Streaming defenses is always a popular strategy during each fantasy football season. The basic idea is for managers to add and drop defensive units each week, seeking out the most favorable situations against offenses, especially quarterbacks, that offer the opposing defense plenty of upside. For fantasy, this often comes as potential sacks and turnovers.
Managers streaming defenses should always consider those who consistently pressure opposing quarterbacks. While the QB they are facing off against is also extremely important, high-pressure defenses often have the most opportunities at points in fantasy football. Targeting these types of defenses is usually the most beneficial strategy because pressure can lead to sacks and turnovers.
The following list ranks all 28 defensive units for fantasy football in Week 5 of the 2023 NFL season. Four teams are on their bye weeks, so they will be unavailable in fantasy lineups and, therefore, not included in the weekly rankings. Using the help of the Start/Sit Optimizer, every factor, such as recent performances and weekly matchups, was considered when making the rankings.
This week, managers looking to acquire a top defense should consult the fantasy football trade analyzer first.
The following three options are owned in less than 50 percent of all fantasy football leagues, and based on their intense matchups, they make for excellent Week 5 streaming options.