Streaming Defenses for Week 3 in Fantasy Football

Streaming DSTs in fantasy football is a popular practice that allows fantasy managers the ability to fade defense during the draft to put together a comprehensive group of skill position players. Finding the right defenses at the start of the season (when data is skewed by a single good or bad performance) can be difficult. But we are here to help at FTNFantasy.

Listed below are some of the top DSTs that have a high upside as a streaming defense based on Yahoo fantasy roster numbers. All defenses listed below are rostered below 70%, which means they should be available in most 12-team leagues at this point in the season. You will also see Vegas odds and projected points courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook .

In the Charts

Pressure rate (pressure%) Hurry rate (hurry%) DVOA Data from FTN Week 3 Streaming Defense/Special Teams Targets Kansas City Chiefs (39%) vs. Chicago Bears Vegas odds: Chicago Bears at Kansas City Chiefs (-13.5) O/U 47.5 Bears projected points: 17

Chiefs defense in 2023

Pressure Rate 6.4% 31st Hurry Rate 1.3% 32nd Pass DVOA 6.6% 15th Rush DVOA -5.7% 18th Total DVOA 2.2% 18th The Chiefs' pressure and hurry rates are some of the worst in the league, but that comes with an asterisk considering they’ve had Chris Jones for just one game this season after his holdout extended through Week 1. Jones made a massive impact in his debut against the Jaguars, generating six pressures and 2.0 sacks against an underwhelming Jaguars offensive line. The Chiefs' defense should see a massive improvement in Week 3 against a Bears offense that has looked truly awful through the first two weeks. Justin Fields has completed just 60.6% of his passes for 427 yards and two touchdowns with three interceptions against the Packers and Buccaneers and has been frequently under duress behind a disappointing and injured offensive line. The Bears will be forced to pass the ball to keep up with the Chiefs, which plays exactly into the defense’s hands and explains Chicago’s 17 implied points in Week 3.

Jacksonville Jaguars (16%) vs. Houston Texans Vegas odds: Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars (-9.5) O/U 44.5 Texans projected points: 17.5

Texans defense in 2023

Pressure Rate 15.7% 21st Hurry Rate 7.2% 20th Pass DVOA 2.7% 14th Run DVOA -41.7% 5th Total DVOA -12.5% 8th The Jaguars' pass defense has been just a tick below league average throughout the first two weeks, but their run defense has been top-five, which is driving their total DVOA. Jacksonville performed extremely well against the Chiefs offense in Week 2, generating 13 pressures and one sack against one of the better offensive lines in the league. Now they have a prime matchup against a rookie quarterback behind an offensive line decimated by injury. Just one of Houston’s preseason starting offensive linemen played in Week 2 (right guard Shaq Mason ), and while Laremy Tunsil could return in Week 3, he’s hardly a catchall for the unit as a while. Houston has shown a willingness to let C.J. Stroud air the ball out in his two starts as evidenced by his 91 pass attempts (third most in the NFL), but that has come at a cost (league-leading 11 sacks). Jacksonville should continue to stifle Houston’s underwhelming run game and have the athletes on the edge to rack up a big sack total against a rookie quarterback.

Tennessee Titans (2%) at Cleveland Browns Vegas odds: Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns (-4) O/U 41 Browns projected points: 18.5

Titans defense in 2023

Pressure Rate 19.2% 15th Hurry Rate 10.3% 16th Pass DVOA 25.0% 23rd Run DVOA -47.4% 2nd Total DVOA -2.4% 16th The Tennessee Titans' defense held up against the Chargers’ passing attack in Week 2, allowing 305 yards and two passing touchdowns in an overtime victory against Justin Herbert . The Titans feature a formidable trio of veteran pass rushers in Arden Key (nine pressures and 2.0 sacks), Jeffery Simmons (nine pressures and 2.0 sacks) and Denico Autry (eight pressures and 3.0 sacks) who should be able to put pressure on Deshaun Watson . The Browns’ passing offense has struggled to find its footing since the veteran quarterback took over at the end of 2022 and has leaned heavily on the run game, which is now a major question mark thanks to Nick Chubb ’s season-ending injury. Jermone Ford produced admirably in his first action as the lead back for the Browns against the Pittsburgh Steelers (16 carries for 106 yards and three receptions for 25 yards and a touchdown), but the Titans’ run defense is a different beast altogether. This game has the makings of a low-scoring slugfest and based on what we have seen from Deshaun Watson over the past 8 games, there is no reason to believe the Cleveland passing attack will be able to put up points against a bad Titans secondary.

Other Streaming Targets to Consider for Week 3 New England Patriots (65%) at New York Jets Vegas odds: New England Patriots at New York Jets (+3) O/U 37.5 Jets projected points: 17.25

Patriots defense in 2023

Pressure Rate 15.2% 22nd Hurry Rate 7.6% 20th Pass DVOA 27.4% 24th Run DVOA 2.1% 21st Total DVOA 16.6% 24th Washington Commanders (39%) vs Buffalo Bills Vegas odds: Buffalo Bills at Washington Commanders (+6.5) O/U: 44.5 Bills projected points: 25.5

Commanders defense in 2023

Pressure Rate 21.5% 12th Hurry Rate 12.3% 10th Pass DVOA -12.9% 9th Run DVOA -9.1% 16th Total DVOA -11.3% 10th Week 3 Rankings Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns Kansas City Chiefs vs Chicago Bears Jacksonville Jaguars vs Houston Texans New England Patriots at New York Jets Washington Commanders vs Buffalo Bills

Streaming Defenses for Week 3 in Fantasy Football

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