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Some weeks are loaded with great fantasy matchups for team defenses. The best in the league face tomato can offenses. There are a handful of rock-solid matchup plays. There are more startable fantasy defenses than there are teams in a 12-team league. Everyone gets to eat.
This is not one of those weeks.
It doesn’t help that two of the top-seven defenses in terms of fantasy points (the third-ranked Pittsburgh Steelers and seventh-ranked San Francisco 49ers) are both off this week. But that’s hardly the only dilemma facing fantasy managers defensively this week.
Take the Denver Broncos, for example. Thanks to a solid fantasy performance against the Carolina Panthers in Week 8, the Broncos overtook the Minnesota Vikings as the highest-scoring defense in fantasy. The Broncos have been both productive and consistent – Denver is third in total defense and scoring defense, leads the AFC with 30 sacks and is tied for sixth in the league with 12 takeaways.
But folks who choose to roll Denver out this week will be doing so through closed eyes. This week the 5-3 Broncos are on the road in Baltimore. The Ravens may be coming off a loss, but they lead the NFL by a sizable margin in total offense. Their 30.3 points per game leads the AFC. And only the Buffalo Bills have surrendered fewer fantasy points per game to defenses this year.
Rolling with Denver is a risky play in Week 9. But frankly, there aren’t many defenses this week that aren’t – at least to one extent or another.
Still, fantasy managers have to start someone in the D/ST slot. So, here’s a look at the closest things to locks, some streaming plays and a defense that (like the Broncos) might be better left on the bench.
THE NO-DOUBTERS
Los Angeles Chargers (at Cleveland Browns)
The Browns’ ranking of fourth in fantasy points allowed to defenses has to be taken with a grain of salt now – with Jameis Winston under center the Browns had easily their best game of the season offensively against the Ravens last week,…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/getting-defensive-2024-week-9-082057859.html
Author : NBC Sports
Publish date : 2024-10-29 08:20:57
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