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Week 2 Defense (DEF) Streamers, Starts & Targets: 2017 Fantasy Tiers, Rankings

Bill breaks down all 2017 fantasy football Week 2 defenses (DEF) -- targets, streamers, sits/starts, and waiver wire pickups to add. His Week 2 rankings and tiers for all of the NFL defenses.

Hot dog, what a Week 1! Below are RotoBaller's Week 2 defense tiers and rankings, or which defenses to stream and start for Week 2 of the NFL and fantasy football season.

Our tiered defense rankings are your guide to drafting defenses, making waiver wire pickups/adds to improve your lineups, and to decide which defenses to start, sit, target, avoid or stream for Week 2.

Starting the right defense every week can be a difference-maker, so we have broken out our defense rankings into tiers with analysis on each matchup. Some of these Week 2 defenses have good matchups and are not widely owned, representing fantasy scoring opportunities if they are available on your league's waiver wire for a Week 1 pickup or add. Good luck in Week 2 RotoBallers!

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

Week 2 Defenses To Start & Stream: Tiers & Rankings

Tier 1 Defenses (The "Duh" DSTs)

1. Baltimore Ravens (vs. CLE)
2. Seattle Seahawks (vs. SF)
3. Arizona Cardinals (@ IND)
4. Houston Texans (@ CIN)

Most of the usual suspects here, all with juicy matchups. The Cardinals are here entirely because the quarterback situation is such a mess in Indianapolis. I personally think they'll be better off with a mobile Jacoby Brissett under center than Scott Tolzien, but with the Cardinals looking like a very legitimate fantasy DST against a capable Detroit Lions team in Week 1 I simply don't see how they let you down against the Colts.

The Texans were abused by the Jags in Week 1, but it wasn't entirely on the defense (although they weren't impressive either). This week they get Andy Dalton and the Bengals, and while I don't think we can expect another bazillion turnovers from the Red Rifle, the Texans should have no problem getting pressure and forcing a couple mistakes.

 

Tier 2 Defenses (Rock-Solid Starts)

5. Denver Broncos (vs. DAL)
6. Carolina Panthers (vs. BUF)
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. CHI)
8. New York Giants (vs. DET)
9. Los Angeles Rams (vs. WAS)

We didn't get a chance to see the Bucs in Week 1, but I've got them as a second-tier option in their debut in a home game against the Bears. Mike Glennon and the Bears put up a surprisingly good effort against the Falcons, but I'm considering that an outlier versus a new norm. The Buccaneers front seven led by Gerald McCoy is not going to give Jordan Howard and surprising standout Tarik Cohen much room to work, which will force Glennon to beat them. I'm not betting on that happening.

The Giants are going to be a solid option almost every week, and I love their chances of putting up a solid fantasy day in a home game against the Lions. Matthew Stafford threw four touchdowns in Week 1 against a great pass defense, but their running game was virtually non-existent. Despite the loss the Giants secondary didn't get shredded by the Cowboys by any means, and they shouldn't have a problem finding success against Golden Tate, Marvin Jones and Kenny Golladay.

 

Tier 3 Defenses (Decent Streamers)

10. Kansas City Chiefs (vs. PHI)
11. Cincinnati Bengals (vs. HOU)
12. Oakland Raiders (vs. NYJ)
13. Philadelphia Eagles (@ KC)

The Bengals got it handed to them by the Ravens in Week 1, but they may get a chance to do some damage in the turnover game against the Texans in Week 2. I can't imagine they trot Tom Savage back out there after his disastrous 2017 debut, and DeShaun Watson is still a very raw rookie, prone to inconsistency. I'm seeing a handful of sacks with potential for 2-3 turnovers, which makes the Bengals a really nice streamer. The Jags put up 10 sacks, so the Bengals should have no problem getting 4-5, right?

The Chiefs are coming into Week 2 with a full head of steam after walloping the Patriots, but they certainly don't have an easy task in Carson Wentz and the Eagles. Wentz's Week 1 was a mixed bag, but he still threw for a pair of touchdowns and over 300 yards, and looked great targeting Zach Ertz and, surprisingly, Nelson Agholor. If he and Alshon Jeffrey can get on the same page that offense could be lethal, as the combo of LeGarrette Blount and Darren Sproles will also give defenses fits.

 

Tier 4 Defenses (Deep Streamers)

14. New England Patriots (@ NO)
15. Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. MIN)
16. Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. TEN)
17. Minnesota Vikings (@ PIT)

Who's ready to take a trip to #Sacksonville? After recording 10 sacks in their season opener, the Jaguars get to take on Marcus Mariota and the Tennessee Titans. They won't have anywhere near as much luck this time around, as the Titans have completely loaded up their offense with weapons. Still, the Jacksonville d-line looked downright lethal, so they should be able to give DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry some trouble and get to Mariota. If the Titans are going to win this game, they'll need to do it through the air.

The Vikings will be near the top of my rankings most weeks, but facing the Steelers in Pittsburgh is simply too much to ignore. Ben Roethlisberger's home/road splits are incredible, and with a fully healthy complement of weapons (Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant, Le'Veon Bell), the Killer B's will be nigh-unstoppable this year.

 

Tier 5 Defenses (Desperation Plays)

18. Tennessee Titans (@ JAX)
19. Washington Redskins (@ LAR)
20. Los Angeles Chargers (vs. MIA)
21. Dallas Cowboys (@ DEN)
22. Miami Dolphins (@ LAC)
23. Indianapolis Colts (vs. ARI)
24. Cleveland Browns (@ BAL)

 

More Waiver Wire Pickups and Analysis


Check out all of RotoBaller's fantasy football rankings. Staff rankings are updated regularly for all positions and include standard formats, PPR scoring, tiered rankings and dynasty leagues.




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Ryan Dunn

on Track to Return Monday
Jaime Jaquez Jr.

Uncertain for Monday
Coby White

Returning to Bulls Lineup Monday
Paolo Banchero

Unavailable Monday
Larry Nance Jr.

to Miss 3-4 Weeks
Jarrett Allen

to Miss a Week of Action
Nikola Jokić

Nikola Jokic Listed as Probable for Monday
Anthony Davis

Likely to Play Against Nuggets Monday
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Considered Probable for Monday
Justin Herbert

Suffers Fractured Hand in Week 13, Will Have Surgery
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Dennis Schroder Won't Play Sunday
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has Season-High in Rushing Yards in Win Over Raiders
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Looks Unstoppable on the Ground in Week 13
Davante Adams

has Another Two-Touchdown Game
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is Questionable to Return With Shoulder Injury
Adonai Mitchell

has Career Day With 102 Yards, Touchdown in Win
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Available Versus Atlanta
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Cleared to Suit Up on Sunday
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Compiles 191 Total Yards, Touchdown in Loss to Jets
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Back on Sunday Night
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Available on Sunday Night
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Out Again on Sunday Night
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Will Start Again in Week 14 Against Titans
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Out on Sunday Versus Boston
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Could Return in Week 14
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Active for Week 13
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Sidelined on Sunday
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Officially Inactive for Week 13
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Sauce Gardner

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Woody Marks

Questionable to Return With Foot Injury
Kyler Murray

Not Fully Healthy Yet
Keon Coleman

Expected to Play Against Steelers
Bucky Irving

Officially Back in Week 13
CFB

Lane Kiffin to be Introduced as LSU's Next Head Coach on Monday
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Starting on Sunday Against Cardinals
Marvin Harrison Jr.

Returns in Week 13
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Florida Poised to Land Jon Sumrall as Next Head Coach
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Alex Golesh Taking Over Auburn Head-Coaching Job
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Shuts Out Mammoth
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Stuart Skinner

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Brock Nelson

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Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Sustains Upper-Body Injury
Logan Cooley

Hurt in Saturday's Loss
Warren Foegele

Not Ready to Return Saturday
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Won't Play Saturday
Henri Jokiharju

Lands on Injured Reserve
Zack Wheeler

Likely to Return in May
Pavel Zacha

a Game-Time Call Saturday
Ryan Helsley

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David Pastrnak

Out for Second Consecutive Game
William Nylander

Available Saturday
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Jake Walman

Sidelined for Third Consecutive Game
Jack Roslovic

to Miss Two Weeks
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

to Return Saturday
Mattias Samuelsson

in Concussion Protocol
Kyle Palmieri

Sustains Lower-Body Injury
Lukas Dostal

Ruled Out for 2-3 Weeks
Kirill Marchenko

Misses Third Straight Game
Jaden Schwartz

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Dylan Cease

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Anthony Rendon

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Josh Hader

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