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: None.
In danger of missing: None.
In tough matchups: Kyler Murray (Ari, vs. Was, 8 sacks of Carson Wentz last week); Deshaun Watson (Hou, vs. Bal, allowed 3rd-fewest FP to QBs in Week 1); Russell Wilson (Sea, vs. NE, allowed fewest FP to QBs in Week 1)
Top options if they’re available…
Jared Goff (LAR, @Phi — 68%) — Philly played well defensively in Week 1, but it was against a horrible Washington offense that benefited from short fields. The Rams didn’t explode in Week 1 against Dallas, but we’ll see if Philly’s defense holds up against an offense that actually has weapons.
Players to consider streaming the next couple weeks
Ryan Tannehill (Ten, vs. Jax, @Min — 45%) — Tannehill’s 43 pass attempts in Week 1 were his most as a Titan, and the most for him in a game since he attempted 45 with the Dolphins against the Patriots in Week 2 of 2016. While the Titans would probably prefer to get Derrick Henry going downhill more in Week 2 — against a Jags defense that should be bad against the run, by the way — we also heard all off-season that the Titans were planning to expand the passing game. With both Corey Davis and Jonnu Smith having big Week 1 performances to go along with rising star WR AJ Brown and the steady Adam Humphries, Tannehill has perhaps an underrated group of receivers to go to, and this is by no means a scary defense. He also gets Minnesota, which just got shredded by Aaron Rodgers, in Week 2.
Jimmy Garoppolo (SF, @NYJ, @NYG — 52%) — The Jets got torched for 30.2 FP by Josh Allen last week, 3rd-most of any QB in Week 1. Unfortunately for Garoppolo, he’s dealing with a decimated receiving corps with WR Deebo Samuel (foot) on short-term IR and TE George Kittle (knee) dinged up. Garoppolo is only worth considering, even against bad defenses the next two weeks, if Kittle is able to play. Otherwise, the Niners are almost certain to run the hell out of the ball.
Philip Rivers (Ind, vs. Min, vs. NYJ — 27%) — There were some disturbingly bad decisions and throws from Rivers in his first game as a Colt, but there were also some positives. One “positive” is a legitimate one — second-year WR Parris Campbell looks like a player. One “positive” comes from an overall negative — RB Marlon Mack is out for the year with a torn Achilles, and the Colts may be required to throw the ball more than coach Frank Reich would like this year. Over the next two weeks, Rivers gets matchups with the Vikings and Jets, who gave up the 2nd-most (Aaron Rodgers) and 3rd-most (Josh Allen) FPs to QBs in Week 1.
Players to consider streaming this week
Baker Mayfield (Cle, vs. Cin — 57%) — Nobody is going to be excited about starting Mayfield after a Week 1 disaster in Baltimore, but it was in Baltimore in just a brutal matchup for the Browns to try to get back on the wagon. Things get a lot easier this week, with the Browns at home against a Bengals defense short on talent. If Mayfield and Odell Beckham can’t get it done this week, or at minimum look competent, I’ve got nothin’.
Mitchell Trubisky (Chi, vs. NYG — 4%) — I know, I know. I have absolutely no idea what kind of situation you’d have to be in to play Trubisky in a 1-QB league in Week 2, but he does get an overall favorable matchup against the Giants, and he’s at home. He’s much more appealing for those in superflex formats, obviously. Keep an eye on what’s going on with Allen Robinson, who seems to have removed all references to the Bears on his social media as he tries to angle for a new contract.
Tight End Streamers
Players to consider benching this week
On bye: None
In danger of missing: George Kittle (SF, knee)
In tough matchups: None of note this early in the season.
Top options if they’re available…
TJ Hockenson (Det, @GB — 74%) — There’s nothing particularly thrilling about Hockenson’s matchup this week against the Packers, but I can’t shake the feeling I had all off-season that Hockenson has league-winning potential. Catching all five of his targets and scoring a TD in Week 1, Hockenson has gotten off to a hot start for the second consecutive NFL season. Now, he needs to stay healthy.
Players to consider streaming the next couple weeks
Jonnu Smith (Ten, vs. Jax, @Min — 60%) — Smith got off to a solid week 1 start, catching 4 of his 7 targets for 36 yards and a TD. It should be pointed out that Titan OC Arthur Smith occasionally likes to use Smith out of the backfield, almost like a scatback/third-down back, as he did in Week 1 against the Broncos. I would expect Smith to dial up some plays to Jonnu, given Jacksonville surrendered 5 receptions to Colt TEs and 17 receptions to Colt RBs last week.
Dallas Goedert (Phi, vs. LAR, vs. Cin — 58%) — I don’t even know if it’s fair to consider Goedert a streamer. He played more snaps than any Eagle WR in Week 1, and led all TEs in targets, catches, and yards in Week 1 (9 targets, 8/101/1 receiving). Even if the Eagles get away from their dumbass gameplan from Week 1, Goedert is going to be a huge part of what they do. His explosion against the Team shows why the Eagles are balking at the sky-high asking price of fellow star TE Zach Ertz.
Players to consider streaming this week
OJ Howard (TB, vs. Car — 18%) — Howard is the Bucs’ #2 TE, clearly. He outsnapped Cameron Brate in Week 1 (52% to 10%), and outproduced Rob Gronkowski (4/36/1 on 6 targets vs. 2/11 on 3 targets). There’s no significant analysis needed here — the Panthers project to have perhaps the NFL’s worst defense and surrendered 34 points to the Raiders in Week 1.
Logan Thomas (Was, vs. Ari — 2%) — Thomas’ 8 targets were tied for second among TEs in Week 1, and were also first for the Team, one ahead of WR Terry McLaurin. A talented late-bloomer who switched positions, Thomas looks like he has the potential of a very, very, very poor man’s Darren Waller (Thomas switched from QB, Waller from WR).
