Raiders D/ST: Start or Sit?

D/ST•vs MIA•Fantasy Football verdict

Week 1 vs MIA (home)

This week’s verdict

Toss-Up· medium

Miami's 19.3 implied total and 2.9 sacks allowed per game make this a live stream, but DST18 and 4.8 projected points sit outside the 12-team starter tier.

Projected
Same in standard, half-PPR and PPR
Projection rank
Proj. DST18
of 32
Started
1%
of leagues · 27 of 32 by lineup share
Opp. sacks / TO
2.9 / 1.4
allowed per game · 2025
Opp. implied total
19.3
17.2 projected allowed
Home / away
Home
vs MIA
  • MIA's offense gives up 2.9 sacks and 1.4 turnovers a game (2025), near league average.
  • Vegas has MIA at 19.3 points as 3-point dogs.
  • Under-started: only 1% of leagues have them in, 27th among defenses, against a No. 18 matchup.

The call

  • The matchup is the case for playing them: Miami's implied total is just 19.3, Las Vegas is a 3-point home favorite, and the model projects only 17.2 points allowed — the low-scoring script DSTs need.
  • Pressure and takeaway volume are there in theory, with the Dolphins allowing 2.9 sacks and coughing up 1.4 turnovers per game, but the projection only converts that to 2.4 sacks and 0.6 interceptions.
  • At 4.8 projected points and DST18 among 32, this is a below-starter baseline in a 12-team league — the 1% lineup share (27th of 32) reflects a unit nobody is rostering.
  • Tipping point: if your DST slot is otherwise a waiver scrap or a defense facing a high-total offense, the 19.3 opponent total wins out; if you hold a top-12 projected unit, leave the Raiders on the bench.

Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Verdict history

WeekVerdictReason
2026 Week 1Toss-Up· mediumMiami's 19.3 implied total and 2.9 sacks allowed per game make this a live stream, but DST18 and 4.8 projected points sit outside the 12-team starter tier.
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