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
Higher-Owned Options: Jared Goff at Dolphins, 41.7% owned, Joe Burrow vs. Titans, 49.5% owned
Streamer #1: Teddy Bridgewater vs. Falcons, 30.6% owned
The Falcons are a complete sieve as a defense against quarterbacks. Every quarterback facing the Falcons has thrown over 300 yards, including Bridgewater himself in Week 5. In that game, he threw for 313 yards and two touchdowns, and he completed 27/36 passes.
I don’t see why Bridgewater wouldn’t succeed once again this week, as little has changed with either team. Potentially, Christian McCaffrey might even return for this game, although that’s still up in the air. If McCaffrey does play, Bridgewater will regain his top receiving weapon, and he would become a reliable QB1. Even if McCaffrey sits, Bridgewater is still a low-end QB1 and an excellent streaming option for the week.
Streamer #2: Jimmy Garoppolo vs. Seahawks, 21.1% owned
I didn’t realize until recently that the Seahawks are just as awful against quarterbacks as the Falcons. Opposing quarterbacks average 374 passing yards/game against the Seahawks, the worst mark in the NFL. Kyler Murray torched the Seahawks in Week 7, completing 34/48 passes for 360 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception.
However, Garoppolo isn’t a strong fantasy quarterback. He only threw 25 passes in Week 7, compared to 37 rushing attempts. No matter what, the 49ers will focus on establishing the run, even if most of their running backs aren’t healthy. It seems like any running back can succeed in Kyle Shanahan’s offense, as even Jeff Wilson Jr. had a massive game last week. The 49ers also may have lost Deebo Samuel to a hamstring injury, which will hurt their passing game.
Therefore, I have to split the difference between Garoppolo’s poor fantasy outlook and the Seahawks’ porous defense. Garoppolo will rank around QB15 for the week, but he’s the second-best streaming option. He likely won’t tank your fantasy team, even if he doesn’t carry it.
Tight End
Streamer #1: Richard Rodgers at Cowboys, 4.0% owned
Rodgers came from nowhere in Week 7, catching six of eight targets for 85 yards. Tight end Zach Ertz is on injured reserve, and Dallas Goedert also will likely miss Week 8. The Eagles also won’t have Jalen Reagor or DeSean Jackson, and Miles Sanders and Alshon Jeffery remain question marks. Therefore, the Eagles top receiving weapons will be Rodgers, Travis Fulgham, Greg Ward, John Hightower, and scatback Boston Scott.
Carson Wentz and the Eagles’ offense loves to target the tight end position, and Rodgers will see a fair share of targets. The Cowboys’ pass defense is also putrid, especially versus the tight end. Even Logan Thomas and Washington found success against Dallas in Week 7, where Thomas caught all four of his targets for 60 yards and a touchdown. I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but Rodgers is a low-end TE1 for Week 8, assuming Goedert doesn’t play.
Streamer #2: Dalton Schultz vs. Eagles, 38.6% owned
At this point, I’m starting to fade the Cowboys’ offense. Andy Dalton is nowhere near the quarterback that Dak Prescott was, and now Dalton might miss Week 8 with a concussion. However, even with Dalton’s poor play, Schultz has remained a crucial part of the Cowboys’ offense. He caught two of four targets for 22 yards this week, and he had four receptions for 35 yards last week.
Considering that Michael Gallup and CeeDee Lamb caught zero passes in Week 7, I almost feel more comfortable trusting Schultz at tight end over either of those receivers. Perhaps either Dalton or backup Ben DiNucci will funnel targets to Amari Cooper and Schultz, allowing Schultz to remain a usable tight end. The Eagles are also a pass-funnel defense, consistently shutting down the run. Therefore, I reluctantly have to rank Schultz as a middling TE2 in Week 8, as the tight end landscape is relatively grim.
D/ST
Streamer #1: Chargers at Broncos, 35.9% owned
The Broncos’ offense looked putrid in Week 7 against the Chiefs, allowing the Chiefs’ D/ST to score 21 fantasy points. While six of those points came on a Byron Pringle kickoff return for a touchdown, the Chiefs managed to harass Drew Lock all day. Lock threw two interceptions and took three sacks in a poor performance.
The Chargers’ defense played well in Week 7 versus the Jaguars. The Jaguars did score 29 points, but one touchdown happened on a blocked punt. The Chargers sacked Gardner Minshew five times, and they should do the same against a depleted Broncos’ offense. The Chargers are a borderline top-five D/ST play in a week devoid of strong streamers.
Streamer #2: Packers vs. Vikings, 9.0% owned
There isn’t a single strong D/ST play under 40% owned outside of the Chargers. However, the Packers are the best of a bad bunch. They held a strong Texans’ offense to only 20 points in Week 7, and they have a strong secondary led by star cornerback Jaire Alexander. The Vikings are a 1-5 team, so they could trade some of their critical pieces before this matchup.
Even if they don’t do that, Kirk Cousins has thrown 10 interceptions and taken 14 sacks through six games. The Packers should have ample opportunities to create takeaways and rack up sacks, even if they might give up points to the Vikings. Therefore, I have the Packers as a decent top-10 D/ST play, although they have a low floor.
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
