Fantasy football managers looking for a defensive boost this week have a few intriguing options. Recent matchups and emerging trends could make some underrated units worth a closer look.
Certain defenses are heating up at the right time, while others face struggling offenses that could turn sloppy. If you’re streaming this week, there are a few defenses that might surprise you.
Buffalo Bills DEF (at MIA)
The Buffalo Bills defense hasn’t produced much for fantasy this season, recording only two top-12 weeks on the year. However, since their Week 7 bye, Buffalo has amassed 10 sacks and four turnovers, and is the second-best defense in fantasy over those two weeks.
This Sunday, the Bills travel south for a divisional matchup with the hapless Miami Dolphins, who just committed three offensive turnovers in Week 9. Miami has become an incredibly predictable offense, and the Bills should be able to pressure Tua Tagovailoa throughout Sunday’s game.
The Dolphins lead the NFL in turnovers this season, with 15, and things likely won’t get much better against Buffalo this weekend.
Carolina Panthers DEF (vs. NOR)
The Carolina Panthers’ inclusion on this list might raise eyebrows, but the plucky NFC South outfit has performed well on the defensive side of the ball this year. Carolina has four turnovers and two top-six fantasy finishes over the last three weeks, despite being blown out by the Bills with Andy Dalton starting in Week 8.
Carolina just held the Green Bay Packers to 13 points on Sunday, and faces a far friendlier task this weekend. In Tyler Shough’s debut start at the weekend, the New Orleans Saints were in possession for a total of 16 minutes and seven seconds. That’s the 18th-lowest recorded time in possession in NFL history.
The Saints still managed to commit two turnovers in that game, a Shough interception and a fumble by Alvin Kamara. The Panthers won’t be many people’s first choice defense this week, but they are in a great spot.
Chicago Bears DEF (vs. NYG)
They may have given up 42 points to Joe Flacco and the Bengals in Week 9, but the Bears also forced three turnovers. That has been the story of the season for the Chicago defense, which has allowed the fourth-most points per game (28.38), despite leading the NFL in takeaways (19).
Chicago has been a top-12 fantasy defense in five of its eight active weeks this year and has also tallied three or more turnovers on five separate occasions. The Bears face the Giants this week, who have been safe with the ball for the most part, but showed their turnover potential with five against the Saints in Week 5.
Baltimore Ravens DEF (at MIN)
Finally, the Ravens defense has looked much better in recent weeks, having looked like a shell of its former self in the early weeks of the year. Having given up 37 or more points in four of its first five games this season, Baltimore has allowed no more than 17 in any of its last three.
J.J. McCarthy also looked significantly better in Week 9 than he had before, but still has four interceptions to his name in just three games. Minnesota has turned the ball over at least once in all but one of its games, and at least twice in four of them.
The Ravens defense ranked fourth among all defenses in fantasy in Week 9 (15 points), and now faces a young quarterback who still has a lot to prove.