Knowing which defenses to start in fantasy football can be critical to winning your matchups. This position, arguably more so than any other, is matchup-dependent on a weekly basis, and the best results can be obtained by being flexible with a streaming strategy. Here’s a look at our Week 2 fantasy defense rankings and the top options to stream this week.
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Top Defense Streamers in Week 2
This early in the season, we don’t yet know who these teams are. Much of our decisions are dictated by what happened last year. As always, we are looking to target weak opposing offenses. Here are my top fantasy defense streamers, all of whom are rostered in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues.
New York Giants (at ARI)
In what will be a theme this season, whenever possible, we will attack the Cardinals’ offense. Last week, the Commanders managed 11 fantasy points, which is certainly good enough. This week, it is the Giants who get to enjoy the soft opponent.
The Giants may have embarrassed themselves by losing 40-0 at home to the division-rival Cowboys, but don’t blame the defense. They were put in a bad spot after a bad spot all night.
It’s hard to glean any positives, but when it comes to streaming defenses, we care more about the opposing offense. The Cardinals scored all of 10 offensive points last week, and it’s not as if the Commanders have some shutdown defense. Even at home, I don’t expect this team to score much.
Cleveland Browns (at PIT)
The Pittsburgh Steelers were clicking on all cylinders offensively in the preseason. As it turns out, the preseason is not the regular season.
On Sunday, it was the same old Steelers, and their inability to move the ball. Kenny Pickett had some really bad misses. The progression we appeared to see in the preseason was nowhere to be found.
The team also lost Diontae Johnson to a strained hamstring. It would be a shock if he was able to play this week.
MORE: Fantasy Kicker Streamers and Rankings Week 2
Meanwhile, the Browns completely erased Joe Burrow and the Bengals offense. They held Burrow to just 82 yards passing and held Tee Higgins catch-less.
Although the Browns only generated two sacks of Burrow, and the weather certainly helped, it was an encouraging enough performance to put them on the streaming radar against a Steelers offense that allowed five sacks last week.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. CHI)
Finally, a home defense we can stream. The Bucs were supposed to be awful this year. In Week 1, they…weren’t. Tampa held the Vikings’ explosive offense to just 17 points, generating two sacks and three turnovers.
No quarterback took more sacks in 2022 than Justin Fields, and he was at it again in Week 1. The Packers sacked Fields four times, while also adding an interception.
Fields demonstrated no progression as a passer, remaining the same unpolished quarterback he’s been throughout his young career. His pocket awareness remains questionable, as does his accuracy. I don’t anticipate the Bears taking any meaningful step forward as an offense this season. The Bucs should win this game, and they should be able to limit the Bear’s offense in the process.
Week 2 Fantasy Defense Rankings
The rankings below are our PFN Consensus Rankings. They are compiled as an average between myself, Fantasy Football Director Kyle Yates, and my fellow Fantasy Football Analysts Derek Tate and Kyle Soppe.
If you want to ask any of our fantasy analysts about kicker rankings or streamers for Week 2, be sure to sign up for the PFN Discord server, where you will have unlimited access to the team throughout the season.