To be fair, I’m objecting/arguing with myself because I hold the Ravens (WK 15 & 16 llocked) abd the Chargers (Was WK 14.) So I would be dropping LAC for negligible uptick & taking the risk I face them in a subsequent round.
FWIW, I'm pretty sure I'm starting LAC over Cinci next week. I have this theory that DSTs are like penny stocks in that the upside is way bigger than the downside. If I buy a stock the worst case is I lose my investment, but best case is that I earn many multiples of it (Please note that I am not a certified financial adviser, past returns do not predict future performance, etc. etc.)
Same with fantasy defenses. The average fantasy D will, in standard scoring leagues, get you 5-7 points each week. Absolute worst case scenario, you get -3, but that almost never happens. On the other hand, if they steamroller them and have a few pick-sixes, you could be getting a week-winning performance.
As we've discussed, Cinci is a high-floor, low-ceiling play (and BTW, same could be said of the Chicago offense). They're not going to crap the bed, but they're also probably not going to go bananas. LAC vs. Washington might be a little "riskier", but as I was just saying, that risk isn't that big. Meanwhile, they've been absolutely on fire lately, so if I had to bet on which D was most likely to score a TD, they'd be right up there.
Now, as for LAC vs GB, my default is to take the good D in a so-so matchup over the reverse.