In this week’s Stream-O-Matic, stream against the Dolphins and Jets! Wait, that’s every week. Hey, the chart has other thoughts too!

The Patriots put up a monstrous performance in Week 2 and won many fantasy people their matchups. They’ll most certainly keep it up in a game where they are favored for 20+ points against Luke Falk and the Jets.

Speaking of 20+ point favorites, the Cowboys will be hosting the hapless Dolphins here in Week 3. I will not waste my time and effort trying to tell you why playing them is a good idea.

Well, let’s dive into the chart for Week 3. The chart grows stronger as the season wears on, so it’s important to combine the generated rankings with common sense.

2019 Fantasy Football Week 3 Defense Stream-O-Matic

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Scoring

I use a traditional rotisserie scoring style commonly used in fantasy baseball season-long leagues to give point totals to each team.

Categories

The categories for the chart are listed below along with links to websites that I use to find this data.

Own% : Ownership percentages based on ESPN leagues gives us an idea of who is available. This doesn’t factor into the standings.

: Ownership percentages based on ESPN leagues gives us an idea of who is available. This doesn’t factor into the standings. Location : Generally speaking, defenses play better at home than on the road. Thus, a five-point advantage is given to all home teams.

: Generally speaking, defenses play better at home than on the road. Thus, a five-point advantage is given to all home teams. Wind : The only weather element that has shown a direct correlation with point totals is winds in excess of 15 MPH. Another five-point bonus is awarded to teams playing in such windy conditions.

: The only weather element that has shown a direct correlation with point totals is winds in excess of 15 MPH. Another five-point bonus is awarded to teams playing in such windy conditions. Vegas : Using Vegas odds, the spread and over/under generates a projected game score that the bettors go against. This game score portrays what the game flow could look like and, therefore, which fantasy football defenses are in a good position to succeed.

: Using Vegas odds, the spread and over/under generates a projected game score that the bettors go against. This game score portrays what the game flow could look like and, therefore, which fantasy football defenses are in a good position to succeed. oSAC% : To gauge how good (or bad) an opposing offensive line might be, look at the sack percentage for that team’s offense. Not only are some offensive lines bad, but some quarterbacks don’t show the ability to avoid the sack. ( NOTE : I’ll be incorporating a weighted average with 2018-2019 data.)

: To gauge how good (or bad) an opposing offensive line might be, look at the sack percentage for that team’s offense. Not only are some offensive lines bad, but some quarterbacks don’t show the ability to avoid the sack. ( : I’ll be incorporating a weighted average with 2018-2019 data.) oINT% : The opponent’s interception percentage obviously helps in streaming a defense. Turnover percentage is not used here because fumbles can be a little fluky and turnover percentage uses both fumbles and interceptions. ( NOTE : I’ll be incorporating a weighted average with 2018-2019 data.)

: The opponent’s interception percentage obviously helps in streaming a defense. Turnover percentage is not used here because fumbles can be a little fluky and turnover percentage uses both fumbles and interceptions. ( : I’ll be incorporating a weighted average with 2018-2019 data.) FPPG : I use ESPN defensive scoring rankings to determine a ranking of the fantasy football defenses.

: I use ESPN defensive scoring rankings to determine a ranking of the fantasy football defenses. DVOA: Probably the most popular tool for evaluating defenses, the DVOA efficiency ratings are utilized to give a strong baseline to the rankings. ( NOTE : I’m using DAVE rankings for the first few weeks.)

Stream-O-Matic Chart

Overall Defense Own% Opp Location Wind Vegas oSAC% oINT% FPPG DVOA 140.0 Patriots 94.1 NYJ 5 0 32 26 13 32 32 133.0 Vikings 88.8 OAK 5 0 30 20 23 27 28 130.0 Cowboys 68 MIA 5 0 31 29 32 11 22 126.5 Rams 92.1 CLE 0 5 16.5 25 30 23 27 121.5 Titans 63.2 JAX 0 5 26.5 24 16 30 20 118.5 49ers 32.5 PIT 5 0 26.5 1 24 31 31 116.0 Packers 38.9 DEN 5 5 29 15 14 29 19 115.0 Bills 87.6 CIN 5 5 25 23 10 24 23 98.0 Colts 22.9 ATL 5 0 18 16 27 17 15 95.0 Bears 98.8 WAS 0 0 28 8 7 22 30 95.0 Eagles 51.5 DET 5 0 24 10 22 10 24 94.5 Jaguars 79.8 TEN 5 5 22.5 31 6 4 21 93.0 Buccaneers 3.9 NYG 5 0 21 5 20 26 16 92.0 Texans 45 LAC 0 0 9 19 25 13 26 91.0 Chargers 69.2 HOU 5 0 19 32 11 12 12 88.5 Seahawks 14.3 NO 5 0 22.5 4 18 21 18 76.0 Panthers 28.4 ARI 0 0 20 27 8 15 6 74.0 Bengals 1.4 BUF 0 5 11 21 29 6 2 73.0 Cardinals 1.3 CAR 5 0 13 17 17 8 13 72.0 Falcons 2.8 IND 0 0 14 14 19 18 7 71.0 Browns 47 LAR 5 5 6 13 12 20 10 69.5 Chiefs 12.6 BAL 5 0 16.5 12 3 19 14 69.0 Saints 72 SEA 0 0 12 30 2 14 11 67.0 Lions 2.1 PHI 0 0 6 7 21 16 17 63.0 Ravens 65.1 KC 0 0 3 2 4 25 29 63.0 Jets 11.8 NE 0 0 2 3 5 28 25 62.0 Giants 0.9 TB 0 0 4 22 31 2 3 60.0 Redskins 2.6 CHI 5 0 15 18 15 3 4 59.0 Broncos 32.7 GB 0 5 9 28 1 7 9 57.0 Raiders 1 MIN 0 0 6 11 26 9 5 56.0 Steelers 17.9 SF 0 0 9 6 28 5 8 21.0 Dolphins 0.5 DAL 0 0 1 9 9 1 1

Defenses on Bye Week: NONE!

Optimum Score: 170

Minimum Score: 5

Streaming Service

Here I’ll talk about defenses that stand out on the chart as valid waiver wire options. Just like streaming services versus cable/satellite in the TV world, streaming defenses are more popular than the drafted ones. Not a bold take.

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Be sure to check your waivers for the Dallas Cowboys DST. I told you to pick them up last week and some of you listened. HOWEVER, 68% of ownership is worth a peek. Miami’s going to be a practice squad team at some point.

DST. I told you to pick them up last week and some of you listened. HOWEVER, 68% of ownership is worth a peek. Miami’s going to be a practice squad team at some point. The San Francisco 49ers get their first home game this year after blowing out the Bucs and Bengals on the road. With Big Ben out, a banged-up James Conner, and a strong 6.5-point line from Vegas, the Niners should have a nice floor.

get their first home game this year after blowing out the Bucs and Bengals on the road. With Big Ben out, a banged-up James Conner, and a strong 6.5-point line from Vegas, the Niners should have a nice floor. The Green Bay Packers are being underrated by the fantasy community for once! As a 7.5-point favorite, we should see Denver in a negative game script. Maybe that will actually force Joe Flacco to throw it further than five yards down the field? Nah…

Run Away!

Here I’ll talk about waiver wire defenses that the chart likes but I’m not comfortable streaming. I will be running away – not unlike King Arthur and his knights upon their visit with the French.

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I have no clue what to think about this Thursday Night Football game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Titans. The Titans should be a strong play this week against Uncle Rico despite his swagtastic presence. A subpar Houston defense kept them in check last week. However, the Jags have some inner turmoil going right now and it appears that Jalen Ramsey might sit this one out. My gut feeling says that Tennessee steamrolls them, but it’s your call.

and the Titans. The Titans should be a strong play this week against Uncle Rico despite his swagtastic presence. A subpar Houston defense kept them in check last week. However, the Jags have some inner turmoil going right now and it appears that Jalen Ramsey might sit this one out. My gut feeling says that Tennessee steamrolls them, but it’s your call. The Indianapolis Colts have a curious ranking on the chart in Week 3. Although Matty Ice has been Matty Nice to defenses with his pick-throwing, he’s still putting up yards and points with that electric receiving core. I could see the Colts doing well at home, but I don’t think they win because of their defense. I’d be taking a wait-and-see approach with Indy.

Pop, Lock & Drop It

Why are these defenses so highly-owned? Should you drop them? What does the author know? Does he know things? Let’s find out!





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A lot of the success the New Orleans Saints DST experiences is when they are in positive game scripts. That may be a thing of the past with Drew Brees out for a couple of months. If you are in a deep league where you roster two defenses, I get keeping them. Seattle and Dallas are two bad matchups in a row, but they will then see three straight plus-matchups. I’m just a diehard streamer, I guess.

DST experiences is when they are in positive game scripts. That may be a thing of the past with Drew Brees out for a couple of months. If you are in a deep league where you roster two defenses, I get keeping them. Seattle and Dallas are two bad matchups in a row, but they will then see three straight plus-matchups. I’m just a diehard streamer, I guess. Rams, Ravens, 49ers, Seahawks, Patriots. Those are the next five matchups for the Cleveland Browns. You got your lovely stream last Monday night, but it’s time to cut bait. There are too many defenses to pick up and stream for you to be holding on!

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