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.
Of course, these are high-stakes times. It’s the semifinals of the fantasy playoffs, and every matchup is crucial. I’ll do my best to provide excellent streamers for this exciting week!
Quarterback
Streamer #1: Jalen Hurts at Cardinals, 8.2% owned
Remember my looking ahead to Week 15 article? If you scroll to the bottom, I begged you to pick up Jalen Hurts in advance of Week 15. I didn’t think he would be a fantasy star against the Saints, and I even made a charity bet that he wouldn’t be a top-12 quarterback.
Well, I was wrong. Hurts currently sits as the QB8 for the week with only two quarterbacks to go, meaning that he will definitely be a QB1 in Week 14. Hurts completed 17/30 passes for 167 yards and a touchdown while losing a fumble. However, he dominated on the ground, taking 18 carries for 106 yards.
Any quarterback with that type of rushing floor will be a QB1 most weeks if they can do anything through the air. Hurts displayed some chemistry with his receivers, including throwing to Miles Sanders. Considering that Hurts was in the QB1 range against the Saints, the most formidable defense in the league, he is a top-five quarterback versus the Cardinals.
I’m 100% comfortable going with Hurts in the playoff semifinals, as he provides the league-winning ceiling you need in the playoffs. Hurts also faces the Cowboys in Week 16 for championship week, so he represents a two-week play. He’s the pickup that will decide leagues, and I’m pleading with my readers to take the gamble here.
Streamer #2: Mitch Trubisky at Vikings, 19.3% owned
In that same article, I also mentioned Trubisky as a possible streamer, although I said that he’s boring and provides little ceiling. Well, Trubisky proved me wrong in Week 14, throwing for 267 yards and three touchdowns in the Bears’ 36-7 win over the Texans. I have always thought that Trubisky is a poor, inaccurate quarterback who can only succeed as a scrambler.
But, I can’t lie to my readers. Trubisky actually looked good in this game. He did force-feed Allen Robinson 13 times, but Robinson caught nine of those for 123 yards and a touchdown. Trubisky has also involved rookie tight end Cole Kmet, and he continues to throw to David Montgomery in the passing game. Since retaking the starting job in Week 12, Trubisky has completed 67.3% of his passes while throwing seven touchdowns to two interceptions.
Therefore, given that the Vikings are a weak defense, I have Trubisky as a low-end QB1 for Week 15. I wouldn’t necessarily look at Trubisky over proven options, but you can roll him out if you’ve been streaming quarterback all season. However, I expect Hurts to be available in most leagues, and I would far prefer Hurts over Trubisky if forced to choose. Luckily, Trubisky also has an excellent Week 16 matchup versus Jacksonville, so he’s an excellent two-week play, just like Hurts.
Tight End
Streamer #1: Logan Thomas vs. Seahawks, 42.4% owned
I feel like I mention Thomas in this column almost weekly, but he remains a good play at the tight end position. Even in a tough matchup versus the 49ers in Week 14, Thomas caught six of seven targets for 43 yards, providing a nice floor. He played 98% of the offensive snaps, similar to what he’s seen all season. Even when Dwayne Haskins replaced Alex Smith at quarterback, Thomas continued to see targets.
In Week 15, Thomas draws a cupcake matchup versus the Seahawks, a terrible defense against quarterbacks. I know the Seahawks have played better the last two weeks, but they faced backup Colt McCoy and the Jets’ non-NFL quality squad. While Washington isn’t the strongest offense, they are better than those options. If Smith returns to the lineup, I’ll rank Thomas as a low-end TE1 while he’d be a borderline TE1 with Haskins. Either way, he’s a decent streamer for your playoff semifinal.
Streamer #2: Cole Kmet at Vikings, 3.7% owned
I highly doubt that you need to stream Kmet in Week 15. If you made it this far in the playoffs, you almost certainly have a better tight end option. But, Kmet saw seven targets in Week 14, once again out-targeting and out-snapping teammate Jimmy Graham. I recommended streaming Trubisky earlier in this article, and similar logic applies to Kmet. He’s purely a desperation TE2 option, though.
D/ST
Streamer #1: Browns at Giants, 45.4% owned
The Giants looked awful in Week 14 versus the Cardinals. Daniel Jones clearly hasn’t fully recovered from his hamstring injury, and he took six sacks versus the Cardinals in a 26-7 loss. Eventually, the Giants replaced Jones with backup Colt McCoy in garbage time, as they didn’t want to risk further injury to Jones.
The Browns haven’t yet played their Week 14 game against the Ravens at the time of writing, but I think we all agree that the Browns are a better defense than the Cardinals. The Browns’ pass-rush should get to either Jones or McCoy throughout the game, providing a floor for their D/ST. Fire up the Browns as a borderline top-five D/ST option in Week 15.
Streamer #2: Titans vs. Lions, 17.6% owned
There truly aren’t any other great streamers under 50% owned, but the Titans would be my choice if I had to pick one. They played well in Week 14 versus the Jaguars, holding them to only 10 points. The Lions are a far more potent offense than the Jaguars, but Matthew Stafford hasn’t been the same quarterback recently. He’s dealt with multiple injuries, limiting his effectiveness as a passer. Stafford did leave their Week 14 game versus the Packers, forcing the Lions to turn to Chase Daniel.
If Daniel has to start in this matchup, I will upgrade the Titans to a top-five D/ST play, ahead of the Browns. However, Stafford tends to play through all injuries, even if he’s nowhere near 100%. Assuming Stafford starts, I would rate the Titans as a back-end top-10 D/ST in Week 15.
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, Week 14
