Top 3 Week 3 Defense Rankings & Streaming Options | Fantasy Football 2021

A few of the top defenses in the league will be facing bad offenses in Week 3, which somewhat limits streaming options since they are already rostered in most fantasy leagues. However, some injuries at quarterback have also resulted in some other viable options in the Week 3 defense rankings. With that in mind, here are three defenses/special teams (D/ST) to target that are still available in the majority of ESPN leagues. Also, check out the Awesemo projections to see what is projected for all of the teams that will be in action. Below are three of the top Week 3 streaming defense options according to the fantasy football rankings.

Week 3 Fantasy Football Defense Streaming Options

Carolina Panthers (83% available)

The Panthers have been locked in defensively to start the season, allowing just 21 points over their first two games. Week 1 brought a favorable matchup against the Jets, who are in the early stages of a rebuilding process. What was really impressive for the Panthers was limiting the Saints to 7 points in Week 2. That was a Saints team that had scored 38 points against the Packers the week prior.

The Panthers will play on Thursday Night Football in Week 3 in what should be another excellent spot for their defense to thrive, this time against the Texans. Houston’s offense has been better than expected out of the gate, but that was with Tyrod Taylor at the helm. He is now out with a hamstring injury, which leaves Davis Mills to take over. Deshaun Watson is still on the roster, although his trade demands and off-field situation means that he will not be an active member of the team. With essentially a third-string quarterback at the helm, scoring could prove to be difficult for the Texans.

Tennessee Titans (96% available)

Unlike the Panthers, the Titans defense has started things out very poorly. They have allowed 68 points across two games, which is tied for the third most in the league. If there is a silver lining, it is that they had to face two of the most dangerous offenses in the league in the Cardinals and Seahawks. Those teams are quarterbacked by Kyler Murray and Russell Wilson, respectively, who are both mobile quarterbacks that can do damage on the ground.

Week 3 brings a very different offense in the Colts, especially with Carson Wentz dealing with injuries to both of his ankles. Those injuries mean that even if Wentz is able to play, he might not be very mobile. If he sits out, the Titans could turn their defense around against Jacob Eason, who threw an interception while completing two of five pass attempts in relief of Wentz last week.

Las Vegas Raiders (99% available)

The Raiders started out the season with two difficult matchups against the Ravens and Steelers. They were mostly unable to hold the Ravens down in Week 1, but they did limit the Steelers to 17 points last week. They have already been hit by injuries, though, including the likely loss of defensive tackle Gerald McCoy (knee) for the remainder of the season.

Continuing our common theme of injuries to starting quarterbacks, the Raiders might also be facing a backup at the position when they take on the Dolphins. Tua Tagovailoa suffered a rib injury that forced him out of last week’s game against the Bills, and he is listed as day-to-day moving forward. The good news is that tests appear to have ruled out a serious injury for Tagovailoa, so it will likely be a matter of pain management for him. If he does play, he might struggle to deal with that pain. If he sits, the Raiders could do damage against Jacoby Brissett, who finished with 169 yards, an interception and no touchdowns despite attempting 40 passes in relief of Tagovailoa last week.

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Author
I’ve been covering fantasy sports since 2007. Along my journey, I’ve contributed to companies including SportsLine, RotoWire, Sports Illustrated and DraftKings. My passion for fantasy sports began by playing in traditional season-long leagues and has expanded into DFS and sports handicapping. In 2018, I was a finalist for the 2018 FSWA Basketball Writer of the Year award. You can contact me by e-mailing [email protected].

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