Fantasy Football 2022: D/ST Streams Week 5

As a Colts fan, writing this during the Thursday night football game may hurt me, my sanity, or my laptop. I’m hoping for the best for all three; and thankfully it did – with the Colts pulling out a close one over Denver in OT. Last week, I had originally put my usual four picks, but forgot about the Sunday morning game and didn’t give enough time for the article to get edited and released before the game. My mistake led to another rough week for my fantasy football picks. I’m hoping to turn this ship around and not get stuck in a sophomore slump season. Let’s look at last weeks picks.

• Philadelphia Eagles: 17 pts – HIT
• Denver Broncos: 1 pt – BUST
• Cleveland Browns: 3 pts  – BUST
• Week 4: 1 Hits – 2 Busts
• Season: 7 Hits – 7 Busts

In baseball, having a batting average of .500 would get you MVP and in the Hall of Fame as soon as you’re eligible. In projecting Streamers to play on a week, .500 is not good. I honestly thought the Browns would roll the Falcons easily. Marcus Mariota has not been playing well and it’s bringing down the whole offense. Kyle Pitts has not been what he was being drafted to be – yet. Yet somehow the Browns lost. The Broncos also lost to the only team that had lost every game. Both teams just looked off. It was a bad week for both of them.

The Eagles yet again were the best pick of the week. The only team without a loss is looking great in all the aspects of the game. Currently, they are the 2nd highest ranked D/ST in fantasy football on ESPN. This is the first week I can’t include them in this article. On that sad note, let’s look at the picks.

Jacksonville Jaguars – 48.6%

The Jaguars are still the 5th highest ranked D/ST in fantasy football. They’re averaging 7.8 fantasy points per game. They have 9 sacks, 7 interceptions – including a pick 6 – and 2 fumble recoveries. They get to play the Houston Texans this week. As much as I have hope for the future of the Texans and as many times as I rebuild the Texans on Madden Franchise, they aren’t going to be a major threat this year. Their O-Line still needs work and the offense looks best when rookie running back Dameon Pierce is carrying the ball. The Jags have a lot of potential this week and should be in line for around 3 sacks and 2 interceptions.

Minnesota Vikings – 36.2%

The Vikings get to face the Bears this week. In a league that is changing to a pass-first style, the Bears have only one game where Justin Fields completed more than 10 passes. Last week was also the only week Fields attempted over 20 passes. If the Bears keep playing this conservative style, expect the Vikings to capitalize on that. Fields has been sacked a total of 16 times so far this season. That’s four per game! That’s good news for a solid defensive front, as the Vikings already have 9 sacks through four weeks. This play is fully based on a bad offense in the Chicago Bears.

Tennessee Titans – 11.5%

I’m still not used to calling the Washington team the Commanders. Nevertheless, the Commanders host the Titans. For a team that has had so much strife over the past three years with legal issues, getting off to a 1-3 start after a name change and bringing in a new QB in Carson Wentz is not how you want to start. Tennessee is getting pretty good at pressuring the QB and getting sacks. They have recorded 10 so far this season. Washington may be in trouble, as the Commanders let up almost that many sacks per game! To top it off, the Commanders missing rookie first round pick WR Jahan Dotson. With Terry McLaurin also having a slow year, you have problems in the nation’s capitol. This is another play banking on a bad offense moreso than a great defense.

Miami Dolphins – 51.7%

Miami may be the Cinderella story of this season. They have built and added pieces wherever they can; and now have a team that most are afraid to play! While Tua will not play due to a (or multiple) concussion(s), the Dolphins will still continue to play well with  journeyman QB Teddy Bridgewater. Teddy B looked good last week when he stepped in for the injured Tua. I expect them to focus on the run game and short passes. But when you have two of the best RAC (Run After the Catch) WRs in the league, short passes could still win you the game. Their biggest worry is playing against the cougar hunter Zach Wilson and the Jets young offense. The Dolphins will need to focus on limiting his strong arm and the pass catchers at all six major positions. By six, I mean WR1/WR2/WR3/RB1/RB2/TE; because all six of those guys are playmakers in their own right.

Good luck this week! I hope that you’ve had better luck on your fantasy football D/STs than I have had on my picks. May the Streams flow your way!