X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Week 5 Defense (DEF) Streamers and Starts - 2018 Fantasy Tiers, Rankings

Bill Dubiel breaks down all 2018 fantasy football Week 5 defenses (DEF) -- draft targets, streamers, sits/starts, and D/ST waiver wire pickups to add. His Week 5 rankings and tiers for all of the NFL defenses.

Below are RotoBaller's Week 5 defense tiers and rankings, or which defenses to stream, start and target off the waiver wire for Week 5 of the NFL and fantasy football season.

Our weekly tiered defense rankings are a guide to making waiver wire pickups to improve your lineups, and to decide which defenses to start, sit, target, avoid or stream for Week 5. Starting the right defense every week can be a difference-maker. Below we have broken out our defense rankings into tiers with analysis on each matchup. Some of these Week 5 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 5 pickup or add. Good luck in Week 5 RotoBallers!

New for this year: Confidence Rating - since every league's DST scoring is different, projections don't make a ton of sense. The confidence rating is a guideline for how much more I like one team over another instead of a straight point projection. A zero means "do not start", then the confidence rises from there. Initial rankings do not factor in Monday Night Football stats. Ranks may be re-evaluated after that game.

Editor's Note: Access RotoBaller’s trusted fantasy football rankings for PPR, Standard, Dynasty, Super Flex, and Best Ball formats. Get tiered cheat sheets, expert analysis, and player outlooks to dominate your draft from every angle.

 

Week 5 Defenses To Start & Stream: Tiers & Rankings

Teams on bye: Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tier 1 Defenses

Rank Tier DST Opponent Confidence Rating
1 1 Los Angeles Rams @ SEA 9.65
2 1 Carolina Panthers vs. NYG 9.45
3 1 Tennessee Titans @ BUF 9.1

The Rams posted a sub-par performance against the Vikings in that Thursday night shootout, but I think that was much more a result of running into a desperate, talented offense than it was any shortcoming on the defensive side of the ball. They managed four sacks in that game, which was certainly encouraging, and now with Seattle's porous offensive line in their path it should be safe to assume a solid fantasy effort is in the making here.

Don't let that Week 3 eruption fool you--the Bills offense that you saw shut out by the Packers in Week 4 is the genuine article. While Josh Allen has talent, he's still behind an atrocious offensive line and is making rookie decisions. We are firmly in "stream against the Bills" territory, and with the legitimately solid Titans defense up next you can keep that plan intact.

 

Tier 2 Defenses

Rank Tier DST Opponent Confidence Rating
4 2 Arizona Cardinals @ SF 8.7
5 2 Denver Broncos @ NYJ 8.45
6 2 Cleveland Browns vs. BAL 8.15
7 2 Cincinnati Bengals vs. MIA 7.65
8 2 Baltimore Ravens @ CLE 7.15

I was a bit disappointed in the Cardinals' showing against the Seahawks in Week 4, but I'm ready for them to bounce back against a C.J. Beathard-led 49ers offense. They're averaging 2.5 sacks per game, and while he's flashed a bit in past starts, Beathard is still a backup-level talent. Don't overthink this one.

The 39 points allowed were certainly disappointing for anyone who started the Browns defense, but don't overlook the fact that this unit added two more takeaways to give them an NFL-best 13 through four games (Monday night notwithstanding) and chipped in three more sacks as well. There are legitimate play-makers at every level of this unit, and we're going to be talking about Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward as defensive standouts for years to come. Joe Flacco has led the Ravens offense to surprising success this year, but with the Browns at home I like this one to devolve into an old-fashioned AFC North fistfight.

I'm pegging the Bengals for a bounce-back performance after two terrible weeks against talented offenses with the Dolphins set to come to town. The Bengals defense looked poised for a big season through two weeks, notching six sacks and five turnovers against the Colts and Ravens, but they were man-handled by the Panthers and Falcons in Weeks 3 and 4, allowing 30+ points in each game. The Dolphins are not the Panthers or Falcons. Despite their 3-1 record, the Dolphins rank 29th in the NFL in total offense through four weeks, and Ryan Tannehill has thrown for 230 yards or fewer in three of four starts. They also have no running game to speak of--the combo of Kenyan Drake and Frank Gore has mustered just about 88 rushing yards per game through a quarter of the season. Especially at home, the Bengals should provide solid streaming production for those in deeper leagues.

 

Tier 3 Defenses

Rank Tier DST Opponent Confidence Rating
9 3 Houston Texans vs. DAL 6.85
10 3 New York Jets vs. DEN 6.5
11 3 New England Patriots vs. IND 6.4
12 3 Green Bay Packers @ DET 6.15
13 3 Jacksonville Jaguars @ KC 5.75

The Texans' vaunted pass rush appears to have finally showed up. They've got four sacks in back-to-back weeks now, and while there are still some pretty significant holes in the defense (notably the secondary, which is allowing 288 passing yards per game), that resurgent pass rush is going to provide a decent enough fantasy floor most weeks. A good pass rush can lead to plenty going wrong for the offense, as evidenced by Jadaveon Clowney's fumble recovery in the end zone last week. I'm not sitting here trying to predict DST touchdowns, but the general point is that play-makers make plays.

The Patriots brought the Dolphins crashing back down to Earth in Week 4, allowing only a garbage-time receiving touchdown to Frank Gore after the game was well in-hand. Unfortunately there isn't a ton of big-play appeal on the defensive side of the ball, and while they're still frequently going to be working with a favorable game script given the offense, I think you can fade the Patriots this week, especially after watching Andrew Luck look much more like his old self.

For those keeping track at home, the Jaguars are still dominant on defense. The big plays haven't been there yet, as they have just three total takeaways through four games, but they've got two or more sacks in every game so far and they're averaging just 259 total yards of offense per game, which is best in the NFL. More importantly for fantasy purposes, they're only allowing 14 points per game. However, it's the unstoppable force meets the immovable object in Week 5, as the Jags will visit Patrick Mahomes and the explosive Kansas City offense. Plain and simply, expectations for defenses have to be adjusted against this offense, which is averaging a ridiculous 39.3 points per game through its first three games. We'll see how they fare on Monday night against the Broncos, but for now I'm fading any defense that stands in their way--even if it's the best defense in the NFL.

 

Tier 4 Defenses

Rank Tier DST Opponent Confidence Rating
14 4 San Francisco 49ers vs. ARI 5.5
15 4 Dallas Cowboys @ HOU 5.35
16 4 Los Angeles Chargers vs. OAK 5.15
17 4 New Orleans Saints vs. WAS 4.6
18 4 Buffalo Bills vs. TEN 4.35
19 4 Oakland Raiders @ LAC 3.9
20 4 Miami Dolphins @ CIN 3.25

The 49ers typically don't see this tier, but there are a few factors that have me hopeful. Josh Rosen certainly showed off his first-round pedigree against the Seahawks, as he was careful with the ball and represented a pretty legitimate improvement over Sam Bradford. However, that's still a rookie QB, and there's plenty of data to suggest that he's going to take his lumps all season. Add in his lackluster receiving options and an offensive line that's surrendering a lot of pressure and there is plenty of reason to be concerned for the UCLA product, and subsequently reason for optimism with the DST facing him.

This Saints defense has me at a loss, to be perfectly honest. They've looked positively dreadful in two games, and average-good in the other two. Their opponents in those games certainly are the indicator there (bad against Fitzmagic/Atlanta, goodish against Tyrod's Browns/Eli Manning), and that's how I've got them projected here. Alex Smith is careful with the ball and the Redskins have a decently balanced offense, but they aren't a top-tier juggernaut by any means. Therefore, I think the Saints still fall in the low-end streaming conversation. It's one of those scenarios where they SHOULD be better, but until we see them produce as a top DST like they were last year, it's impossible to treat them as anything more than a streamer.

The Bills offense is going to put the Bills defense in a tough position all season, otherwise I'd think there is a bit of upside to be found here. They have at least two sacks in every game this season, and while the game was certainly a blowout still, they did a lot of bending-but-not-breaking against the Packers offense on Sunday. I'm still likely not streaming them, but I'll have an eye on this game to see how they handle a quarterback as mobile as Marcus Mariota.

 

Tier 5 Defenses

Rank Tier DST Opponent Confidence Rating
21 5 Pittsburgh Steelers vs. ATL 2.85
22 5 Minnesota Vikings @ PHI 2.6
23 5 Philadelphia Eagles vs. MIN 2.15
24 5 Kansas City Chiefs vs. JAC 2
25 5 Indianapolis Colts @ NE 1.75
26 5 New York Giants @ CAR 1.65
27 5 Detroit Lions vs. GB 1.25
28 5 Washington Redskins @ NO 1.15

More Weekly Lineup Prep


Check out RotoBaller's famous fantasy football draft sleepers and waiver wire pickups list, updated regularly!


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.




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Max Muncy

Exits With Apparent Knee Injury
Christian Moore

Exits Early with Thumb Irritation
Cleveland Cavaliers

Larry Nance Jr. Headed Back to Cavaliers
Josh Naylor

Returning to Diamondbacks Lineup
Eric Gordon

Remaining with 76ers
Los Angeles Lakers

Deandre Ayton Joining Lakers
Oronde Gadsden

an Active Pass-Catcher This Offseason
Brashard Smith

Speed Could be Put to Use
Emil Heineman

Signs Two-Year Deal with Islanders
Pat Bryant

Off to a Good Start
Simon Holmstrom

Re-Signs With Islanders for Two Years
Cody Barton

Quickly Becoming a Leader With his New Team
UTA

Nate Schmidt Signs Three-Year Deal With Mammoth
Montaric Brown

has Worked With Starters
UTA

Brandon Tanev Moves to Utah on Three-Year Contract
NJ

Evgenii Dadonov Joins Devils on One-Year Deal
BUF

Sabres Snap Up Alex Lyon on Two-Year Contract
Dallas Mavericks

Dante Exum Returning to Dallas
Ryan McLeod

Inks Four-Year Extension with Sabres
NAS

Predators Bring in Nick Perbix on Two-Year Deal
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Has Surgery to Repair a Turf Toe Injury
LA

Cody Ceci Moves to Los Angeles
DET

James van Riemsdyk Joins Red Wings on One-Year Contract
Viktor Arvidsson

Traded to Boston
Charlotte Hornets

Spencer Dinwiddie Lands With Charlotte
Josh Jung

Sent to Triple-A
Jurickson Profar

Officially Reinstated and Hitting in Five-Hole on Wednesday
Spencer Schwellenbach

Going on Injured List With Fractured Elbow
Maxwell Hairston

Facing Sexual-Assault Lawsuit
Tai Felton

Rookie Season Likely to be Spent on Special Teams
LeQuint Allen Jr.

to Have Receiving Role for Jaguars?
Justin Walley

Turning Heads Going into Rookie Season
Bud Cauley

in Great Form Ahead of John Deere Classic
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

a Player to Avoid at John Deere Classic
Jake Knapp

Riding Momentum Ahead of John Deere Classic
Jamari Thrash

Establishing Himself as Reliable Option
Grayson Murphy

Could Provide Rotational Pass-Rush Depth
Joe Andreessen

in a Good Position to Compete for Backup Job
PGA

Sungjae Im Looking for Consistency at John Deere Classic
Ryan Gerard

a Solid Option at John Deere Classic
Bhayshul Tuten

Needs to Improve Pass Protection
Rickie Fowler

Looking to Rebound at John Deere Classic
Cameron Champ

a Volatile Option at John Deere Classic
Brandon Woodruff

Likely to Pitch on Sunday in Miami
Jackson Suber

Staying Below 70 is Key to Success for Jackson Suber
Kevin Roy

Playing Better Heading into John Deere Classic
Justin Lower

Hoping for Something Positive in Illinois
Ben Kohles

a Long Shot at John Deere Classic
Stephan Jaeger

Attempts to Stop Roller-Coaster Ride
Beau Hossler

Needs a Challenge in Illinois
Harry Higgs

Has Potential at John Deere Classic
Nick Dunlap

Keeps Plugging Through Tough 2025 Season
PHI

Dan Vladar Links Up With Flyers on Two-Year Deal
EDM

Andrew Mangiapane Signs Two-Year Pact With Oilers
SEA

Ryan Lindgren Joins Kraken on Four-Year Contract
PHI

Christian Dvorak Heads to Philadelphia
Logan Stankoven

Signs Long-Term Extension with Hurricanes
NYI

Jonathan Drouin Joins Islanders on Two-Year Contract
NJ

Devils Hand Connor Brown a Four-Year Contract
SJ

John Klingberg Lands in San Jose
William Eklund

Signs Three-Year Extension with Sharks
Will Cuylle

Agrees to Two-Year Contract with Rangers
Zac Gallen

Fans 10 in Tuesday's Win
Hunter Goodman

Hits Two More Homers Tuesday
Josh Hader

Stays Perfect In Save Conversion On Tuesday
Milwaukee Bucks

Taurean Prince Staying in Milwaukee
Shane Baz

Fans 11 Against Athletics
Grant Holmes

Strikes Out 10 in Scoreless Outing
Jeff Green

Signs One-Year Deal to Remain in Houston
T.J. Watt

Trying to Become Highest-Paid Non-QB?
Willson Contreras

Doubtful for Wednesday
George Springer

Clubs Two Homers in Seven-RBI Day
Joshua Palmer

Could be a Sleeper
Los Angeles Lakers

Jake LaRavia Lands with Lakers
Laviska Shenault Jr.

on the Bubble
Orlando Magic

Tyus Jones Signs One-Year Deal With Magic
Raheem Blackshear

to Work Mostly As Special-Teamer
Golden State Warriors

Kevon Looney Heads to New Orleans
Rico Dowdle

Trevor Etienne to Split Carries?
Chuba Hubbard

Should See Majority of Touches in 2025
Milwaukee Bucks

Jericho Sims Staying in Milwaukee
Denver Nuggets

Tim Hardaway Jr. Joins Nuggets
Willson Contreras

Avoids Structural Damage on Hand After HBP
Detroit Pistons

Duncan Robinson Lands With Detroit
Charlotte Hornets

Tre Mann Remaining in Charlotte
Josh Naylor

Scratched From Tuesday's Lineup Against Giants
Kevin Yu

a Near Must-Play at TPC Deere Run
San Francisco Giants

Giants Exercise Bob Melvin's 2026 Option
PGA

J.T. Poston Returns to John Deere Classic Looking for Another High Finish
Josh Naylor

Back in Action on Tuesday
Yordan Alvarez

Suffers Setback
Thriston Lawrence

a Decent Fit For John Deere Classic
Tom Kim

Not Finding Much to be Happy About Ahead of John Deere Classic
Nolan Arenado

Dealing with Finger Sprain
Jacob Wilson

Scratched With Hamstring Soreness
Milwaukee Bucks

Gary Harris Inks Deal With Bucks
Charlotte Hornets

Mason Plumlee Heading Back to Charlotte
Si Woo Kim

is a Prohibitive Fade at John Deere Classic
Jakob Poeltl

Agrees to a Contract Extension With Raptors
Ben Griffin

is the Appropriate Favorite at TPC Deere Run
Vasilije Micić

Vasilije Micic Dealt to Bucks on Tuesday
Daniel Suarez

and Trackhouse Racing Parting Ways After 2025 Season
Pat Connaughton

Traded to Hornets
Atlanta Hawks

Luke Kennard Lands in Atlanta
Breece Hall

Aiming to Prove He is "Still One of the Best in the League"
T.J. Watt

Steelers Not Planning to Trade T.J. Watt
Ilia Topuria

Becomes The New Lightweight Champion
Charles Oliveira

Knocked Out At UFC 317
Kai Kara-France

Alexandre Pantoja Submits Kai Kara-France
Kai Kara-France

Submitted At UFC 317
Joshua Van

Extends His Win Streak
Brandon Royval

Drops Decision
Renato Moicano

Loses Back-To-Back Fights
Beneil Dariush

Gets Back In The Win Column
Felipe Lima

Suffers His First UFC Loss
Payton Talbott

Bounces Back
Alex Bowman

Competitive Run Ends With Third-Place Finish at Atlanta
Erik Jones

Secures A Top-Five Finish After Adversity In Atlanta
Tyler Reddick

Collects A New Career-Best Finish At Atlanta
Chase Elliott

Ends Winless Skid With Atlanta Victory
Brad Keselowski

Falls Short of Atlanta Victory
Carson Hocevar

Recovers From Big One to Finish 10th at Atlanta
William Byron

Caught up in Atlanta Big One but Retains Points Lead
Denny Hamlin

Top In-Season Challenge Seed Denny Hamlin Eliminated in Lap 70 Crash
Ty Dillon

Bottom Seed Ty Dillon Upsets Denny Hamlin to Advance in In-Season Challenge
Kyle Larson

Don't Expect Kyle Larson to Win First Drafting Track Race on Saturday
Christopher Bell

Unlikely to Complete Atlanta Sweep
Brad Keselowski

Seeks Another Clutch Win for Hail-Mary Playoff Bid
Chris Buescher

Unlikely to Lead Enough to Have Much DFS Value
Alex Bowman

Qualifies Best Among Non-Fords but Unlikely to Contend at Atlanta
Ryan Preece

Will Probably Run Better Than Usual at Atlanta
Austin Dillon

Consistently Mediocre at Atlanta
Ty Gibbs

Slightly Faster Lately but Unlikely to be a Factor at Atlanta
Erik Jones

a Low-Key Strong DFS Option
Noah Gragson

Could Have DFS Value as One of the Lowest-Qualifying Fords
Riley Herbst

Unlikely to Replicate February Atlanta Finish
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF