The week we’ve all been waiting for is finally here as we head into Week 1 of the NFL season.
I know most of us have drafted our teams but for our home leagues that still use defenses – well this is the place to be for your weekly defensive streamers.
And the first week of the season, some streamers are obvious or already targeted defenses, but these are the groups I believe who could have big weeks and could help you to victory to start the season.
Let’s get to this week’s defensive streamers!
Week 1 Defensive Streamers
Minnesota (70 percent owned on Sleeper)
Now the Minnesota Vikings’ DST is a strong bet they are on someone’s roster in your league, based its 70 percent rostered number on Sleeper.
But this may be a game where the Vikings absolutely smash with Green Bay dealing with Josh Jacobs on the Commissioner’s Exempt List. Marshawn Lloyd has had a good preseason for the Packers but replacing a veteran in a tough game environment may make Green Bay become one-dimensional offensive unit.
That brings in Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ attacking style of defense.
Flores’ defense blitzed in the upper 40 percent range on all passing downs last season, and Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love may have a long day. Tight end Tucker Kraft (safety valve) is coming off an ACL injury and may be limited, while Love with be working with new players in the backfield for his protection.
This game screams a multi-sack day with a turnover or two for the Vikings. Pick them up if you can!
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Buffalo (11 percent owned on Sleeper)
The Buffalo DST should be rostered in most leagues with DSTs, especially with 4 combined games against the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins, but somehow they are lowly rostered.
This week they travel to Houston to play the Texans, a team that has struggled to beat the dominant AFC teams in recent seasons.
Plus, a couple of stats point to a good start for the Bills defense and special teams.
Buffalo recorded 21 of its 36 sacks on the road last season in 2025, and Houston QB C.J. Stroud struggled in the AFC postseason, throwing 5 interceptions.
The Texans lost their No. 2 WR, Jayden Higgins, to a torn ACL in the preseason, and Stroud’s other experienced WR, Tank Dell, is starting the season on injured reserve, still recovering from a nasty knee injury in the 2024 season.
Reliable targets in the Houston offense has been limited down to WR Nico Collins and TE Dalton Schultz, and the Bills were one of the best defenses against TEs last season.
A strong start is in play for the Bills DST.
Atlanta (2 percent owned on Sleeper)
The Atlanta Falcons DST does the one thing I love best for fantasy scoring – they record sacks.
From Week 9-18 last season, the Falcons recorded 41 sacks and open the 2026 season against 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers new-look offensive line.
Tackle Troy Fautanu and guard Mason McCormick are moving from the right side to the left side of the Steelers offensive line, while G Spencer Anderson and either RT Dylan Cook or rookie Max Iheanachor will be new starters on the right side.
Now the Falcons have seen plenty of turnover in its front seven in the offseason. Linebacker James Pearce Jr. led Atlanta with 10.5 sacks last season and is suspended for the first 8 games of this season for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.
New defensive coordinator’s Jeff Ulbrich will use wide-nine 4-man fronts to get his defensive ends more vertical and use cover-4 in the secondary. Rodgers will need to find the holes quickly for the Steelers to have success.
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