock has averaged 10 points per week through the three weeks he’s played after missing Week 1, and this comes despite missing two field goals. His workload has been high, which is key for a fantasy kicker, and he now goes up against a defense that has been a good option to stream kickers against, being tied for sixth in fantasy points allowed to opposing kickers.
