Top 9 Fantasy Football Defense Rankings for Week 4: Chicago Will Bear Down Against the Colts

Week 4 has some sneaky good plays for defense. I am sure that many of you are trying to figure out what to do and how to deal with both the Steelers and Titans having an unexpected BYE due to the COVID breakout on the Tennessee Titans squad. I think that there are plenty of DST plays this week in my top 9 that should be available to grab on the waivers. It stinks having to replace a corner-stone defense like the Steelers, but there should be options for you to cover this one week.

Baltimore Ravens

@ Washington Football Team

The Baltimore Ravens have one of the juiciest matchups there is in 2020. They get to play against Dwayne Haskins, the DST point machine. Haskins had 4 turnovers last game against an average Browns’ defense and this week I expect similar results. The Ravens’ defense has the kind of front 7 that will pressure Haskins into making silly throws which will lead to Interceptions. If Haskins chooses to hold onto the ball it will lead to sacks and fumbles.

Baltimore will look to bounce back after a horrible performance on Monday Night against Patrick Mahomes. They should be coming out on Sunday with a vengeance looking to make up for that bad performance against a mediocre Washington offense. Baltimore is far and away the #1 on the Week.

Los Angeles Rams

Vs New York Giants

Daniel Jones is near the same tier as Dwayne Haskins when it comes to gifting points to the opposing defense. 4 interceptions and 2 fumbles in his first three games is just a nightmare of a start for the second-year QB. The Rams’ secondary is one of the best in the league and has started off 2020 with a bang. The combination of Daniel Jones and this secondary should make them good enough as a top play. However, Aaron Donald is still a factor and he should help generate sacks and plug up any running game that the Giants try to get going.

Denver Broncos

@ New York Jets

The Jets’ offense may be the worst offense that I have seen in my lifetime as a football fan. Adam Gase is on the same level as Hue Jackson when it comes to coaching, if not lower, and every possibly decent weapon for Sam Darnold is hurt. Even with the Broncos’ extremely banged up secondary, the Jets will have trouble putting up double digit points. I am sure that Bradley Chubb and that great front 7 will be able to cause sacks and force Darnold into uncomfortable throws. This is one of the safest plays of the week and comes with a high ceiling.

Buffalo Bills

@ Las Vegas

The Vegas Raiders are an improved offense. Derek Carr has been gifted tons of receiving weapons, Josh Jacobs looks fantastic, and Darren Waller is making his case for the best TE in the league. However, both stud rookie WRs of Edwards and Ruggs are questionable for the game. This Bills’ defense is still a monster to go up against. They have been getting sacks and causing pressure all year. It just seems that the turnovers have not followed. I think that the Bills are a much better DST than where they rank, and Vegas is a decent matchup.

Chicago Bears

Vs Indianapolis Colts

Philip Rivers has been extremely prone to interceptions his past couple years in the league. This has made him a favorable matchup for your DST almost any week. However, I think that the Bears in Chicago will be the surprise DST play of the week. Fantasy owners are forgetting how talented the Bears’ defense really is. They also seem to forget that Soldier Field is horrible, and the terrible field conditions often leave WRs and RBs unable to cut and make big plays, especially when they are not used to playing the Bears. I think that all of this will lead to tons of points for that stout Bears’ defense, and a horrible day for the Colts’ offense.

San Francisco 49ers

Vs Philadelphia Eagles

Yes, the 49ers are dealing with tons of injuries to the secondary and to the defensive line. However, for every player injured on the 49ers’ defense there are probably two injured for the Eagles’ offense. Right now Carson Wentz’s receiving weapons start with and end with Zach Ertz and Miles Sanders. Neither of which are even wide receivers. Wentz, on top of having no threats down the field, has looked shambolic in the pocket. He has been holding the ball too long, he looks unable to step into passes, and he simply has not been crisp when he does have open players. The 49ers’ defense is good enough to play as long as they are playing an atrocious offense like the Eagles.

Arizona Cardinals

@ Carolina Panthers

Teddy Bridgewater has impressed so far this season, and Mike Davis did a better than expected job at replacing CMC. However, that still does not make the Panthers a good offense. The Cardinals’ defense is underrated and played very well last week, despite the score. I do not foresee Kyler Murray turning the ball over 3 times again, setting up the opposing offense with great field position. Therefore I believe that the Cardinals will be a pretty decent play. Mike Davis should not get much going, and Teddy is not a very threatening QB.

Los Angeles Chargers

@ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Chargers were embarrassed last week losing to the Panthers. However, this was at no fault of the defense and really came down to the Panthers causing fumbles and getting foravable turnovers. This is still an elite LAC defense, and Tom Brady is going to struggle. If you think that Brady played bad against the Saints, I cannot imagine how this game goes against a top secondary and defensive line. I do not think that Ronald Jones is a good enough RB to take pressure off Brady, and with Fournette out, he will be the go-to option. Not to mention that Chris Godwin is trending to be out multiple weeks and Scottie Miller is questionable. This leaves only Mike Evans for Brady to target. With only one real threat for the defense to focus on, Brady will have no chance.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Vs Los Angeles Chargers

The other side of this game should be pretty lucrative as well. While I think that there is a decent drop off between where the Chargers’ and the Bucs’ DST finish, the Bucs’ DST is still a good play. Their defense has been playing superb, headlined by rookie safety Antoine Winfield Jr. I think that they will force Justin Herbert to make mistakes, and I really cannot see them getting burned for a ton of points. A safe place to round off the top 9 plays of the week.