Fantasy Football Streaming
Also, don’t overlook the streaming defense picks this week based on past results because there are two exciting young defenses to stream and add. For roster percentage, we are typically looking at quarterbacks, tight ends, and defenses rostered in less than 40% of leagues.
What is Fantasy Football Streaming?
Streaming is a fantasy football strategy that starts as early as your fantasy draft. Instead of drafting two quarterbacks, two kickers, and two defenses, you draft one of each very late and “stream” them all season based on the best possible matchups. By using your waiver wire, you can mix and match the best possible starters all season to maximize output. If you’re in a league where you have a small bench for players to stash, streaming is a great way to save bench spots for talented RB and WR depth.
Quarterback Streamers
Jimmy Garoppolo at NYJ – 52% Rostered
Cheating a little bit here, but Jimmy Garoppolo faces a struggling Jets defense. Garoppolo threw for 259 yards and two touchdowns against the Cardinals. In 1-QB leagues, he’s probably sitting on waivers and the top streaming quarterback option this week. However, if George Kittle doesn’t play due to injury, then bump down expectations.
Kirk Cousins at IND – 34% Rostered
Somehow the Vikings played from behind for over two quarters, and yet Kirk Cousins only passed 25 times for 259 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. However, last week Gardner Minshew II carved up the Colts defense in fewer pass attempts. Stream away with Cousins with the nice matchup this week.
Philip Rivers vs. MIN – 27% Rostered
In what most expected to be an easy Colts win (including myself), Philip Rivers passed 46 times for 363 passing yards, one touchdown, and one interception. The Vikings defense isn’t the old stifling defense, as Aaron Rodgers carved them up on Sunday for 364 passing yards and four touchdowns. Not comparing Rodgers to Rivers, but rather the Vikings could be an easier matchup for quarterbacks than in recent years.
Gardner Minshew II at TEN – 26% Rostered
When looking at the next handful of games until their Week 7 Bye, Gardner Minshew II faces juicy matchups across the board. Although Minshew only passed 20 times last week, we anticipate the passing attempts to increase moving forward. However, even if they don’t dramatically increase, Minshew showed sneaky efficiency. After the Titans, he faces the Dolphins, Bengals, Texans, and then the Lions. Continue to stream Minshew with confidence in Week 2 and moving forward.
Mitchell Trubisky vs. NYG – 3% Rostered
Mitchell Trubisky is a deep league Week 2 streaming quarterback. Through the first three quarters, Trubisky looked dreadful. In the fourth quarter, he threw all three of his passing touchdowns. Honestly, it wasn’t until the final four minutes of the game when he completed all six of his passing attempts for two touchdowns. He is a risky streaming quarterback pick for Week 2 in deeper leagues.
Tight End Streamers
O.J. Howard vs. CAR – 18% Rostered
O.J. Howard played 53% of the snaps on Sunday but tied for the second-most targets (6) with four catches, 36 receiving yards, and one touchdown. With all the hype surrounding Rob Gronkowski rejoining Tom Brady in Tampa Bay, Howard is probably hanging on waivers and a streaming tight end option in Week 2.
Ian Thomas at TB – 15% Rostered
Although Ian Thomas only received two targets for two catches and 16 yards, he is still worth hanging onto as a streaming tight end. Last week Jared Cook led the Saints in receiving yards against the Buccaneers and finished with five catches for 80 receiving yards. If you lost Blake Jarwin, and Howard or Dallas Goedert isn’t available, then I’d roll the dice with Thomas. The Buccaneers have a stout front seven on defense, and Thomas could soak up targets in the middle of the field.
Jimmy Graham vs. NYG – 5% Rostered
The once-dominant tight end finished second on the team in targets (7) for three receptions, 25 receiving yards, and one touchdown. The 19% target share in Week 1 looked promising, although Graham looks like a touchdown-dependent streaming tight end for Week 2.
Logan Thomas at ARI – 2% Rostered
A deep, deep sleeper coming into 2020, Logan Thomas performed well on Sunday. He led the Washington Football Team in targets with eight and hauled in four catches for 37 yards and one touchdown. As a former college quarterback, Thomas’ NFL Combine workout metrics looked great. Last year, the Cardinals defense allowed the most fantasy points to tight ends (45.3). Although we don’t anticipate them to be dreadful again, it’s a good idea to target athletic tight ends as breakout players. In leagues where I lost Blake Jarwin, I’m adding and streaming Logan Thomas in Week 2.
Image taken from PlayerProfiler.com
Defense Streamers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. CAR – 25% Rostered
Although it didn’t show up in the fantasy stats, the Buccaneers defense played well against the Saints on Sunday. Last season this defense allowed the fewest rushing yards per game, and they stifled the Saints running backs in Week 1. Alvin Kamara and Latavius Murray only totaled 64 rushing yards on 27 carries combined. The Buccaneers defense also held Drew Brees to 160 passing yards and two touchdowns. Last season, Christian McCaffrey struggled against this defense with 37 and 31 rushing yards in each game.
Cleveland Browns vs. CIN – 9% Rostered
Keep in mind that the Browns play the Bengals in the Thursday Night Football game. The Bengals offensive line is still a work in progress, and the Browns could sack Joe Burrow and create a couple of turnovers. It’s slim pickings for a Week 2 streaming defense, but the Browns should be a decent option.
Washington Football Team at ARI – 5% Rostered
Similar to the Buccaneers, the Washington Football Team defense sneakily wreaked havoc on the Eagles. They sacked Carson Wentz eight times and picked him off twice. I prefer to prioritize the prior two streaming defenses, but this team is a young and up and coming defense.
Arizona Cardinals vs. WAS – 4% Rostered
Anytime a defense is facing Dwayne Haskins, it’s a safe bet to stream against him until he proves us wrong. Last year offenses exploited the Cardinals defense against tight ends, hence the Logan Thomas recommendation. However, with Haskins inefficiencies and the Cardinals defense bringing pressure, they could sack him and create turnovers in Week 2.
