DFS NFL D/ST COACH: WEEK 1

Picking a defense in DFS is all about picking a defense that will be facing a lot of passing plays. Defenses primarily score fantasy points on interceptions, sacks and fumbles. Interceptions and sacks can only happen on passing plays, and fumbles actually occur more on passing plays than they do on running plays. Defensive touchdowns are a big part of defensive scoring, but they are rare and difficult to predict. As a result, it's best to focus on where picks, sacks and fumbles are most likely.

The best way to identify defenses that will be facing a lot of passing plays is to utilize the Vegas lines. You want defenses that are favorites, preferably home favorites, and you want defenses facing teams with a low implied point total. Being the favorite portends a positive game script with more passing plays from the opposition, and a low implied point total for the opposition limits the downside for your defense.

Premium Options

The Seahawks and the Chiefs are the two most expensive defenses on both DraftKings and FanDuel and for good reason. They're the two biggest favorites of the weekend, they're both playing at home, and they're facing the two teams with the lowest implied point totals of the week. Both teams were top six fantasy defenses last season and have been consistently above average defenses in recent years. Absent a need to save money on your defense, these are the best cash game options of the weekend. Both teams figure to be popular plays, so it may be best to look elsewhere in GPPs.

The Seahawks are the bigger favorite and facing the team with the lowest implied total (Miami), so there's no reason to spend the extra $100 bucks on the Chiefs on FD. But on DK the Chiefs are $300 cheaper and the preferable option unless you have an extra $300 being unused.

Value Options

If you can't fit the most expensive options into your cash game lineups, consider the Eagles or the Texans.

The Eagles are the third biggest favorite of the weekend, they're playing at home, and they're facing the team with the third lowest implied team total (Cleveland). The Eagles were a below average fantasy defense last year, so they're not nearly as safe a pick as the Seahawks and Chiefs. But the Eagles do come with some savings on DK compared to the top options, so they could be an option in cash games on DK. However, they'll also be a popular play, so look elsewhere in GPPs.

The Texans were a top five fantasy defense last year, finishing just ahead of the Seahawks despite an incredibly slow start for J.J. Watt's unit. Houston is a four-point favorite at home against a Chicago team with the fifth lowest implied total of the weekend. Houston will only cost you $100 less than the Seahawks on FD, so they're not a cash option there, but they're $100 cheaper than the Eagles on DK, so they are a cash option there if you don't trust Philly. Houston will also work in GPPs because they don't figure to be one of the more popular defenses this week. The most heavily owned DSTs are likely to be Seattle, Kansas City, Philadelphia and Los Angeles with Green Bay and Tennessee maybe also seeing some popularity.

One other GPP option in this range could be the Cardinals, who finished as the fourth best fantasy defense last year, against a Brady and Gronk-less New England team. However, the news that Gronk is out could drive their ownership percentage up from what it might have initially been.

Bargain Options

If you're looking to go as cheap as you can in cash games, the aforementioned Packers are an option. Though playing on the road, they are a 4.5-point favorite facing a team with a below average implied total of 21.25. The Pack defense was a slightly above average fantasy defense last season.

In GPPs it's a good idea to look for a cheap defense given the volatility of the position week-to-week thanks to the unpredictable nature of defensive touchdowns. Three cheap defenses are home favorites this week against teams with an implied team total of 23 or less: Baltimore (vs. Buffalo), Indianapolis (vs. Detroit), and Atlanta (vs. Tampa Bay). With the Indy-Detroit game having the second highest Vegas total of the weekend, you might shy away from Indy's defense. But Baltimore is the cheapest of the three on DK and Atlanta is the cheapest of the three on FD, so they're good options on those sites. Atlanta on FD is an interesting option for a K-DST stack. There is a positive correlation between kicker and defense scoring, so the Atlanta D and Matt Bryant could make for a GPP stack on FD.

Below you'll find our defense projections for Week 1.