You’re not playing fantasy football right if you’re not streaming in any of your leagues. In case you’re unfamiliar with the term, streaming is the act of rotating starters at a position and playing someone off the waiver wire based on a favorable matchup. There’s a good chance you should be streaming at least one of your positions each week unless you drafted the perfect team this summer — there’s a chance you did since you subscribed to this site!
I’m almost always streaming defenses in all my leagues during the season so I highly encourage you to check out Justin Varnes’ weekly streaming defenses piece. I’m also not afraid to stream at the typical one-starter skill positions like quarterback and tight end. Every week in this space, I’ll take a look at some lesser-owned players you might want to start based on a matchup, increased opportunities, and/or other factors that might boost their value in a given week. I’ll also highlight some typical weekly starters that you might want to shy away from because of a tougher matchup, an injury, and/or playing time issues.
Important note…
These are not strict Start/Sit recommendations. This article is meant to give you players who are widely available and are looking better than usual this week. Conversely, I’ll also give you players who are widely owned and are looking a little worse than usual this week. Also, ownership percentages are from Yahoo leagues.
Quarterback Streamers
Players to consider benching this week
On bye: Patrick Mahomes, Matt Ryan
In danger of missing: Matthew Stafford (vs. Was, concussion), Ben Roethlisberger (vs. Cin, COVID-19 list)
In tough matchups: Joe Burrow (@Pit, 17.5 FPG allowed), Cam Newton (vs. Bal, 20.2 FPG allowed), Ryan Tannehill (vs. Ind, 15.0 FPG allowed)
Top options if they’re available…
Jared Goff (vs. Sea, 63%) — Goff averaged 31.8 attempts per game in his first seven games before the Dolphins forced him to throw 61 times in a loss before their Week 9 bye. The Rams have been dedicated to the run all season, but they’ll be forced to throw more this week against a Seahawks defense that just saw the Bills totally abandon their running game to exploit their pass defense. The Seahawks are allowing by far the most passing yards per game (366.4) to opposing passers so this is a get-well spot for Goff, who has topped 7.0 YPA just once in his last five games.
Players to consider streaming the next couple of weeks
Derek Carr (vs. Den, vs. KC, @Atl, @NYJ — 42%) — Carr underwhelmed a bit last week with the Raiders rushing attack dominating against the Chargers. He completed just 13 passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns in Week 9 after he threw for just 111/1 passing in ugly conditions against the Browns in Week 8. He’s had two down fantasy games the last two weeks, but he’s still a player I’m looking at playing in some friendly matchups over the next month. The Broncos have been more of a pass-funnel defense this season, and Denver allowed Matt Ryan and Justin Herbert to throw for 275+ yards and three TDs in consecutive games. Carr has been a much more willing downfield thrower with Nelson Agholor and Henry Ruggs on the field as he’s third in the league with 381/4 passing on 20+ yard passes since Week 5. The Raiders have an implied team total sitting north of four touchdowns this week so this could be a big week for Carr and the Raiders offense this week.
Tua Tagovailoa (vs. LAC, @Den, @NYJ, vs Cin — 25%) — The Dolphins did a great job of hiding Tua in his first career start in Week 8, but this spring’s fifth overall pick made plenty of plays to beat the Cardinals in a wild game in Week 9. His aDOT went from a meager 4.7 yards in Week 8 to 9.4 yards last week, and he also showed some potential as a runner with 35 rushing yards on seven carries. Tua could play in another shootout this week against another up-and-coming young QB in rookie Justin Herbert. Chargers’ games are averaging a combined 62.4 points scored in their last five contests, and they’re giving up the fourth-most FPG to QBs (22.1) this season. The Dolphins don’t have a running game to speak of with Myles Gaskin (knee) and Matt Breida (hamstring) currently out so Tua could have to carry this offense this week, especially if the Dolphins don’t score a defensive touchdown as they have in his first two starts.
Baker Mayfield (vs. Hou, vs. Phi, @Jax, @Ten — 33%) — Mayfield is currently on the COVID-19 list as a high-risk contact, but he could rejoin the team as early as Wednesday if he returns negative results. If he’s able to return this week, he has an immaculate slate of games to make some noise coming out of his bye, including this week against the Texans. I am concerned the Browns could control this week’s contest on the ground with a once-again healthy Nick Chubb. The Texans are giving up a league-high 144.9 rushing yards per game to RBs, but at least the Browns have an implied team total sitting at four touchdowns this week. The Texans have also been an equal opportunity defense in recent weeks when it comes to allowing fantasy production. Sixth-round pick Jake Luton threw for 300+ yards and he posted 22.5 FPG in his first career start last week against the Texans, and Houston has now allowed 20+ FP to QBs in four straight games.
Players to consider streaming this week
Drew Lock (@LV, 20%) — I gave out Lock last week and he finished as the QB4 with some major production in catch-up mode against the Falcons. Lock had his first two 20+ FP performances in catch-up mode the last two weeks and he could be in a similar situation this week against the Raiders as 4.5-point road underdogs. The Raiders have allowed 285+ passing yards and multiple passing TDs to quarterbacks in four of the last five weeks. Lock lost backup TE and his Missouri teammate Albert Okwuegbunam (ACL, IR) last week, but he did get Tim Patrick back at receiver to give him his full complement of receivers. Lock now has two career 300-yard passing games and they’ve come in his only two indoor games in Houston last year and in Atlanta last week. It wouldn’t be shocking if he goes 3-for-3 with 300-yard passing games in another indoor setting this week.
Tight End Streamers
Players to consider benching this week
On bye: Travis Kelce, Hayden Hurst, Dalton Schultz
In danger of missing: Noah Fant (@LV, ankle)
In tough matchups: Jonnu Smith (vs. Ind, 6.7 FPG allowed), Mark Andrews (@NE, 7.7 FPG allowed)
Top options if they’re available…
Eric Ebron (vs. Cin, 65%) — Ebron is still available in 35% of fantasy leagues, but he’s been one of the steadiest options at the position since Week 3 with 10.7 FPG to rank as the TE7. He’s scored 11+ FP in three straight games and he’s averaging 5.9 targets per game since seeing just two targets in his first game with the Steelers. The Steelers will also be without Vance McDonald (COVID-19 list) this week, which could be a small boost for Ebron going against a Bengals defense that’s allowing second-most FPG to TEs (17.7).
Dallas Goedert (@NYG, 55%) — Goedert had just a 15-yard catch in his first game back from an ankle injury in Week 8, but he did run a route on 76% of Wentz’ dropbacks. I’m expecting better results from the third-year TE going forward after he had the chance to shake off the rust before their bye week. Goedert missed this matchup with the Giants back in Week 7, but his replacement, Richard Rodgers, managed 6/85 receiving on eight targets against New York.
Jimmy Graham (vs. Min, 49%) — Graham is a TD-or-bust option most weeks since he’s topped 35+ receiving yards in just two of his nine games. He scored his fifth TD of the season last week as he caught all six of his targets for 55 yards, and he’s averaging 6.7 targets per game since Nick Foles entered the lineup mid-game in Week 3. The Vikings have allowed touchdowns to TEs in two out of their last three games, and they’ve allowed 12+ FP to TEs in three straight games.
A player to consider streaming the next couple of weeks
Austin Hooper (vs. Hou, vs. Phi, @Jax, @Ten — 42%) — Hooper is expected to return to the lineup this week after needing an appendectomy before Week 7, and he has a beautiful schedule to return to over the next month. Hooper had run 10+ FP in three straight games before his surgery as he posted exactly five catches in each of those contests after a slow start to the season. Hooper is going to be needed down the stretch with Odell Beckham (ACL, IR) done for the season, but he does have additional competition for targets with Harrison Bryant and David Njoku taking on bigger roles during his absence. Hooper will face the Texans this week, who are allowing the eighth-most FPG to QBs (15.0). Tyler Eifert had his second-best game of the season against the Texans last week with 4/48 receiving.
Players to consider streaming this week
Trey Burton (@Ten, 22%) — Burton has seen 4+ targets in each of his five games this season, but he’s coming off a disappointing one-catch performance against the Ravens last week. Burton still ran the most routes (23) at the position for the Colts last week, and he could see more work this week with the Colts’ TE depth chart potentially thinned out a bit. Jack Doyle won’t play after suffering a concussion last week while Mo Alie-Cox has been dealing with a knee injury, which could limit him this week with the Colts playing on Thursday Night Football. Philip Rivers is dying for playmakers right now with T.Y. Hilton (groin) also out so Burton could have his number called a little more often this week. The Titans have allowed three straight TEs to reach six catches and 50+ yards with TDs and two of those players, Jimmy Graham and Darren Fells, scored touchdowns.
Jordan Reed (@NO, 22%) — Reed flopped in his first game with George Kittle (foot, IR) out of the lineup last week, registering just a three-yard catch, but the veteran TE had a couple of factors working against him. Reed had missed the previous five games with a knee injury so they eased him back into the lineup in a short week for a Thursday night contest. HC Kyle Shanahan also limited him to 23% of the snaps because the 49ers were getting blown out for the entire second half of the game, which enabled Ross Dwelley to catch all three of his second-half targets for 52 yards. The 49ers project to skew a little more pass-heavy this week against New Orleans’ pass-funnel defense as nine-point road underdogs. The Saints have been tightening up against opposing TEs, but they’re still allowing 16.9 FPG to the position (3rd-most) and Rob Gronkowski dropped a touchdown last week. The biggest concern for Reed is that they’re non-competitive once again this week, but he should be ready for more this week.
