How many times have you heard someone telling you to “stream” a position? Whether it be quarterback, tight end, or defense, the idea of streaming is great, provided you get the players you want off the waiver wire. The issue with streaming week-to-week is that everyone knows who you’ll be targeting in those good matchups and you might have that player swiped from underneath you, or even worse, your opponent that week may snag a player just to ensure you don’t get them.
Import your team to My Playbook for instant Lineup advice
We started this article so you don’t have to worry about that anymore. Each Saturday morning, you’ll head over to your waiver wire and snag the players who are lined up for good matchups the following week. They may have a brutal matchup for that current week. Great, even better. That just means they’re more likely to be available for you. By snagging them a week prior, you eliminate the need to spend a lot of FAAB dollars on the top tier defense that everyone is chasing. Here are the players who have solid Week 15 matchups on tap and are less than 40 percent owned.
Quarterbacks
Ryan Fitzpatrick (MIA) at NYG
When talking about who the worst defense in the NFL is, most would point to the Dolphins or Bengals, but when it comes to pass defenses, it’s the Giants. The 8.47 yards per attempt they’ve allowed is more than any other team in the league, and it’s the most predictable in fantasy, as it’s over a massive sample size. The Giants have allowed sub-3.0 yards per carry over their last three games and the Dolphins can’t run the ball, which equals fantasy production for Fitzpatrick, who has been the third-highest scoring quarterback since Week 7.
Gardner Minshew (JAX) at OAK
It seems that Minshew will hold the starting job for the remainder of the season, and his matchup in Week 15 should allow him to earn his way back into fantasy owners’ hearts. Despite facing the 12th-fewest pass attempts, the Raiders have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks. That’s what allowing 8.21 yards per attempt and a 6.7 percent touchdown-rate will do. How do we highlight how bad that is in a way everyone can understand? Russell Wilson has averaged 8.3 yards per attempt and has a 6.8 percent touchdown-rate this season. So, in essence, everyone has been Wilson against the Raiders.
Alternate option: Eli Manning (NYG) vs. MIA
Running Backs
Patrick Laird (MIA) at NYG
With Kalen Ballage out for the season, I’m surprised Laird isn’t owned in more than 40 percent of leagues. It’s hardly exciting, but Giants opponents have averaged 29.8 running back touches per game. That volume must go somewhere. Laird played 42 snaps in Week 13 once Ballage went down, so he’d be the next man up. He has caught 12-of-14 targets for 109 yards, which is important to his fantasy floor, as the Giants have been shutting down opposing run-games as of late.
Chris Thompson (WAS) vs PHI
The performances of Derrius Guice and Adrian Peterson overshadowed the return of Thompson to the lineup, who tied a team-high 23 snaps in Week 13. When projecting the gamescript versus the Eagles, it’s difficult to find a situation where they’re ahead, which means Thompson should see an even larger role in that game. Dwayne Haskins should lean to love him as a confidence-builder in the pass-game.
Should be owned right now based on what we know: DeAndre Washington (OAK) vs JAX
Wide Receivers
Chris Conley (JAX) at OAK
Conley has totaled 43 targets over the span of six games, which amounts to 7.2 per game. That’s territory we typically see with top-24 receivers. While he’s not there, he is someone very worthy of streaming, especially in great matchups. The Raiders qualify. They’re allowing a magical 15.5 yards per reception, which is huge to Conley whose average depth of target is 14.4 yards down the field, the largest number on the team. The 9.58 yards per target they’re allowing to receivers ranks as the fourth-most in the league.
Allen Hurns (MIA) at NYG
Since Preston Williams left the lineup for good, Hurns has walked into a full-time role. He’s seen 21 targets over the last four games, turning them into 13 receptions, 160 yards, and a touchdown. While those aren’t big numbers, if he can get 5-7 targets against the Giants, he’s going to be in WR4 consideration. While Janoris Jenkins would likely see a lot of DeVante Parker, Hurns would see a lot of DeAndre Baker in coverage, the rookie cornerback who’s allowed 18.2 yards per reception, a touchdown every 9.7 targets, and a 135.3 QB Rating in his coverage.
Danny Amendola (DET) vs TB
He’s been struggling with the backup quarterback play, as he’s failed to top 47 yards in each of the last five games. The good news, however, is that he saw eight targets in David Blough‘s first start. It was a tough matchup against the Bears, so the low output makes sense, but the Bucs have been a different story. While defending the slot, they’ve allowed 93-of-138 passing for 952 yards and nine touchdowns. He’s not the safest of options but he can fill a role in PPR formats.
Tight Ends
Mike Gesicki (MIA) at NYG
We always preach to chase targets at the tight end position, so why wouldn’t we want Gesicki, who has seen at least six targets in each of the last five games? Targets is the most important factor when selecting a streamer at tight end. Some will look at the Giants and see they’re the No. 3 defense against tight ends, but lack of targets has a lot to do with that, as they’ve allowed 1.75 PPR points per target to tight ends, which is above average. There’s been just one tight end who saw more than four targets against them, and that was Jason Witten, who finished as the TE8 that week.
O.J. Howard (TB) at DET
After getting benched back in Week 11, Howard has been let out of the doghouse, playing 80 percent of the snaps over the last two weeks. The six targets he got against the Jaguars last week was his second-highest total of the season. The Lions have allowed a massive 8.99 yards per target to the tight end position, which is right up there with the Cardinals and Bucs. He’s not for the faint of heart but snagging him prior to another good game could be the key to a strong finish.
If he’s activated, he’d be the top option: David Njoku (CLE) at ARI
DSTs
Kansas City Chiefs vs DEN
A lot of fantasy owners think of the Chiefs as a bad defense, though that’s not really the case. They’ve generated 34 sacks (11th in NFL), have allowed 22.1 points per game (16th in NFL), and have 12 interceptions (5th in NFL). So, they’re actually above average in all the ways you should care about. Now coming back home to play the Broncos who are led by Drew Lock? Sign me up.
Seattle Seahawks at CAR
If you watched the Panthers game last week, you know that Allen was on his back for nearly half of it. It’s been a regular occurrence for him, as he’s been sacked an average of 4.8 times over his last six games, including at least three sacks in each game. Not just that, but those six opponents generated 13 turnovers in that time. It’s possible the Panthers interim head coach goes with backup rookie quarterback Will Grier in this game, too.
Emergency option: New York Giants vs MIA
Subscribe: iTunes | Google Play | Spotify | Stitcher | SoundCloud | TuneIn | RSS
Mike Tagliere is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @MikeTagliereNFL.