Fantasy Football Week 10 Defense Rankings and Streamers feat. New York Giants, Washington Commanders, and more
Streaming defenses is a popular strategy in fantasy football, but your pick can make or break your scoring week. The NFL is a week-to-week business with new matchups to exploit and avoid to maximize our weekly point total.
Let's go through the best weekly defensive streaming options, plus give you an overview of how the top defenses rank heading into the new fantasy week. For streamers, we consider all defenses under the 60% threshold in ESPN and Yahoo! Sports leagues.
Fantasy Football Defense Rankings for Week 10
Fantasy Football Defense Streamers for Week 10
1] New York Giants at Carolina Panthers
Finding viable offenses to stream against this weekend will be challenging. With typical targets like the Cleveland and Las Vegas offensive unit on bye this week the options get a little slim in Week 10. Only four defenses in the top 12 this week came in under 70% owned and the New York Giants were far and above the best of those four teams. It comes in as our No. 2 defense of the weekend despite being roughed up against the pass and run this season.
With an EPA of 15.59 (19th) against the pass and a 52.47 (32nd) against the run, the Giants are not exactly a slam dunk in Week 10. However, this defense isn't without any stars of the defense. The biggest chance for a decent fantasy day comes up front with Dexter Lawrence. Lawrence comes into this matchup with nine of the 35 sacks for this Giants defense — who rank first as a team with 35 sacks this season. New York is also second in the league in QB hits percentage (19%), and 11th in pressure rate (30.8%).
Lawrence and Co. will face a Panthers offense that is the second-best matchup for defenses in terms of passing offense. Carolina owns the third-worst yards per attempt (5.8), the most interceptions thrown (12), and 31st in passing EPA at -48.94 this season. We will continue to target this offense even with former top overall pick Bryce Young winning his first game of the season last week against the Saints.
2] Washington Commanders vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Earlier this fantasy season, I couldn't imagine recommending this Washington defensive unit at any point, even as a streamer. But fantasy football works much like the real NFL and is a week-to-week game throughout the season. You have to be open to pivoting and changing your mindset as the teams evolve in front of your eyes. We recommended this Washington unit last week, and we're returning to the well against the Russell Wilson-led Pittsburgh Steelers.
It has been quite the turnaround for the Commanders, as we targeted this defense early, but it has recorded at least two sacks in seven straight games. With a contending team, the Commanders made a significant move at the trade deadline to acquire New Orleans cornerback Marshon Lattimore before Week 10 action. Lattimore instantly improves this Washington secondary, just in time for Sunday's clash against AFC North leaders.
The Steelers are leading the AFC North division and are coming off three straight, comfortable wins against the Raiders, Jets, and Giants. They will get a much stiffer test against an upstart Commanders squad. Pittsburgh has allowed the fifth-highest pressure rate (33.5%) and the seventh-highest QB Hit rate (17.7%). Will Lattimore make this secondary respectable with Dan Quinn's aggressive style? They're worth a shot with minimal options this week.
3] Detroit Lions at Houston Texans
The Detroit Lions solidified their position as one of the best teams in the NFC with a signature win in rainy Lambeau Field last weekend. Doing this without key pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson has been impressive, to say the least. Now it gets an interesting matchup with a Texans team that will get star wideout Nico Collins back from a hamstring injury he suffered earlier this season. The Lions have finished inside the top 10 for fantasy defenses in three of the previous four weeks including two top overall finishes in Week 6 and 8.
Both of Houston's starting guards - Kenyon Green and Shaq Mason - are banged up. As of yesterday's practice report Green (shoulder) has yet to participate in any practices while Mason (Hip) turned in a limited practice. This Texans offense struggled in its first game with Stefon Diggs and may need some more time adjusting with his banged-up squad.