Week 17 Defense (DST) Streamers: Add the Patriots DST for Championship Week

Welcome to Week 17. The entire season has come down to this, and now you have a shot at eternal glory. Am I being a bit dramatic? Perhaps. But we do spend months trying to get to this moment, so you should enjoy it. You are here to win a championship, and we are here to help you. The Fantasy Life team is still in full gear, cranking out projections, Week 17 fantasy football rankings and content to make sure you have all the information you need for the week.

DST Streamers For Week 17 Fantasy Football

Similar to last week, I am loosening the roster percentage threshold to include teams a bit over the normal 50% mark. Most of the teams in your league have been eliminated, so you shouldn't have to compete with many other managers on the wire this week. It is worth doing some opponent scouting, too, to see what your championship rival (and the toilet bowl teams) have at DST and whether or not they are likely to be streaming a defense in Week 17.

I am looking for DSTs with the ability to create sacks and turnovers rather than minimizing points allowed to the other team, although those two things are correlated. I think this is one of the bigger mistakes fantasy managers make when thinking about fantasy defenses. As you will see in this article, I am generally focused on three things: offensive line play, QB turnover rates and game script.

A poor offensive line matched up against a strong defense line is one of the best signs for a fantasy defense. Putting the opposing QB under pressure increases the likelihood of sacks, fumbles, and interceptions. However, not all QBs are created equal, so we also want to target those who have a history of turning the ball over. Lastly, a defense on a team that is heavily favored is another good sign because it means the other team may be forced to call more pass plays as a result of a negative game script, and pass plays are more likely to lead to scoring opportunities for the defense than rush attempts are.

New England Patriots DST - 49% rostered

The formula for streaming defenses is pretty simple right now. If the team is facing Brady Cook and the Jets, they should be at the top of your streaming options. The Patriots get that distinction this week and will be motivated to keep stacking wins with the Buffalo Bills still hot on their tail for the division crown.

Last week, the New Orleans Saints were featured in this article and they delivered with a massive 19 fantasy point performance on the back of eight sacks and two turnovers. Brady Cook has been a sack and turnover machine, with six interceptions and 17 sacks taken in just three games.

The Jets have fully imploded while the Patriots are riding high and battling for the number one overall seed in the AFC. New England is currently favored by 13.5 points and that might not be a wide enough spread.

The only thing that could change this recommendation is if the Jets decided to switch back to Tyrod Taylor at QB. I haven't seen any indications that will happen, and with New York tanking in a lost season, I see no reason why they would look to upgrade their QB play at this point. However, keep your eye on the news in case there are any last-minute surprises.

Detroit Lions DST (if J.J. McCarthy is out) - 55% rostered

The Lions and Vikings play on Christmas day so for streaming purposes, you will be able to make a decision early in the week on whether you roll with them or not. If J.J. McCarthy misses this game, the Vikings will likely have to start Max Brosmer again. I just talked about how bad Brady Cook has been, but Brosmer has been even less efficient.

If McCarthy misses this game, the Lions are almost as strong a streaming option as the Patriots. If he does play, then I would bump the Lions below the Jaguars as my third favorite streaming option. Brosmer hasn't been quite as sack and turnover-prone as Cook, but he has been less effective as a passer. The Vikings also suffered multiple RB injuries in Week 16, and with the short week before a Christmas Day game, they are likely to be without Jordan Mason.

This depleted Vikings offense could really struggle to move the ball here, and if the Lions get out to an early lead, there is a high probability of Brosmer throwing an interception. Detroit isn't eliminated yet, and the timing of this game means they will still be going full out and hoping for the Packers to falter later in the week to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Jacksonville Jaguars DST - 52% rostered

The Jaguars put up one of the most impressive performances of the season in Week 16, beating the Broncos in Denver. Their offense has been getting most of the attention for Trevor Lawrence's stellar play, but the defense has been performing well recently, too, especially for fantasy purposes. The Jaguar DST has scored double-digit fantasy points in four of its last five games, including three in a row.

The Jacksonville defense has been well above average against both the run and the pass, and has now forced ten turnovers in its last four games. That turnover streak will end at some point, but I think it can continue for at least one more week.

In Week 17, the Jags will take on the Indianapolis Colts and Philip Rivers. The Colts haven't played yet at the time that I am writing this, but even if they look a little bit better than they did in Week 15, I'm not expecting Rivers to turn back the clock and look like his old self. His arm strength and mobility aren't going to improve as the season goes on.

There is also the potential for Anthony Richardson to return to the lineup now that he is back at practice. Either way, the QB situation for Indy should be way below average, which will allow the Jags to continue their run of strong DST performances. Jacksonville is firmly in the hunt for the top seed in the AFC, but they need to win out, so I expect them to show up with their A game and should control this matchup.

Week 17 Defense (DST) Streamers: Add the Patriots DST for Championship Week

DST Streamers For Week 17 Fantasy Football

New England Patriots DST - 49% rostered

Detroit Lions DST (if J.J. McCarthy is out) - 55% rostered

Jacksonville Jaguars DST - 52% rostered

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