Week 7 Fantasy Football DEF/ST Strategy
It is the Patriots world and we are all just living in it. Never before has a defense been this serious a contender for fantasy MVP but there has not been a defense like New England before. In the last 18 years, which is all the stats available on FantasyData, the #1 Fantasy DEF/ST were the 2006 Baltimore Ravens with 238 fantasy points. Through six weeks, they had 89 fantasy points. The Patriots have 123 points through their first six games and are on pace for 328 fantasy points!
It hasn’t just been fantasy success. The Patriots are undefeated and haven’t allowed more than 10 points in any game this season. In fact, they have only allowed 30 total points in six games. Of the 31 other teams, 21 have allowed 30 or more in a single game already this year. There is no end in sight for this run and I cannot wait to see the number of fantasy championship teams that own the Patriots defense.
Week 6 Top Performances
New England Patriots vs NYG
The Pats only sacked Daniel Jones one time. That is the only surprising stat about this defense vs offense matchup. New England intercepted three passes, recovered a fumbled and took it back for a TD, and blocked a kick…and took it back for a TD. The two TDs scored by this defense were equal to or better than 17 offenses in Week 6. Only 24 teams played in Week 6. This is getting ridiculous.
Week 7 Matchup: @ NYJ
It’s the Patriots. It’s the Jets. It’s the Start of the Week. Yes, this offense looks far better with Sam Darnold at the helm but it’s not going to matter. The Pats D/ST kept this offense out of the endzone in Week 3 and seem a lock for another top-5 performance this week.
Denver Broncos vs TEN
The Broncos managed just the 2nd shutout of the season. They also got Marcus Mariota benched after picking him off twice and went on to pick Ryan Tannehill off once as well. They also sacked the QB combo seven times on the day, tied for the most in Week 6.
Week 7 Matchup: vs KC
Kansas City’s offense is just about the most different thing you could find compared to the train wreck that is Tenessee. No way you start Denver here.
Joe Amon/The Denver Post via Getty Images
Carolina Panthers @ TB (London)
Jameis gonna Jameis. The Panthers were the other team to tie for the league lead in sacks, getting to Winston seven times in London. Winston also threw five interceptions this week, the most by any QB on the season. The Panthers more than doubled their season’s INT tally and now lead the league in sacks. They are also tied as the #2 fantasy DEF/ST on the year. Thank you Jameis.
Week 7 Matchup: Bye
The Panthers have a road game in San Francisco after their bye, no need to hold them.
Week 7 Starts
Buffalo Bills vs MIA
The only reason this isn’t the start of the week is that the Patriots exist. Buffalo gets the greatest gift known to man, a home game after a bye against the worst team in the league. The Bills have managed a top-10 performance in three of five games this year and the Dolphins have given up a top-10 performance in five of five.
San Francisco 49ers @ WAS
The 49ers are legit. They are tied for the #2 fantasy DEF despite only playing five games and have scored at least seven fantasy points in every game this year. The Redskins are awful and just squeaked by the Dolphins. This one could get ugly.
New Orleans Saints @ CHI
The Saints continue to play well with Teddy Bridgewater and that puts their D/ST in advantageous fantasy positions. Marshon Latimore has been able to cancel the opposing team’s WR1 in nearly every game this season and the Saints have cracked the top-10 in three of the last four weeks. The Bears offense is coming off a bye and has played relatively well this season but gave up four sacks and two turnovers in Week 5 vs Oakland.
Stream of the Week
Tennessee Titans vs LAC
Despite their many offensive shortcomings, the Titans have a pretty good defense. They have seven sacks and three takeaways in their only two home games this season. The Chargers give up the 10th most points to fantasy defenses and are coming off a poor showing against the Steelers. If their own offense can stop putting them in bad situations, the Titans have a great shot at a top-10 week and they are available in 50% of Yahoo leagues.
Other Streaming Options: Green Bay, Seattle
Frederick Breedon/Getty Images
Week 7 Sits
Los Angeles Rams @ ATL
As fantasy analysts, we all have a hill we are willing to die on. Mine is “the Falcons offense cannot be this bad”; Atlanta has only allowed 10+ fantasy points in two games this season and the Rams D/ST haven’t scored 10+ once. This is projected to be the highest-scoring game of Week 7 and you want no part of either defense.
Baltimore Ravens @ SEA
The Ravens gave an utterly pedestrian performance against a bad Bengals team and Russell Wilson is the #1 QB in fantasy football. The Ravens haven’t had a top-10 performance since Week 1 and will not have one in the hostile road stadium of Seattle.
Dallas Cowboys vs PHI
Everyone chasing the Cowboys vs Jets for fantasy success was sorely disappointed. Dallas could not duplicate what Philadelphia did to the Jets in Week 5 and allowed 24 points to Sam Darnold in his first week back. The Eagles give up the 11th fewest points to fantasy defenses and Dallas has a Week 8 bye. You can cut them now.
Top DEF/ST Year-to-Date
All Stats and Scores from FantasyData.com, your league scoring may differ. Ranks vs Pass/Run are based on Yards per Game allowed.