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
Streamer #1: Ryan Tannehill vs. Jaguars, 32.6% owned
I mentioned Tannehill in my look ahead article last week as a potential Week 2 streaming option because of his strong matchup versus the Jaguars. For a bit of “inside baseball,” this article goes to the editors before the Monday night game, so I don’t know how Tannehill did in Week 1. However, I believe that Tannehill will be a great option in Week 2.
Stunningly, the Jaguars defeated the Colts in Week 1, 27-20. Even though the Jaguars won the game, Colts’ quarterback Philip Rivers threw for 363 yards and completed 78.3% of his passes. Rivers didn’t perform that well for fantasy because he only threw one touchdown and two interceptions, but I don’t suddenly believe that the Jaguars are a good or average defense.
Therefore, I stand by my statement in my previous article that Tannehill will be a QB1 this week. I might have him as more of a low-end QB1 option, but I think he’ll be the only QB1 available in most leagues. Tannehill’s schedule does become tough after this game, with contests at the Vikings, Steelers, and Bills. He’s probably a one-week play, but that’s how you play the streaming game.
Streamer #2: Joe Burrow at Browns, 47.8% owned
Recommending Burrow is more based on the Browns’ horrific defensive performance than Burrow’s Week 1 play. The Ravens eviscerated the Browns 38-6, and Lamar Jackson had a solid day. He completed 20 of 25 attempts for 275 yards and three touchdowns. Jackson also added seven carries for 45 yards.
I hope Burrow can follow Jackson’s template for success against the Browns’ defense. Even though Burrow’s Bengals lost in Week 1 against the Chargers, he looked poised and played like a veteran in the loss. Burrow only threw for 193 yards, and he threw an interception with no touchdowns.
However, Burrow demonstrated his rushing ability that he showed at LSU, taking eight carries for 46 yards and a touchdown. His rushing stats provide a fantasy floor, and Jackson demonstrated in Week 1 that the Browns are vulnerable to quarterback runs. I wouldn’t consider Burrow if Tannehill is available, but I rank Burrow as a high-end QB2 on the week.
Super Deep Option: Mitchell Trubisky vs. Giants, 2.7% owned
Tight End
Streamer #1: Dallas Goedert vs. Rams, 27.3% owned
At this point, I think it’s crystal clear that Goedert is a central part of the Eagles’ offense. He caught eight receptions on nine targets for 101 yards and a touchdown in Week 1 against Washington. Goedert led the team in receptions, yards, and targets, and he far outperformed teammate Zach Ertz.
Goedert is not a streamer because he’s playing the Rams or even a streamer at all. He’s a waiver-wire addition that makes this column because of his long-term upside. The Eagles have no proven and reliable receiving weapons outside of Ertz and Goedert, and I will need to rank Goedert as a TE1 until I see a reason not to. Goedert is, of course, my top streamer of the week, and he should be a popular waiver-wire pickup.
Streamer #2: Chris Herndon vs. 49ers, 41.0% owned
Herndon played well in Week 1 in the Jets’ loss to the Bills. The Jets’ offense looked pretty terrible throughout the contest, but Herndon found his role. He caught six of his seven targets for 37 yards, providing a nice PPR floor at the tight end position.
The Jets have absolutely nothing in terms of receiving weapons outside of Herndon and slot receiver Jamison Crowder. Le’Veon Bell suffered an injury in Week 1, which could open up even more targets for Herndon in Week 2. I don’t think the matchup against the 49ers is anything special, although I’m sure the Jets will play most of the game from behind. Herndon is a high-end TE2 for Week 2.
Super Deep Option: Jonnu Smith vs. Jaguars, 22.1% owned
D/ST
Streamer #1: Titans vs. Jaguars, 22.2% owned
Like Tannehill, I mentioned the Titans in my look ahead article as a D/ST streamer for Week 2, picking on the Jaguars. Unfortunately, the Jaguars looked far better than anyone expected in Week 1 against the Colts. Gardner Minshew completed 19 of his 20 passes for 173 yards and three touchdowns, avoiding any mistakes throughout the game.
However, the Titans’ defense is far superior to the Colts’. They recently added star pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney, making a strong defense even more potent. I stand by the Titans as a top-five D/ST this week. If the Jaguars perform well in this Week 2 contest, I will rethink targeting their offense for D/ST streaming. But for now, I won’t make any massive changes to my preseason opinions based on only one game.
Streamer #2: Chiefs at Chargers, 20.2% owned
The remaining streaming D/ST options are relatively ugly, with no solid matchups. However, the Chiefs are the best of a bad bunch, as they play the Chargers’ poor offense. The Chargers only managed 362 total yards against the Bengals’ porous defense, so I expect the Chiefs to perform far better against them.
Chargers’ quarterback Tyrod Taylor looked pretty awful in Week 1, even though the Chargers defeated the Bengals. He only completed 16 of his 30 attempts for 208 yards and no touchdowns. I think the Chiefs’ superior pass rush should pressure Taylor, forcing him into sacks and potentially interceptions.
I’m not even sure the Chiefs are a top-10 D/ST, but they’re the best I can find. Hopefully, there’s a better higher-owned option available because I’d rather not play the Chiefs in Week 2. However, if you have to use the Chiefs, they probably won’t kill your lineup.
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
