Overall, it was a quiet week for D/ST scoring, but the matchups are starting to break right for rent-a-defenses as the degree of difficulty increases in the bye-week gauntlet.
Week 4 Results
Kansas City (at LA Chargers) - 2 sacks
The Chargers D/ST was actually the better play, as Patrick Mahomes II threw a costly interception that saw Rashee Rice go down with a knee injury while trying to make a tackle. Justin Herbert’s 2024 season should be subtitled “Profiles in Courage”.
A Look Ahead: NO BYE @SF - The Saints gave up two D/ST scores last week, but the Chiefs D has been a mediocre play so far this season.
Buffalo (at Baltimore) - 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery
Whew this was very wrong. Derrick Henry ran over and away from the Bills defense on a very easy night for the Ravens on both sides of the ball.
A Look Ahead: @HOU @NYJ TEN - C.J. Stroud is warming up, and the Bills D/ST is cold. We won’t go back to them for a few weeks.
Miami (vs Tennessee) - 1 sack, 1 INT
Tennessee (at Miami) - 1 safety, 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery
This one started out well for the Dolphins D/ST when Will Levis had another inexplicable interception, but then he left the game with an injury. Tyler Huntley was mostly safe with the ball, so the Dolphins lost by 19 instead of 39, but that was inconvenient for fantasy D/ST purposes.
MIA A Look Ahead: @NE BYE @IND - This will be another battle of offensive ineptitude, but the Dolphins are playing like canned tuna.
TEN A Look Ahead: BYE IND @BUF - Bye bye
New Orleans (at Atlanta) - 1 sack, 1 INT
In a familiar refrain this week, we were on the wrong side of this one. The Saints' special teams miscue and deflected pass turned into two touchdowns and changed the script of this game.
A Look Ahead: @KC TB DEN - If the game against the Chiefs was in the Superdome, this would be a tempting play. It might be anyway with the Chiefs offense so shorthanded.
NY Giants (vs Dallas) - 1 sack
If Daniel Jones could only hit a deep ball, this could have been a lot different game. The Giants defense contained the Cowboys for most of the night, but the offense settled for field goals and it led to frustration across the Giants team for fantasy with the exception of Wan’Dale Robinson gobbling up short targets like Pac Man eating dots.
A Look Ahead: @SEA CIN PHI - The Giants climb back up the beanstalk to the waiver wire.
Las Vegas (vs Cleveland) - 3 sacks, 1 INT
The Raiders defense was good enough to win, but a mediocre fantasy play.
A Look Ahead: @DEN PIT @LAR - You never know what you’ll get from Bo Nix, but a banged up Maxx Crosby makes the Raiders D/ST less attractive.
Minnesota (at Green Bay) - 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery, 3 INT
Green Bay (vs Minnesota) - 2 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 INT
Both sides came through as it was a tale of two halves in Green Bay. Both showed they are matchup proof with good D/ST showing in a high scoring matchup.
MIN A Look Ahead: NYJ BYE DET - We’ll return to the Vikings against a banged up Aaron Rodgers.
GB A Look Ahead: @LAR ARI HOU - We’ll return to the Packers against a shorthanded Matthew Stafford.
Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda
Atlanta (vs New Orleans) - 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery, 1 INT, 1 DEF TD, 1 ST TD
The Falcons defense wasn’t really that good, but Troy Andersen returned a Matthew Judon deflected pass for a score and a muffed Rashid Shaheed punt was returned for a score.
Tampa Bay (vs Philadelphia) - 6 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries
Jalen Hurts was a sitting duck without his top two receivers playing from behind.
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