Methodology
In this streaming article, I will provide you the best weekly options to stream quarterback, tight end, and D/ST. In each section, I’ll break down two streamers in detail, both of which will be under 50% owned, according to ESPN’s ownership percentage at the time of writing. Playing the matchups is a crucial feature of redraft fantasy football, and especially in a crazy 2020 season, active fantasy owners will have a massive advantage.
I also want to provide added value for each type of streamer this season. I’ll highlight any players from 50-60% owned in each section if they’re superior options to both of my streaming candidates at that specific position. Those players are “probably owned,” but they could be out there in 10-team or shallower formats. I won’t offer analysis on these players, just the names and matchups.
If neither of my two suggested streamers is under 25% ownership percentage, I will give a “super-deep” option. That feature should help those owners playing in deeper leagues with few waiver-wire options. Like the “probably owned” players, I’ll list the players without analysis. I realize that all leagues are different, and I want to accommodate all of my readers.
Quarterback
Probably Owned: Matthew Stafford vs. Packers, 55.9% owned
Streamer #1: Mitchell Trubisky vs. Texans, 13.4% owned
Unfortunately, the streaming options are less than ideal in the first week of fantasy playoffs. Therefore, I recommend picking up Matthew Stafford if he’s available, even in a poor matchup, over either of my streaming candidates. However, if you need a streamer, Trubisky is the best option.
In Week 13, Trubisky completed 26/34 of his passes for 267 yards in a 34-30 loss to the Lions. He didn’t have a great fantasy day, as he only threw one touchdown. David Montgomery and Cordarrelle Patterson combined for three rushing touchdowns, taking away Trubisky’s potential ceiling. But, Trubisky played well, keeping the Bears in the game.
Once again, Trubisky faces a weak defense in Week 14, as the Texans always bleed points to the quarterback position. Philip Rivers managed to throw 281 yards and two touchdowns against them in Week 13, and he’s not the only quarterback to excel against the Texans. The Texans will also put up points on the Bears, forcing Trubisky to play from behind. Trubisky represents a mid-QB2 play in Week 14.
Streamer #2: Philip Rivers at Raiders, 15.6% owned
Unlike Trubisky, Rivers is the ultimate floor play. He has scored between 16 and 22 fantasy points in four-point touchdown scoring in each of his previous four games. But Rivers hasn’t scored more than 24.74 points all season, and I doubt he’ll start to do so this week. Rivers has a toe injury, limiting his mobility and forcing the Colts to turn to Jacoby Brissett in quarterback sneak situations.
However, the Raiders are a prime matchup in Week 14. Even the Jets managed 28 points against the Raiders’ defense, although they did most of their damage on the ground. Oddly, the Falcons demolished the Raiders 43-6, using a similar game plan. But, the Chargers, Chiefs, and Buccaneers all managed to torch the Raiders through the air, going for well over 300 passing yards in each game.
Therefore, Rivers also comes in as a mid-QB2 for Week 14. He doesn’t provide much upside, especially with Brissett coming in for a few plays each game. If you have a strong team without a quarterback, though, you can start Rivers in your fantasy playoffs.
Tight End
Probably Owned: Jared Cook at Eagles, 53.3% owned
Streamer #1: Dalton Schultz at Bengals, 30.4% owned
The tight end streaming situation is similar to the quarterback. There aren’t any good streaming options available for Week 14, so if you can pick up Jared Cook, I would prefer to do that. Cook isn’t a guarantee by any means, but neither of my recommended streamers is any sort of lock. However, if you can’t grab Cook, Schultz is my best available streaming tight end.
We haven’t seen Schultz play in Week 13 against the Ravens yet, but he’s been involved in the offense all season since the Cowboys lost Blake Jarwin in Week 1. In the 10 games he’s started, Schultz has 43 receptions on 62 targets for 421 yards and three touchdowns. Most notably, the Cowboys have targeted Schultz heavily no matter who they started at quarterback. Schultz has nine receptions for 49 yards and a touchdown over the previous two weeks with Andy Dalton, so he at least has chemistry with the current starter.
Luckily, the Bengals are an excellent matchup for tight ends, at least recently. In Week 13, the Dolphins struggled to throw the ball, but Mike Gesicki succeeded with nine receptions on 11 targets for 88 yards and a touchdown. I’m not saying that Schultz will duplicate that success, although he has a shot. Schultz comes in as a high-end TE2 in Week 14.
Streamer #2: Cole Kmet vs. Texans, 0.5% owned
After Schultz, there isn’t anybody appealing to stream at tight end. However, it might be time to take Kmet’s increased volume and playing time seriously. Kmet had seen 70 and 79% of snaps in his previous two games, but he didn’t manage much production along with his snaps. But, in Week 13, Kmet broke out, catching five of seven targets for 37 yards and a touchdown. In contrast, Jimmy Graham had no receptions and only one target.
At this point, it’s clear that Kmet has overtaken Graham as the Bears’ TE1. I mentioned above that I liked Mitchell Trubisky as a streamer because of his strong matchup against the Texans. Well, the same logic applies to Kmet, as he’s an essential target for Trubisky. I know it’s tough to truly trust a rookie tight end with your fantasy season on the line, but I have Kmet ranked as a mid-range TE2 in Week 14. If that ranking means that you have to play him, then put him in your playoff lineup.
D/ST
Streamer #1: 49ers vs. Washington, 41.2% owned
Unfortunately, we haven’t seen either the 49ers or Washington play in Week 13, as they both play on Monday night. But, we know that the 49ers are a strong real-life defense, as they demonstrated in 2019 on their Super Bowl run. The 49ers also played very well coming off their bye, against the Rams, with two interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and two sacks.
I don’t think Washington is a great offense, even though they torched the Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day. The Cowboys are not a good defense, and Washington didn’t perform as well on offense in their previous games versus the Giants, Lions, and Bengals. Alex Smith isn’t a mobile quarterback, allowing the 49ers to rack up some sacks, providing a nice floor. They’re probably around my sixth or seventh rated D/ST in Week 14.
Streamer #2: Cowboys at Bengals, 9.9% owned
I just finished discussing how the Cowboys are not a good defense. In fact, I expect that we’ll see the Cowboys get torched in Week 13 on Tuesday night versus the Ravens. But, as bad as the Cowboys’ defense is, the Bengals’ offense is far, far worse.
In Week 13, the Bengals lost backup quarterback Brandon Allen to an injury, forcing them to turn to Ryan Finley as their quarterback. They managed nothing on the ground with either Giovani Bernard or Samaje Perine, and I also don’t expect Joe Mixon to return for this game. The Bengals have a couple of decent weapons in Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins, although A.J. Green recorded a second straight goose egg in Week 13.
Therefore, the Bengals’ offense is horrible enough to make the Cowboys’ defense viable in your fantasy playoffs. I have zero confidence that Ryan Finley or Brandon Allen can move the ball against any NFL defense. Fire up the Cowboys as a back-end top-10 D/ST in Week 14.
Thanks for reading this article. You can find me on Twitter at @DFF_Karp. I love to interact with anyone in the community, so reach out at any time! I take fantasy questions and help with all formats, so keep sending those questions my way.
Previous Streaming Articles: Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12, Week 13
