Fantasy Football Streaming
At tight end, Eric Ebron finished as the 8th tight end with four receptions, 36 receiving yards, and one touchdown. Unfortunately, Logan Thomas and Austin Hooper didn’t fare so well. Last week, we recognized to avoid Baker Mayfield, and that may apply to the pass catchers, particularly in poor conditions as it played out in Cleveland in Week 11. With Thomas, the Washington Football Team played from ahead, and it limited the passing volume.
In terms of streaming defenses in Week 11, we hit on two of four with the Dolphins defense not living up to expectations. Streaming defenses against Carson Wentz and the Eagles proved like a good idea once again as the Browns finished as the top-scoring defense in Week 11. No bye weeks in Week 12, but we have three games on Thursday during the Thanksgiving slate. With that said, let’s dive into the fantasy football Week 12 streaming picks.
Week 12 Thursday Games
- Morning Game – Houston Texans vs. Detroit Lions
- Afternoon Game – Washington Football Team vs. Dallas Cowboys
- Evening Game – Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (monitor COVID-19 cases with up to ten confirmed positive tests related to the Ravens)
Quarterbacks
Taysom Hill at DEN
As the cool kids say, it’s Taysom Hill SZN. In a juicy matchup against the Falcons, Hill finished third on the week with 24.42 fantasy points. In Week 12, he faces the Broncos, who allow the 14th most fantasy points at 19.8 points per game. Then in Week 13, he faces the Falcons, who allows the 2nd most fantasy points at 26.8 points per game.
▪️ 18/23, 233 yards passing, 0 INT
▪️ 51 yards on 10 rushes, 2 touchdownsNot bad for a QB/RB/WR/TE/KR/PR… @T_Hill4 pic.twitter.com/pHM9PCPIYd
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) November 22, 2020
Similar to last week, when we discussed Tagovailoa’s matchup against the Broncos, they look like a more difficult matchup. The Broncos allow the 10th fewest passing yards at 224.8 yards per game and rank 19th with 121.5 rushing yards per game. Although this projects as a less fantasy-friendly matchup, Hill provides the rushing ability that’s hard to avoid. Think of Hill as a Tim Tebow light, where the real-life production is hard to watch, but he produces for your fantasy team. Thus, he ranks as the top Week 12 streaming quarterback pick.
Daniel Jones at CIN
Coming off of their bye week, Daniel Jones faces the Bengals, who allow the 8th most fantasy points at 21.1 points per game. The Bengals allow the 10th most passing yards per game (254.7) and allow the 8th highest yards per attempt at 7.3 YPA. Similar to Taysom Hill, Jones adds production in the rushing game. On the season, Jones ranks 3rd with 384 rushing yards and 4th with 38.4 rushing yards per game. However, Jones only averages 211.4 passing yards per game.
Even with the limited passing upside over the past four games, Jones finished with 11th, 16th, 23rd, and 7th. We also acknowledge that Jones holds the turnover-prone label with an interception or fumble in nine out of ten games. Overall, Jones should provide a rushing floor while also providing at least one passing touchdown.
Philip Rivers vs. TEN
All of a sudden, Philip Rivers tossed ten touchdowns over the past five games, with one of them against a tough Ravens defense. In the first five games, Rivers averaged 245.4 passing yards per game and totaled four touchdowns and four interceptions. However, in the past five games, Rivers averaged 291.2 passing yards per game with ten touchdowns and four interceptions. Rivers faces the Titans once again, who allow the 9th most fantasy points at 21.1 per game. Hopefully, Rivers throws close to his average for the past five games at 291.2 passing yards with one or two passing touchdowns. However, there’s limited upside since he isn’t mobile at all.
Alex Smith at DAL
Last week against the Bengals, the Washington Football Team led most of the game, meaning Alex Smith didn’t need to throw much. He completed 17 of 25 passes for 166 passing yards with one touchdown and interception each. In two previous games against the Lions and Giants, Smith totaled over 300 passing yards in both contests. However, he only tossed one touchdown and three interceptions total, so with little to no passing touchdown upside, it makes Smith a risky play. The Cowboys allow the 12th most fantasy points to quarterbacks at 20.2, and Smith ranks as a deep-league Week 12 streaming pick.
Tight Ends
Austin Hooper at JAC
Before the injury, Austin Hooper earned a healthy target share and target total in three straight games. Against the Cowboys, Colts, and Steelers, Hooper logged seven targets (39% target share), ten targets (27% target share), and six targets (20% target share). However, since returning from the injury, Hooper totaled seven targets for four catches and 44 receiving yards over the past two games.
Weather conditions played a role in both of those recent games, and that helps put it in perspective. Hooper faces the Jaguars, who allow the 3rd most fantasy points to the tight end position. However, temper expectations because the Browns use the ground game a bunch with 31 team run plays per game (No. 7). Also, Baker Mayfield hasn’t helped the pass catchers either.
Dalton Schultz vs. WAS
Before their bye week, Dalton Schultz earned 15 targets for ten catches and 101 receiving yards. Then in Week 11, Schultz caught four of six targets for 25 receiving yards and one touchdown. Not including Week 11, Schultz has 55 targets (No. 6), a 14.5% target share (No. 17), and 380 air yards (No. 11). Schultz also ranks 8th with 35 receptions and 6th with 383 receiving yards.
Andy Dalton to Dalton Schultz.
Cowboys 31, Vikings 28. Vikings ball, now with 1:30 to play
pic.twitter.com/Fts6ePdPex— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) November 23, 2020
Say what you want about the Cowboys offense, but Schultz continues to provide stream-worthy value at the tight end position. In Week 12, they face the Washington Football Team that allows the 8th most fantasy points at 9.4 points per game. With Schultz providing a consistent and safe floor, he could arguably rank as the top Week 12 streaming tight end pick.
Logan Thomas at DAL
Since the Washington Football Team led for most of the game, Alex Smith only passed for 166 passing yards, which then limited the passing volume. Tight end Logan Thomas caught two of five targets for six receiving yards, yikes, against a Bengals defense that allowed the 2nd most fantasy points to the position. However, Thomas looked more efficient over the past four games as he caught 14 of 19 targets for 196 receiving yards and two total touchdowns. The Cowboys allow the 11th most fantasy points at 8.8 points per game. Trust the process here with the high target share, air yards, and air yards share with Thomas and stream him again in Week 12.
Trey Burton vs. TEN
If you’re looking for a deep-league play, then look to Trey Burton. Last week against the Packers, Burton caught two of five targets for 25 receiving yards and one touchdown. With Mo Alie-Cox and Jack Doyle healthy, Philip Rivers spreads the ball around to all players, including the three tight ends. Burton earned 32 targets (No. 26) and a 13% target share (No. 22) but also has a 14.9% Hog Rate, meaning he’s a focal point of the passing offense even with limited target and snap shares. We hope for about five targets with three catches with the chance of a touchdown.
Defenses
Cleveland Browns at JAC
We go back to the well with the Cleveland Browns after recommending them as a Week 11 streaming pick since defenses continue to sack Carson Wentz. The Browns sacked Wentz five times and totaled two interceptions. With Jake Luton probably starting again, the Browns rank as the top Week 12 streaming defense. Granted that Luton faced a tough defense in the Steelers, but he ended up with four picks and two sacks.
CARSON WENTZ PICK-SIX! 🚨
(via @Browns)pic.twitter.com/letqiuZxQV
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 22, 2020
Currently, this game has a 49 over/under and the Browns as 6.5 point favorites. We like to start defenses in games with a low over/under and heavy favorites. Even though it sounds like Myles Garrett will miss the game against the Jaguars, fire up the Browns as the top Week 12 streaming defense.
New York Giants at CIN
With the Bengals losing Joe Burrow to a season-ending injury plus no Joe Mixon, the Giants should feast upon Ryan Finley at quarterback. The Giants bring the pressure with the 13th most team sacks and 10th highest pressure rate. It’s a safe bet to stream a defense against an offense without their starting quarterback and running back. Prioritize the Browns, but the Giants rank in the top tier of Week 12 streaming defenses, with this game having a low 42.5 O/U.
Seattle Seahawks at PHI
If the Seahawks can pressure and sack Carson Wentz, then the Seahawks defense is streamable in Week 12. Similar to Daniel Jones, Wentz has an interception or fumble in every single game this season. The Seahawks rank middle of the pack with a 9.6% quarterback hurry rate (No. 15) and 25 sacks (12th). It’s safe to assume that opposing defenses will continue to pressure and sack Wentz to cause turnovers.
Over the past three games, the Seahawks defense improved. They allowed 308.7 passing yards in the past three games compared to 343.7 passing yards on the season. On the flip side, they rank 3rd on the season with 91.2 rushing yards allowed and 2nd with 65.7 rushing yards over the past three games. Stream defenses against Wentz until he proves otherwise, but expect the turnover trend to continue.
Green Bay Packers vs. CHI
Similar to the Bengals, the Bears have uncertainty surrounding their starting quarterback. Nick Foles suffered a hip injury and was carted off the field in their last game. Meanwhile, Mitchell Trubisky also has a shoulder injury, and they may turn to Tyler Bray. Keep in mind that the Packers don’t typically put up streamable fantasy production from a team defense perspective. In deep leagues, feel free to stream the Packers defense even with some risk with the questionable Bears quarterback play.
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