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: Jared Goff at Washington, 53.8% owned
Streamer #1: Kirk Cousins at Seahawks, 15.5% owned
Every single quarterback that has played the Seahawks has had a monster day, at least in terms of yards. Going into Week 4, quarterbacks averaged a whopping 440 passing yards against the Seahawks, a ludicrous stat. Ryan Fitzpatrick didn’t play as well as the previous quarterbacks, but he managed 315 yards in a 31-23 loss.
Cousins is a far superior quarterback to Fitzpatrick, and he has better offensive weapons. Adam Thielen is a reliable #1 receiver, and Justin Jefferson has emerged with two straight 100-yard receiving games. The Vikings’ defense is straight garbage, which will force Cousins to play from behind and air it out. Therefore, I have Cousins as a borderline QB1 for the week.
Streamer #2: Gardner Minshew at Texans, 45.9% owned
Outside of Week 2, Minshew has scored 20 or more fantasy points each week, even in four-point touchdown scoring. Through four weeks, quarterbacks have thrown seven touchdowns and no interceptions versus the Texans’ defense, making the Texans a prime matchup for opposing quarterbacks. The Jaguars’ defense is also terrible, and they’ve allowed 20 or more points in all four games.
Therefore, Minshew is a high-end QB2 for the week. He will provide a floor with his rushing ability, although he hasn’t run as much in 2020 as he did in 2019. But, Minshew has top receiver DJ Chark back healthy, which should improve the Jaguars’ offense. Minshew’s only dud game came in Week 3, which Chark missed. I believe Minshew will continue his otherwise solid play in Week 5.
Tight End
Streamer #1: Dalton Schultz vs. Giants, 32.6% owned
Alright, it’s time. I’m now 100% bought into Schultz as a TE1 from now on. In Week 1, the Cowboys lost Blake Jarwin to a torn ACL and Schultz slid directly into Jarwin’s role, playing 69% of the offensive snaps. He’s participated in 70, 69, and 77% of snaps since then, so he’s the every-down tight end in the Cowboys’ offense.
While high snap counts are great, they’re meaningless without targets. Luckily, Schultz has totaled 24 targets in his last three games, which he’s converted into 17 receptions, 204 yards, and two touchdowns. With three straight weeks of heavy usage, Schultz is now an every-week play.
But wait, there’s more. The Cowboys’ next four games are against the Giants, Cardinals, Washington, and the Eagles. All of those defenses are weak against the tight end, with the Giants and Cardinals notoriously vulnerable. Schultz is a must-add this week, even if you have a strong tight end already. He’s going to be around TE6-8 in my weekly rankings, and he’s a multi-week play. Do not leave him on waiver wires.
Streamer #2: Eric Ebron vs. Eagles, 28.1% owned
If Schultz isn’t available, Ebron is a decent second option. He and the Steelers missed Week 4 because of the Titans’ COVID situation, but he played well through the first three games. Ebron’s role grew as he acclimated to the Steelers’ offense, peaking in Week 3. He caught five of seven targets for 52 yards and a touchdown in that game. Ebron has also settled in around 75% of offensive snaps, and he’s the clear pass-catching tight end ahead of Vance McDonald.
In Week 5, Ebron draws a favorable matchup versus the Eagles. In case anyone forgot, George Kittle recently torched the Eagles’ defense for 15 receptions on 15 targets for 183 yards and a touchdown. While Ebron isn’t Kittle, he should be able to exploit a favorable matchup. Ebron is no more than a middling TE2, but he’s the best available streamer if Schultz isn’t out there.
Super Deep Option: Ian Thomas at Falcons, 1.2% owned
D/ST
Streamer #1: Cardinals at Jets, 41.3% owned
At this stage, the Jets are an auto-play for opposing D/STs. D/STs have averaged three sacks/game against the Jets, constantly pressuring quarterback Sam Darnold into mistakes. However, the Jets likely won’t even have Darnold available for this contest due to an AC joint sprain. Therefore, Joe Flacco will make his first start of 2020. I certainly don’t consider Flacco to be an upgrade over Darnold, and the Jets’ offense should remain a dumpster fire.
Outside of Week 4, the Cardinals’ D/ST has been decent for fantasy owners. They’ve averaged 3.8 points/game in ESPN’s standard scoring, 17th among D/STs. But, it doesn’t matter how the Cardinals rank. I think any D/ST would be a top-10 play against the Jets. Since the Cardinals are an okay D/ST, they’ll likely rank around #5 for the week.
Streamer #2: Cowboys vs. Giants, 19.7% owned
I feel like this pick is truly testing the idea of playing matchups over playing strong real-life defenses. The Cowboys are currently the worst D/ST in fantasy football, averaging a miserable -3.5 fantasy points/game. With that said, they’ve played the Rams, Falcons, Seahawks, and Browns so far, four powerful offenses.
The Giants are anything but a potent offense. They’ve allowed 14 sacks to opposing D/STs, and they’ve only scored 11.75 points/game against their opponents. Each D/ST that has faced the Giants has scored in double-digits, making the Giants an even better matchup for D/STs than the Jets.
Even though the Cowboys’ defense is awful, the Giants won’t have Saquon Barkley or Sterling Shepard for this game. Their offense has struggled to run the ball with their replacement running backs, and Daniel Jones has regressed in Year 2. I’ll close my eyes, hope for some turnovers, and rank the Cowboys as a top-10 fantasy D/ST unit in Week 5.
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.
