Streaming has become an integral part of fantasy football over the last few years. Whether it be quarterbacks, tight ends, defenses, or heck, even running backs and wide receivers at times. If you don’t know what streaming means, it’s where you’ll play a different player at that position each and every week. While it may sound nuts, it works if you know how to approach the waiver wire.
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How many times have you watched your fantasy matchup on Sunday/Monday, only to go search the waiver wire for your streamer next week and see a player available who has a premier matchup that everyone will attempt to pick up? Not anymore. This article is designed to give you a leg-up on your competition. That’s right, we’ll be adding the players before they’re able to. With that being said, here’s the players you should be adding to your fantasy roster on Sunday morning. I’m going to be using Yahoo as the gauge for ownership, and we’ll stick to players who are less than 40 percent owned.
Quarterbacks
Baker Mayfield (CLE) at PIT
Let me start by saying that Week 8 isn’t a great one to be streaming quarterbacks, though Mayfield is sufficient. Something tells me he’ll be a hotter commodity once Monday comes, as he should post top-15 numbers against the Bucs. Any time a quarterback goes into Pittsburgh, it should automatically qualify as what should be a high-scoring game. On top of that, the Steelers have played much better against the run than most give them credit for, as they’ve allowed just 3.57 yards per carry on the year. If Nick Chubb and Duke Johnson can’t move the ball on them, it’ll be on Mayfield to lead the team to points. The Steelers opponents are averaging 41.2 pass attempts, third-highest in the league.
Derek Carr (OAK) vs IND
Did I mention that it’s a bad week to stream quarterbacks? I mean, who wants to start Carr? But desperate times call for desperate needs. At least Carr will have had two weeks off from his bye week, and knowing that Colts opponents average 69.5 plays per game is massive. It sounds like Marshawn Lynch isn’t going to be 100 percent any time soon, so they’ll have to rely on Jalen Richard a bit more, who has turned into Carr’s favorite target in the passing game. Four of the six quarterbacks to play the Colts have totaled at least 16.5 fantasy points, so Carr should at least present a decent floor.
Case Keenum would’ve been here, but after playing Thursday night, he’s already on waivers.
Running Backs
Jalen Richard (OAK) vs IND
It’s surprising that Richard is owned in less than 10 percent of Yahoo leagues right now, as he’s currently the No. 7 in targets among running backs. Those ahead of him: Saquon Barkley, Alvin Kamara, James White, Melvin Gordon, Christian McCaffrey, and Nyheim Hines. Every one of them is considered a top-36 running back on a week-to-week basis, yet Richard isn’t owned? With Marshawn Lynch out for at least a month, Richard should be a great guy to stream in Week 8, as well as a great one to have on your bench in general.
Raheem Mostert (SF) at ARI
We don’t know what we have in Mostert just yet, but we should get more answers in Week 7 against the Rams, though it’s not a great matchup. However, if he plays ahead of Alfred Morris once again, Mostert will be a great start in Week 8 against the Cardinals, who have allowed eight rushing touchdowns through six games this year. They also allowed the Vikings to get their run-game going last week, as they allowed 172 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries. If Mostert is now sharing snaps with Matt Breida, he’ll be ranked as a top-36 play in Week 8.
Duke Johnson (CLE) at PIT
If Johnson isn’t involved this week against the Bucs, it’ll be hard to trust him in this game against the Steelers, but there’s reason to believe. While playing in Pittsburgh, you know it’s going to be a higher-scoring game. Because of that, their opponents have averaged 38.3 pass attempts per game while there this year. The Steelers have been stuffing the run, which means Nick Chubb will likely disappoint, forcing the Browns to lean on the passing-game, and we do know that the Steelers have a solid pass-rush. The Browns need to get Johnson involved in both this game and the one against the Bucs on Sunday.
Late addition: Doug Martin (OAK) vs IND
With Marshawn Lynch out reportedly for at least one month, Martin is a must-own. It’s very likely that the aforementioned Richard is the better fantasy play, but Martin should be added in all leagues.
Last-ditch option who comes with some risk: Rashaad Penny (SEA) at DET
Wide Receivers
Geronimo Allison (GB) at LAR
Let me ask you a question… would you drop Keenan Allen or Brandin Cooks if they missed two games due to injury? Well, Allison has averaged more PPR points per game than each of them, yet he’s now owned in less than 40 percent of leagues. Over the last four weeks, the Rams cornerbacks have allowed 10 wide receiver touchdowns, which is the most in the NFL during that time. Allison will be fresh coming off his bye week and will be ranked as a top-40 wide receiver in this game.
Antonio Callaway (CLE) at PIT
We don’t know if Damion Ratley is going to continue taking away targets from Callaway, but Callaway has still seen 31 targets over the last four weeks. The production hasn’t followed, but finding someone on the waiver wire who is averaging near eight targets a game is a positive. On top of that, the Steelers have allowed 11 wide receviers finish with double-digit PPR days against them.
John Ross (CIN) vs TB
He’s set to return this weekend against the Chiefs, which is a decent matchup, but the Bucs might be the absolute best matchup in the league. They’ve only played five games but have allowed seven wide receivers total at least 17 PPR points. Prior to getting hurt, Ross had seen seven targets in Week 3, then snagged two catches for 52 yards and a touchdown before injuring his groin. Not only do the Bucs have one of the weakest cornerback units in the league, but their safety play has been weak, which is where Ross does his damage.
Anthony Miller (CHI) vs NYJ
This addition could benefit you in multiple ways, as it’s possible that Miller has a performance in Week 7 that makes him a good waiver wire add in general. On top of that, he’ll play against the Jets next week, and their biggest weakness is the slot, where Miller plays a majority of his snaps. After seeing just three targets in each of his first two games, Miller has totaled nine targets in his last two games. He’s also scored twice on just 15 targets this year, showing his ability to maneuver in the red zone. The Jets have Buster Skrine covering the slot, and although he’s already a great matchup, he’s been out of the lineup recently, meaning Parry Nickerson has taken his place. He’s allowed 18-of-23 passing for 205 yards and two touchdowns in his coverage this year. Miller could be a very sneaky play over the next two weeks.
Willie Snead (BAL) at CAR
Why is Snead still under 40 percent owned? There’s been just one game this year where he’s scored less than 10.4 PPR points. He’s a top-36 play for me in Week 7, so by grabbing him now, you may want to debate starting him. On top of that, his matchup in Week 8 is against the Panthers, who’ve struggled to defend the slot this year. They’ve allowed Cole Beasley 7/73/0, Tyler Boyd 6/132/1, and Sterling Shepard 4/75/0 through six weeks, and Snead is likely to be the next player on this list. He’s on the WR4 radar nearly every week.
Tight Ends
C.J. Uzomah (CIN) vs TB
After taking over for Tyler Eifert, Uzomah has finished as a top-20 option in both weeks. While his 43-yards performance against the Dolphins wasn’t great, he delivered six catches for 54 yards in a great matchup against the Steelers. This is another great matchup against the Bucs, who have allowed every tight end they’ve played to finish as a top-12 option. The Bucs have defended the run well this year, so the Bengals will be forced to move the ball through the air, which no team has had issues doing. He’s the top streaming option at tight end.
Ben Watson (NO) at MIN
It hasn’t been a great start to the season for Watson, but he has seen 22 targets through five games and the touchdowns have to start coming soon, right? The Vikings may be the perfect team to do that against, as they’ve allowed a top-eight tight end in 4-of-6 games thus far, including 15 catches, 179 yards, and a touchdown to the combination of Zach Ertz and Ricky Seals-Jones the last two weeks. While Michael Thomas deals with Xavier Rhodes, it could be Watson who benefits.
Needs to be owned right now: Jack Doyle (IND)
D/ST
Arizona Cardinals vs SF
I’m not sure many have taken notice, but the Cardinals defense has been really solid this year. Well, not against the run they haven’t. But in all seriousness, their defense has generated at least two sacks in every game, with three or more sacks in 4-of-6 games. They’ve also forced six fumbles and five interceptions. They have actually already played the 49ers this year, and in that game they totaled four sacks, two interceptions, and three fumble recoveries, their best performance of the year. They also allowed just 18 points and that game was in San Francisco. They’re one of the better streamers in Week 8.
Miami Dolphins at HOU
If there’s one thing we’ve learned about the Dolphins defense, it’s that they’re terrible against the run. If there’s one thing we’ve learned about the Texans offense, it’s that they can’t run the ball, which means they cannot take advantage of the Dolphins’ biggest weakness. Outside of their game against the Patriots where they didn’t show up, the Dolphins have generated at least two sacks in their last four games. Keep in mind they were without Cameron Wake for the last two games, but still managed to generate two sacks and one interception in each game. Wake will almost certainly play in this game, and the Texans have allowed 25 sacks through six games, including 15 of them over the last three games. We’ve also seen Deshaun Watson throw at least one interception every week, which could lead you to the always welcomed pick-six.
Other options: New Orleans Saints at MIN, Cincinnati Bengals vs TB
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Mike Tagliere is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @MikeTagliereNFL.
