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 4 fantasy defense rankings and the top options to stream this week.
Week 4 fantasy defense rankings
The rankings below are from Senior Fantasy Analyst Tommy Garrett. If you want to ask Tommy or any of our fantasy analysts about defense rankings or streamers for Week 4, then be sure to sign up for the PFN Pass, which includes daily personalized fantasy advice through the PFN Discord server.
The table is best viewed in landscape on mobile devices and can be sorted using the filters above the table.Â
Top fantasy defense streamers in Week 4
We still don’t have enough of a sample size to fully evaluate teams, but at least we have some information to work with heading into Week 4. Here are my top fantasy defense streamers, all of which are rostered in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues.
New York Giants (vs. CHI)
It’s still very early, but Justin Fields is trending toward not being an NFL-caliber quarterback. To quote Mike Martz, “what does he do?”
Fields has yet to complete more than eight passes in a game. He’s thrown four interceptions against just two touchdown passes, both of which occurred in Week 1.
This is purely a play against Fields. The Giants don’t exactly have a stellar defense. I’m writing this before the Giants’ Week 3 matchup against the Cowboys, but through the first two weeks, New York generated just three sacks and three turnovers.
Betting against the Bears’ offense and banking on Fields not being able to move the ball is why we’re targeting the Giants as a defensive streamer in Week 4.
Philadelphia Eagles (vs. JAX)
This one is cheating a little as the Eagles are rostered in slightly over 50% of Yahoo leagues. I’m including them because the options for Week 4 are rough.
The Eagles aren’t really a streamer anymore. After this week, I expect their roster percentage to go up over 90%. They’re legitimately a great defense.
They held the Vikings to just seven points in Week 2 while forcing three Kirk Cousins interceptions. Then, in Week 3, the Eagles sacked Carson Wentz nine times while limiting the Commanders to six garbage time points.
Trevor Lawrence looks infinitely better than he did as a rookie. He’s not the same easy target he was last season. Nevertheless, the Eagles are just good. Lawrence has yet to face a truly elite defense, and that is what Philadelphia looks like through three weeks.
Indianapolis Colts (vs. TEN)
The Colts are kind of a last-gasp defensive streamer this week. They just held Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs to 17 points. While that’s impressive, it’s worth noting that Indianapolis has only generated three turnovers and four sacks through three games. Yeah, it’s slim pickens in Week 4.
Ryan Tannehill can at times be turnover prone and has already thrown three interceptions on the season. The Colts are at home, and if they can get out to a lead and force Tannehill to throw, they could post serviceable fantasy numbers. They are not the optimal defensive streamer, but this is the best we’ve got in this difficult Week 4.
