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Shaun Albin analyzes which defenses (DEF) to sit or start in Week 2 (2025) of the NFL season, and provides his best fantasy football streaming options.
Projecting fantasy football defenses early in the season is always a challenge. NFL parity ensures that even the league’s worst teams can close the gap quickly, while offseason roster turnover reshuffles depth charts on both sides of the ball. A defense that looked vulnerable last year may suddenly become competent, and an offense that struggled could be improved overnight with a rookie quarterback or a splashy free-agent signing.
That uncertainty leaves fantasy managers guessing which DSTs are truly worth streaming in September. Some units will surprise and establish themselves as weekly starts, while others won’t live up to preseason expectations. In these early weeks, the best strategy is often to target favorable matchups against unproven quarterbacks or shaky offensive lines, rather than banking solely on name recognition.
Week 2 provides several opportunities to take advantage of exactly those situations. A handful of defenses with low roster percentages draw opponents in transition, making them ideal short-term plays. Whether it’s a rookie under center, a line that struggled in protection, or a young offense still working out its chemistry, these matchups create a chance to find fantasy value off the wire.
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Best DST Streaming Options For Week 2
San Francisco 49ers at New Orleans Saints
Last season was uncharacteristic for the 49ers defense, which ranked 28th in scoring defense (25.6 PPG allowed), 21st in turnover percentage (9%), and 23rd in sacks per game. The lone bright spot was finishing eighth in yards allowed, but overall, it was a steep drop from the unit’s usual dominance.
This year, San Francisco looks to bounce back with Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, and an upgraded front seven that includes first-round pick Mykel Williams and second-rounder Alfred Collins. The reinforcements should help revive a pass rush that underperformed in 2024.
.@49ers defense under Robert Saleh is not going to be Vanilla. They are going to spice it up with a variety of fronts & pressures. No sense in saving it for the season. Better to work on it now. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/PamiCy6Vyr
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) August 12, 2025
Week 2 offers a prime opportunity against a Saints offense in transition. Second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler inherits the job after Derek Carr’s retirement, but his NFL résumé is shaky. Last season, he was sacked on 8.8% of dropbacks (ninth-highest rate) and posted a 70.4 passer rating across six starts -- all losses.
While Chris Olave and Alvin Kamara can make plays, Rattler’s inexperience and tendency to hold the ball play right into San Francisco’s hands.
Currently rostered in just 32% of Yahoo leagues, the 49ers defense is one of the top streaming options for Week 2. Expect them to pressure Rattler early, force mistakes, and provide fantasy managers with sack and turnover upside.
Los Angeles Rams at Tennessee Titans
The Los Angeles Rams defense was far from dominant in 2024, ranking 26th in yards allowed, 20th against the pass, and 22nd against the run. It sat middle of the pack in turnover percentage (15th at 10.6%), but the group is quietly building a new foundation around a young core of disruptive playmakers in the front seven.
Linebacker Jared Verse, the 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year, headlines the unit after racking up 4.5 sacks and flashing the athleticism that made him a first-round pick. Defensive tackle Kobie Turner also stepped up with eight sacks and 10 tackles for loss, while Poona Ford brings veteran stability after starting every game last year with the Chargers.
Defensive end Braden Fiske finished third in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting with 8.5 sacks, giving Los Angeles another disruptive presence. Rookie Josaiah Stewart, a third-round pick, is expected to contribute as a situational edge-rusher to bolster the pass rush even further.
On the hunt. 💪
» https://t.co/pi4VqHOURE pic.twitter.com/I63GZ9SfGp
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) September 2, 2025
The concern remains in the secondary, where Los Angeles failed to make a major addition this offseason. That weakness could be masked in Week 2, however, as the Rams draw a Titans offense led by rookie quarterback Cameron Ward. Ward has shown flashes of promise in camp, but he’s still learning the speed of the pro game. Against a front as talented and aggressive as the Rams’, the risk of pressure-induced mistakes looms large.
Rostered in just 21% of Yahoo leagues, the Rams defense is a sneaky streaming option in Week 2. If they can dictate the game script early and force Ward into obvious passing situations, their front seven has the firepower to generate sacks and turnovers, giving them strong fantasy appeal in Week 2.
Arizona Cardinals vs. Carolina Panthers
The Arizona Cardinals defense is set up nicely for the opening weeks of the season, first drawing the Saints in Week 1 and then a favorable Week 2 matchup against the Carolina Panthers.
Arizona’s defense was middle of the pack last year -- 21st in total yards allowed, 14th against the pass, 20th against the run, and 15th in scoring defense (22.3 points per game). It also ranked 17th in turnover percentage (9.6%) and 13th in sack rate (7.1%), showing just enough balance to stay competitive while lacking the top-end ceiling of elite units.
This offseason, the Cardinals doubled down on defense. Pro Bowl safety Budda Baker returns to anchor the secondary after a 2024 campaign that included 95 solo tackles, two sacks, 10 tackles for loss, and a forced fumble. Veteran Calais Campbell (five sacks, 12 TFL with Miami last year) joins the front to bring leadership and reliability.
They also added edge-rusher Josh Sweat, who posted eight sacks last year, and got 2024 first-round pick Darius Robinson healthy after an injury-limited rookie season. In the draft, Arizona invested heavily again, selecting defensive tackle Walter Nolen at No. 16, cornerback Will Johnson in the second round, defensive end Jordan Burch in the third, and linebacker Cody Simon in the fourth.
The Week 2 matchup favors them. Carolina improved late last year but still finished 29th in total offense and 23rd in scoring (20.1 points per game). The Panthers also turned the ball over on 11.8% of possessions. With Adam Thielen gone, the passing game is now in the hands of young wideouts Xavier Legette and Tetairoa McMillan, leaving Bryce Young to lead a youthful, still-developing unit.
Rostered in just 37% of Yahoo leagues, the Cardinals defense is widely available and makes for a sneaky Week 2 streaming option. Their upgraded front seven and opportunistic secondary should create pressure and turnovers against Carolina, giving them real upside in fantasy lineups.
Miami Dolphins vs. New England Patriots
The Miami Dolphins quietly put together one of the NFL’s most underrated defenses in 2024. They finished fourth in total yards allowed, ranking ninth against both the pass and the run. They also placed 10th in scoring defense at 21.4 points per game. However, their playmaking metrics lagged, finishing just 23rd in turnover percentage (8.8%) and 27th in sack rate (5.8%).
The offseason brought notable changes. The Dolphins lost veterans Calais Campbell, Jalen Ramsey, and Emmanuel Ogbah, but the unit still returns plenty of impact players. Linebacker Jordyn Brooks is back as a do-it-all centerpiece, while defensive end Zach Sieler returns following a 10-sack campaign. Bradley Chubb will again be a difference-maker after recording 11 sacks and an NFL-best six forced fumbles last year.
My goodness, Zach Seiler (HQ sack) pic.twitter.com/ktfRblsJi9
— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) October 11, 2023
Miami also added high-upside talent through the draft, selecting defensive tackle Kenneth Grant at No. 13 overall and nickelback Jason Marshall in the fifth round. It further upgraded the secondary by acquiring five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro Minkah Fitzpatrick in a trade, giving it one of the league’s top safeties to stabilize the back end.
Week 2 offers a prime matchup against the New England Patriots. New England struggled mightily in 2024, ranking 31st in total offense and averaging just 17 points per game (30th). It turned the ball over at a 12.9% clip and allowed its quarterbacks to be sacked on 9% of dropbacks -- the fourth-highest rate in the league. Second-year quarterback Drake Maye may eventually raise the ceiling, but he remains untested against a unit with Miami’s speed and physicality.
Rostered in just 3% of Yahoo leagues, the Dolphins defense is one of the best widely available streaming options in Week 2. With playmakers at all three levels and a mistake-prone Patriots offense, Miami has the upside to deliver sacks, turnovers, and keep the Patriots out of the end zone.
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