If you drafted the 49ers defense in the eighth round like the average draft position suggests, you aren’t getting any bang for your buck. With an average of four fantasy points over the first three weeks in standard scoring leagues, they are doing more harm than good thus far for owners who took the risk.
Fantasy football waiver wire: 3 team defenses to target for Week 4
Waiver wire action is heating up once again with three weeks of games in the books. We take a look at some team defenses to keep track of for Week 4.
Rich Schultz
Luckily, for those spurned by the 49ers defense and countless others, there are contingency plans in place and owners need look no further than the waiver wire. For Week Four, there are three great options that can be had, and on the cheap.
Kansas City Chiefs (vs. New York Giants): It will be hard to envision that the Chiefs defense won’t be a hot commodity on the waiver wire after forcing five turnovers and scoring a touchdown versus the Eagles in Week Three. This week, the Chiefs face the Giants, who lead the NFL with 13 giveaways, including nine interceptions. With the Chiefs formidable front seven led by Justin Houston and Tamba Hali forcing pressure, a quality secondary could be in line to cash-in once again. The Chiefs are owned in 33 percent of Yahoo! leagues, and it will be a race to the waiver wire to grab them.
Indianapolis Colts (vs. Jacksonville Jaguars): This is a no-brainer for fantasy owners that like to stream defenses from week-to-week, especially with Blaine Gabbert ready to return to the Jaguars lineup. In 26 career games, Gabbert has turned the ball over 21 times and has averaged a paltry 154 passing yards per game. Coming off a lacerated thumb in his throwing hand, rust could be expected, which only makes matters worse for an already sputtering Jaguars offense that leads the NFL with allowing five sacks per game. The Colts are owned in just six percent of Yahoo! leagues, but that number should increase by the waiver period’s end and for good reason.
Tennessee Titans (vs. New York Jets): The Jets offense has shown signs of life with Geno Smith at the helm, but it has also been prone to turnovers. The Jets have given the ball away nine times in the first three games of the season, and they will face an opportunistic Titans defense that has been stingy as well. After allowing an average of just 206 yards through the air and 101 on the ground, the Titans defense has wasted no time making strides, and all indications are that it should continue in Week Four. Owned in just 27 percent of Yahoo! leagues, the Titans defense makes a nice contingency plan for owners who missed out on a dominant team defense in drafts.
