Fantasy Football Streaming
In terms of the tight end position, Trey Burton, Logan Thomas, and Austin Hooper all ranked inside of the top-12 heading into Monday night. Since it’s a touchdown-dependent spot, fortunately, Burton, Thomas, and Hooper all fell into the endzone. Unfortunately, Dalton Schultz caught all five of his targets for 24 receiving yards but didn’t score in Week 12. For streaming defenses, both the Packers and Giants ranked inside of the top-12, but the Browns defense disappointed with zero fantasy points. With that said, let’s dive into the fantasy football Week 13 streaming picks.
Week 13 Bye Weeks
- Carolina Panthers
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Quarterbacks
Taysom Hill at ATL
After rushing for two touchdowns in back to back games, Taysom Hill faces the Falcons once again in Week 13. Against the Broncos, he didn’t need to do much, and we can overlook his passing total of 78 yards. In each of the past two games, Hill totaled ten carries per game with 93 total rushing yards. With Drew Brees expected out at least one more week, Hill ranks as one of the top streaming options in Week 13. Keep in mind that the Falcons defense has played better over the past several games, even if they continue to allow the most fantasy points to quarterbacks on the season. Regardless, Hill’s rushing ability helps him have that top-12 upside, which makes him the top Week 13 streaming quarterback pick.
- Week 14 at PHI (No. 29)
- Week 15 vs. KC (No. 19)
- Week 16 vs. MIN (No. 15)
Kirk Cousins vs. JAC
Over the past three games, Kirk Cousins averaged over 304 passing yards per game with eight passing touchdowns total. During that stretch, the passing volume increased as well, with 37 pass attempts per game. However, on the season, Cousins ranks 29th with 31.1 team pass plays per game. With that said, Cousins proved efficient with an 8.6 yards per attempt (No. 2) and a +30.0 Production Premium (No. 2). The Jaguars allow the 3rd most fantasy points to the quarterback position with 22.6 points per game. Expect Cousins to rank inside of the top-10 while holding top-5 upside in this matchup as a Week 13 streaming quarterback pick.
- Week 14 at TB (No. 13)
- Week 15 vs. CHI (No. 26)
- Week 16 at NO (No. 27)
Philip Rivers at HOU
We can comfortably stream veteran Philip Rivers again since he faces the Texans, who allow the 12th most fantasy points to quarterbacks. Similar to Cousins, the passing yardage for Rivers continues to trend up over the past six games. During that stretch, Rivers averaged 291.8 passing yards and 39.5 pass attempts per game with 12 touchdowns and four interceptions total. Although Rivers doesn’t have quite the upside of Taysom Hill and Kirk Cousins, Rivers should finish in the QB12-QB15 range in Week 13.
- Week 14 at LV (No. 9)
- Week 15 vs. HOU (No. 12)
- Week 16 at PIT (No. 32)
Ryan Fitzpatrick vs. CIN
Assuming that Ryan Fitzpatrick keeps the starting gig, fire up Fitzmagic as a Week 13 streaming quarterback. He faces the Bengals, who rank middle of the pack and allow 19.3 fantasy points (No. 16) to the quarterback position. With Tua Tagovailoa ruled out in Week 12, Fitzpatrick threw for 257 passing yards and two passing touchdowns. Before the Dolphins benched him, from Week 2 to Week 6, Fitzpatrick ranked inside of the top-13 all five weeks, with two top-8 finishes. Although Fitzpatrick can look a bit erratic at times with turnovers, we know he provides top-10 upside as a streaming quarterback.
- Week 14 vs. KC (No. 19)
- Week 15 vs. NE (No. 23)
- Week 16 at LV (No. 9)
Tight Ends
Robert Tonyan vs. PHI
Robert Tonyan continues his amazingly efficient 2020 season. He caught all five of his targets for 67 receiving yards and one touchdown. Not including Sunday night, Tonyan has a +76.9 Production Premium (No. 1), 10.9 yards per target (No. 4), and seven touchdowns (No. 2) or an 18.9% touchdown rate. With Aaron Rodgers having a redemption tour and also looking efficient with a +33.1 Production Premium (No. 1), Tonyan may continue the efficient production. However, similar to other streaming tight ends, Tonyan relied on touchdowns in half of his matchups. Regardless, Tonyan ranks as the top Week 13 streaming pick at tight end.
- Week 14 at DET (No. 22)
- Week 15 vs. CAR (No. 11)
- Week 16 vs. TEN (No. 8)
Trey Burton at HOU
Although Trey Burton led the Colts’ tight ends in targets, he ranked second on the team in snaps with 27. Against the Titans, Burton caught three of six targets for 42 receiving yards and one touchdown. Meanwhile, Mo Alie-Cox led the team with 38 snaps but earned a couple of targets for 19 receiving yards.
The Texans rank as a middle of the pack defense to the position, as they allow the 15th most fantasy points at 8.1 points per game. It’s a bit risky trusting Burton since he shares playing time and opportunities with Alie-Cox and Jack Doyle. However, in deep leagues, Burton projects as a touchdown-dependent streaming tight end with the increase in opportunities over the past two games.
- Week 14 at LV (No. 18)
- Week 15 vs. HOU (No. 15)
- Week 16 at PIT (No. 32)
Irv Smith Jr. or Kyle Rudolph vs. JAC
If Irv Smith misses another game, then prioritize Kyle Rudolph since the Jaguars allow the 2nd most fantasy points to the tight end position at 10.1 points per game. On the season, the passing volume remains low, with 31.1 team pass plays per game (No. 29). However, over the past three games, Cousins averaged 37.3 passing attempts per game. Even with the low passing volume, Cousins displayed high efficiency with a +30.0 Production Premium (No. 2).
The main concern involves the target volume and production over the past three weeks for Smith with seven total targets, five receptions, 49 receiving yards, and two touchdowns. Interestingly, Cousins targeted Rudolph more during the past four games, including Week 12 without Smith. The table below shows the comparison in opportunities and production between Smith and Rudolph.
In Week 13, there’s a plausible scenario where the Vikings run all over the Jaguars, meaning limited passing volume. With that said, both or either of the Vikings’ tight ends ranks as deep league streamers in Week 13. Also, their next three matchups in the fantasy playoffs appear friendly.
- Week 14 at TB (No. 12)
- Week 15 vs. CHI (No. 6)
- Week 16 at NO (No. 17)
Jordan Reed vs. BUF
With George Kittle out potentially for the entire season, Jordan Reed looks like the top 49ers’ tight end to stream. Over the past two games, Reed earned six targets in each game with seven catches and 80 total receiving yards. The Bills allow the 9th most fantasy points at 9.4 points per game to the position. Assuming the Bills continue putting up points against opposing defense, expect the 49ers to have to pass. Even in Week 14 and 15, Reed projects to face fantasy-friendly matchups, and thus we can stream him for multiple weeks.
- Week 14 vs. WAS (No. 13)
- Week 15 at DAL (No. 10)
- Week 16 at ARI (No. 29)
Defenses
Green Bay Packers vs. PHI
If fantasy managers picked up the Packers defense last week, then they reaped the benefits of a top-5 DST in Week 12. Fortunately, they face the Eagles in Week 13, meaning they should rack up sacks and turnovers. The Packers project as heavy nine-point favorites with an over/under of 47.5. Wentz recorded an interception or fumble in every single game, and opposing defenses sacked him 46 times, the most in the NFL. Fire up the Packers at the top streaming defense pick in Week 13.
Carson Wentz: 48 Turnover-Worthy Plays since 2019
Most in the NFL pic.twitter.com/M5If35tMBb
— PFF (@PFF) December 2, 2020
When we look ahead, this might be one of the last weeks to stream the Packers unless Kenny Golladay and D’Andre Swift continue to miss time. If Golladay or Swift return to the Lions, then that gives us less confidence in Week 14. The same goes for the Panthers since it’s hard to trust the Packers in Week 15 if Christian McCaffrey returns.
- Week 14 at DEN
- Week 15 vs. CAR
- Week 16 vs. TEN
Seattle Seahawks vs. NYG
With Daniel Jones suffering a hamstring injury and expects to miss time, Colt McCoy will start for the Giants. Anytime a backup quarterback takes over the offense, it likely impacts the rest of the team. When healthy, Jones was also a turnover machine like Carson Wentz. Jones recorded an interception or fumble in nine out of 11 games and also sacked 31 times, the 4th most in the league.
With that said, the Seahawks defense played better over the past four games with 19 of their 31 total sacks. Over the past three games, they rank 3rd with 77.7 rushing yards and 19th with 240 passing yards allowed. With Jamal Adams healthy and the addition of Carlos Dunlap, expect the Seahawks to feast upon the Giants in Week 13. As we enter the fantasy playoffs, the Seahawks defense faces dream matchups in the Jets and Washington Football Team.
- Week 14 vs. NYJ
- Week 15 at WAS
- Week 16 vs. LAR
Las Vegas Raiders at NYJ
Although the Raiders’ defense isn’t great, it’s pretty simple here – stream defenses against the Jets. The Jets rank 32nd in passing yards and 26th in rushing yards on offense. If we combine the sacks recorded with Sam Darnold and Joe Flacco, it totals to 29 sacks, which would rank 6th behind Daniel Jones. Interestingly, the Raiders defense ranks second to last with only 12 total sacks and 18th with a 22.6% pressure rate. They also give up a ton of fantasy points to the quarterback (No. 9) and running back position (No. 4), so it’s a bit risky. However, they face the Jets and should rank as a deep-league Week 13 streaming defense. Unfortunately, the Raiders look like a one and done streaming defense with their upcoming schedule.
- Week 14 vs. IND
- Week 15 vs. LAC
- Week 16 vs. MIA
Other notable streaming defenses for the playoff stretch:
Arizona Cardinals
- Week 14 at NYG
- Week 15 vs. PHI
- Week 16 vs. SF
Carolina Panthers
- Week 14 vs. DEN
- Week 15 at GB
- Week 16 at WAS
Cleveland Browns
- Week 14 vs. BAL
- Week 15 at NYG
- Week 16 at NYJ
San Francisco 49ers
- Week 14 vs. WAS
- Week 15 at DAL
- Week 16 at ARI
