Through four weeks, the Detroit Lions' defense is a top-10 fantasy defense (No. 10 in ESPN leagues; No. 9 in Yahoo! leagues). After registering just one sack over their first two games, the correction has come and they proverbial dam has broken with 12 sacks over their last two. They also have three takeaways over their last two games.
Leaving out a dismal showing in Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks, the Lions have allowed 20 or less points in their other three games this season. So the league's worst defense by yardage allowed has been quite good thus far, as could have been expected based on the additions made during the offseason and expected growth from those who were around last season.
It's hard to get our minds around the idea the Lions might actually have a really good defense. And a Week 5 matchup is looking pretty nice.
Detroit Lions' D/ST is a must-add off the Week 5 fantasy football waiver wire
In Week 5, the Lions face the Carolina Panthers at home. Ford Field is sure to be raucous, making it hard for a lackluster offense and rookie quarterback Bryce Young.
In Young's three starts this season (he missed Week 3), Carolina has scored 10, 17 and seven offensive points. Young has averaged less than 168 yards through the air, and he has taken a total of 11 sacks (3.6 per game).
Oh, but the Panthers could run the ball and take pressure off their young quarterback, right? Not so fast. The Lions have the league's No. 1 run defense through four weeks (60.8 yards per game), and that has translated to fantasy points allowed to running backs (sixth-fewest; Yahoo! scoring-0.5-point PPR).
The Lions' defense, as expected, is widely available in fantasy leagues as Week 5 waivers get rolling (15 percent rostered in Yahoo! leagues; 4.9 percent rostered in ESPN leagues). They are a top D/ST streamer for this week, and there's some possible multi-week utility with decent matchups coming in Week 6 (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Week 8 (Las Vegas Raiders).