For DST, the Matchup Is the Strategy

No fantasy position depends on weekly matchups more than defense.

If you waited to draft fantasy defense/special teams, as our Redraft Strategy Playbook recommends, the best move is to stream the position and chase matchups.

Let’s break down how DST scoring works and identify the best Week 1 streaming targets.

Breaking Down the Basics of DST Scoring

Most fantasy football leagues score team defenses on the following categories:

  • Points allowed
  • Sacks
  • Interceptions
  • Fumble recoveries
  • TDs

Because TDs are worth 6 points, including return scores, they create the biggest weekly swings. If your DST finds the end zone, you’ve almost certainly got a top-10 week.

The problem: Those scoring plays aren’t predictable.

Instead, points allowed give us the most predictable signal for DST fantasy scoring. In general, target defenses that are expected to allow the fewest points in a given week over trying to chase less-predictable big plays.

That often means simply targeting defenses facing the worst NFL offenses. 

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Why Turnovers and Sacks Aren’t Reliable

TDs aren’t the only volatile category. INT leaders rarely repeat from year to year. Fumble recoveries are even less predictable. And even sack totals fluctuate.

We still want defenses with playmakers, especially stud pass rushers and DBs who get their hands on the ball.

But as far as DST scoring categories go, we want to chase points allowed the most.

The Real Edge: Exploiting Matchups

Don’t lock yourself into one defense all season. DST scoring is volatile, and so are weekly opponents.

Some defenses will be better than others at limiting points. But if one of them draws the Eagles or Chiefs, you’ll probably want a different DST that week.

Embrace the stream and come back here weekly to find the best options. 

Week 2 Defenses Worth Streaming

Defenses to Stream for Week 2

TIP

Use our fantasy defense rankings and projections each week to pick up the best DST.

Buccaneers vs. Browns

Rostered: 12.8% 

The Browns offense looked as anemic as expected on Sunday. They didn’t score any points against the Jaguars until a field goal halfway through the third quarter. A garbage-time deep TD to Denzel Boston late in the fourth got them to an almost-respectable 10 points. Deshaun Watson clearly isn’t “back.”

The Buccaneers’ defense, meanwhile, didn’t have an awesome Week 1. But we weren’t expecting it to fare well on the road against a talent-rich Bengals offense. 

Tampa did, however, limit Ja’Marr Chase to 2 catches for 12 yards on 4 targets. The Bucs allowed only two TDs in the game (Cincinnati also scored once on defense) and held the Bengals to four FGs despite turning the ball over four times.

The Buccaneers aren’t likely to turn into a defense you lock into your lineup every week. But they certainly make sense for a high-upside Week 2 matchup at home.

49ers vs. Dolphins

Rostered: 7.2%

The 49ers had surprising Week 1 success against the Rams in Australia. They held Los Angeles to only 7 points and even forced two turnovers.

A healthy 49ers defense looks strong. Edge Nick Bosa appears fully recovered from last September’s ACL tear, and LB Fred Warner looked like himself with 11 tackles, a forced fumble, and a pass breakup in his first game back from an ankle fracture. 

Now that replenished D gets an offense that looks like one of the worst in the league.

Miami only mustered 13 points against the Raiders in Week 1 with the lone TD coming on a Malik Willis run in the third quarter. Willis looked awful as a passer, going 15 of 27 for 220 yards and an INT. Even De’Von Achane struggled on the ground, finishing with 11 rushes for 36 yards.

This should be an offense that the 49ers can handle in Week 2.

The only question will be the transition back from Australia and whether the time change affects their preparation. But San Francisco apparently handled the trip there well and will have been back for more than a week by game time.

We’ll take the 49ers at home against Willis. And there’s a chance you’ll be able to use San Francisco for a Week 3 home date with the Cardinals … unless they spend Week 2 repeating their strong performance from the opener against the Chargers.

Cardinals vs. Seahawks

Rostered: 0.4%

No one would have expected to stream the Cardinals against the Super Bowl champions in Week 2. But Week 1 proved that this could be a sneaky deep defense to grab.

Sam Darnold went down with a glute injury that’ll almost certainly keep him out through Week 2. That means Arizona gets to play at home against  journeyman Drew Lock.

The Seahawks mustered only 13 points against the Patriots in Week 1. Lock played solidly, going 16-of-22 for 187 yards and a TD with no INTs. But his history looks far less solid

Lock’s had just one pro season in which he started more than five games. That came in 2020, when he led the league with 15 INTs. Since then, he has thrown nearly as many picks (10) as TD passes (12) while playing sparingly for three teams.

The Cardinals enter this week off a strong opener against a Chargers offense with high expectations. Arizona notched 3 sacks and 2 turnovers, and held the Chargers to only 268 yards. (Last year’s Chargers averaged 333.8 per game.)

We’re not ready to bet on this Cardinals defense being good overall. But that Week 1 performance plus a week to prepare for a Lock-led offense makes the unit a good play for this week.

Want More Help Streaming Defenses?

Use our Free Agent Finder to find the right defense to stream each week and the best overall waiver wire options.

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