Streaming Defense Week 2 2019: A few fantasy D/ST options to consider this week, including a Texans defense poised to bounce back after a rough first week.
Week 1 Reflection: Wow, what a first week. I had a couple of hunches that actually came true. For one, I figured Tyreek Hill would get hurt and Sammy Watkins would score 30 points in one half. I also thought that the top three fantasy tight ends wouldn’t score enough points to be a top ten option. In fact, I had a premonition that Case Keenum would score as many points as Patrick Mahomes.
No, actually I did not. No one did and that is why the first week is so unpredictable. With so many unknowns, 1st teams being rusty, and brand new head coaches, the first week is a hodgepodge of anomalies that should be ignored.
Many fantasy owners might have had a bad week, had their number one pick not live up to expectations and began to contemplate major changes. DO NOT DO THAT. Trust your draft and wait about three weeks before restructuring your whole team.
Many of those 1st and 2nd round picks will bounce back, and some of those anomalies will be overestimated and overused before coming back down to Earth, leaving a lot of owners wondering why they ever picked them up off the waivers. Stay the course and remember the goal is to make the playoffs, not to win every single week.
My Fantasy Team
Man, I hate losing. In the first week, my receiving core underperformed, which is a huge problem for a team created with a zero RB strategy. But, I have a feeling that Julio, Juju, and Julian will rebound and start putting together some massive games.
Or, they won’t and I will lose most weeks. In the case of this, I will just say to everyone who asks, and all of those who keep reading my articles, that the league isn’t for money and who cares if I lose. I have a wife, some kids, some dogs, a truck, and am pretty decent at pumpkin carving. I don’t need to win my fantasy football league. My life is fulfilled.
Streaming Defense Week 2 2019
Short Week Solutions: Carolina Panthers
Short weeks are always tough on players, especially teams who struggled Week 1. With it only being Week 2 of the NFL season, there are still a lot of problems to be figured out on both sides of the ball for most teams, particularly the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
With a lackluster showing against the San Francisco 49ers, a matchup with the Carolina Panthers four days later does not seem appealing, unless you’re streaming against them.
For this week, Carolina should be on your radar, if not your number one streaming option. They are owned in less than 10% of leagues (ESPN and Yahoo) and might have the best factors going in their favor. Let’s break down why they are a great choice this week.
First, it’s not uncommon for an offense in-transition to struggle, especially when the quarterback is not yet a veteran of the game. Even Aaron Rogers didn’t look sharp on Thursday night under the new scheme.
With the addition of Bruce Arians as head coach, there is some hope that he will have the same success he did in Arizona, although it is important to note that his success did waiver towards the end of his Arizona career. He is a coach that likes to take risks, and until Jameis Winston starts to be more consistent, this could spell trouble for the offense.
Speaking of Winston, he looked frantic and shaky in his opener, only throwing for 194 yards with three interceptions to one touchdown. This is probably due to a combination of new plays, terrible line, and a quarterback who isn’t particularly consistent. Until further notice, keep Tampa Bay in the back of your mind when streaming defenses.
Second, it is a short week for the Buccaneers and that spells trouble for them. Not only does it put a lot of strain on the players’ bodies, but it also prevents them from practicing. For the skill position, most of the Buccaneers have been in the league for less than five years.
They might not be completely mentally ready for the short weeks compared to more experienced players. This could potentially lead to costly mistakes and injuries, something the Buccaneers are already experiencing. Also, with the Buccaneers being the away team, they will be traveling, losing valuable rest and practice time that the Panthers will get being the home team. Expect a sloppy performance.
Verdict: The Panthers will find their stride much quicker than the Buccaneers, so expect them to play much more mistake-free. There is a chance for some bad weather, which will increase the likelihood of turnovers. With the Buc’s last week’s performance in mind, the short week, and a brand new offense, it is safe to assume that the Panthers’ defense will have a high floor and an even higher ceiling. Start with confidence.
Prediction: PA: 14-21, Total Yards: 200-250, Sacks: 2, Fumbles: 1, Interceptions: 1, TD: 0.5, Fantasy Points: 10-15
Short-Term Memory: Houston Texans
The Texans had a nightmare matchup Monday night against the Saints. Only on rare occasions does any fantasy defense come out with more than 5 fantasy points against them. They are a fantasy goldmine for opposing players though because of the potential for shootouts, but not for any defense involved.
So because of the terrible matchup, the Houston Texans are only owned in just about 50% of leagues. Although they did take a hit by losing Jadeveon Clowney, they are still a tough defense that could have a great outing this week.
Playing Jacksonville was a mystery with the addition of Nick Foles. He is a former Superbowl MVP and a wild card behind center. Unfortunately, he did not last too long and is now on IR.
His replacement Gardner Minshaw is unproven and relatively unheard of. Against the Chiefs, he did a respectable job moving down the field and put together a couple of good drives. He did throw one interception, but overall, he did had a decent showing. But the Chiefs defense isn’t known for its shutdown ability. The Texans are going to be a much tougher test, and with an entire week to overthink, I predict some regression from his first showing.
The Texans should have some trouble scoring with the stout Jacksonville defense, but they will find a way into the end zone sooner or later. This game, however, will not be a shootout. Expect a lower scoring game, limiting the number of yards and points this Jacksonville team will have. Also, I do not expect a blowout either, meaning there will not be as many garbage time points.
Verdict: It is always a gamble to start a defense against an unproven quarterback, but for the most part, the gamble pays off dividends. I expect a few sacks, one or two interceptions, and low yardage for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Although I do like the matchup, do not expect a huge game from Texan’s defense. With the strength of the defense, the Jaguars will limit potential offensive mistakes and use field position against the Texans, punting frequently.
Prediction: PA: 10-20, Total Yards: 200-250, Sacks: 2, Fumbles: 0, Interceptions: 2, TD: 0, Fantasy Points: 8-13
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