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Kate Magdziuk shares her Week 6 defense rankings and highlights several streaming options that could be available in your leagues.
Unfortunately for fantasy football managers who managed to identify the absolute gem which is the Minnesota Vikings’ defense — the No. 1 D/ST on the season — they’ll be on a bye in Week 6, which means pivoting to other options who are actually, you know, playing.
This week, the Vikings, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Rams are on bye — largely good news for fantasy managers (outside of those counting on the Vikings), while the Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles and Tennessee Titans return to action. The Chargers D/ST has the most to gain in their Week 6 return against their divisional rival, the Denver Broncos. They’ve ranked as a top-six fantasy defense in points per game so far this season.
If you’re looking for some potential D/ST streamers, here are three suggestions to consider, along with 28 of the top Week 6 defenses.
Week 6 defense streamers
Philadelphia Eagles D/ST vs. CLE
Good news, fantasy football managers. Cleveland Browns HC Kevin Stefanski came out this week to say that the team will not be benching QB Deshaun Watson, providing us with another week of a viable team to stream our defenses against. The Browns offense is producing a league-low -0.248 EPA per play and 27.1% successful play rate per PFF, while ranking bottom-five in touchdown drive percentage (11.9%). Pair that with the fact that Watson leads the league with 26 sacks taken this season, and fantasy managers should be in a good spot. No other quarterback in the NFL has more than 18.
Indianapolis Colts D/ST vs. TEN
The Tennessee Titans were on bye in Week 5, which put them as an unavailable unit to stream your fantasy defense against despite leading the league in fantasy points allowed to opposing D/ST’s. The good news? They’re back! Though the Indianapolis Colts haven’t been a powerhouse on defense this season, a favorable matchup against the Tennessee Turnovers — erm, I mean Titans — could be just the cure to put them into streaming consideration.
Prior to their Week 5 bye, the Titans allowed 11+ fantasy points in three of four games, including two 21+ point outings in Weeks 1 and 3. Despite having played just four games, the Titans are tied with the Raiders to lead the league in offensive turnovers (9) while ranking in the bottom 10 for scoring drive percentage (31.3%).
Houston Texans D/ST vs. Patriots
The New England Patriots have made the bizarre choice this week to give rookie Drake Maye his first career start going up against the Houston Texans defense. This offensive line has been unable to protect much of anything this year, earning the third-lowest pass-blocking grade by PFF through the first five weeks, with Jacoby Brissett tied for the third-most sacks (17). The passing game has been nonexistent, averaging 4.2 yards per play and tied with the Miami Dolphins to produce a league-low 30 total points on offense. The Patriots are giving up the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing D/ST’s — for good reason. Even if the offense is ready to turn the page toward the Drake Maye era, it will likely be tough sledding up against this Texans defense that has forced the second-highest QB hit percentage in the league at 19.4% per PFF.
Fantasy football: Week 6 defense rankings
Kate Magdziuk is an editor and contributor for Yahoo Fantasy and co-host of the Locked On Dynasty Football podcast. She is also the managing editor for Behind The Steel Curtain, SB Nation’s exclusive Pittsburgh Steelers blog. Her previous bylines include Pro Football Focus, NBC Sports Rotoworld and 4for4 Football, among others.
