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.
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 FAB dollars on the top tier defense that everyone is chasing. Here are the players who have solid Week 12 matchups on tap, or have breakout potential in Week 11, and are less than 40 percent rostered.
Quarterbacks
Derek Carr (LV) at ATL in Week 12
We’re now into late November which means weather is going to start impacting the outlooks on certain players. Fortunately, when you have a quarterback going to a dome, we don’t have to worry about that. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s going to play against a defense that cannot stop anyone through the air. Quarterbacks are scoring 6.7 more fantasy points against the Falcons than they average in all other games, which is the biggest gap in the league. We’ve watched 8-of-9 quarterbacks post 18.4-plus fantasy points against them this year.
Daniel Jones (NYG) at CIN in Week 12
It hasn’t been a fun year for those who thought Jones was going to break out. He has, however, started to offer some streaming viability, finishing with 16.2 or more fantasy points in three of his last four games. He’s now rushed for at least 20 yards in 8-of-10 games, including 45-plus yards in five of them. The Bengals have almost zero pass rush, which should allow Jones more time than he’s used to. There have been 7-of-9 quarterbacks who’ve finished with at least 15.3 fantasy points against the Bengals, so we should have a solid floor for Jones.
Running Backs
Rex Burkhead (NE) vs ARI in Week 12
I’m surprised he’s not rostered in more leagues, though the pending return of Sony Michel likely has fantasy managers a bit weary. You really shouldn’t be, though, as I doubt Michel is active in the same game as Damien Harris, as they play the same role. Meanwhile, Burkhead has overtaken James White as the No. 2 option and has received 25 opportunities over the last two games. Against the Cardinals high-powered offense, we’re not likely to see Harris grind out 20-plus carries, as the Patriots should be expected to be underdogs in that contest. Burkhead not only carries the ball 6-12 times per game, but he’s also the running back who’s run the most routes. He should be an RB3 for this game.
Lamical Perine (NYJ) vs MIA in Week 12
You may have missed it, because who wants to pay attention to the Jets media, but Adam Gase said they’re going to start giving Perine more work moving forward. While we don’t know just how much more, he has averaged 10.5 opportunities per game over their last four games, so we should be expecting at least a dozen opportunities, which has value for streamers. There have been 13 running backs who’ve finished as top-36 PPR options against the Dolphins this year, so he should present RB3 value in a pinch.
Desperation option: Alexander Mattison (MIN) vs CAR in Week 12
Wide Receivers
Michael Pittman (IND) vs TEN in Week 12
Are we witnessing a star in the making? To be fair, I was shocked when I saw he was less than 40 percent rostered, but it kind of makes sense that no one really wants to buy into this Colts corps of pass catchers, as they’ve combined for just for just two touchdowns all season. Pittman has now seen 15 targets over the last two weeks, turning them into a solid 11/157/0 line, with another 21 yards on the ground. The Titans matchup in Week 10 was the one that produced 7/101/0 of those numbers, and that’s precisely who he’s going up against again in Week 12. Through nine games, the Titans have allowed 18 wide receivers to finish with double-digit PPR points and finish as the WR42 or better.
Henry Ruggs/Nelson Agholor (LV) at ATL in Week 12
I’m legit stunned at how little these two receivers have been used this year, but fortunately, the Raiders won’t have a choice in Week 12. The Falcons have allowed the fewest number of fantasy points on the ground to opponents (no, I’m not making that up), which is why wide receivers and tight ends have combined to see 29.9 targets per game against them. When you add in the league-leading 14.89 yards per reception they’re allowing to wide receivers, there should be some fireworks among these two in Week 12.
Jakeem Grant (MIA) at NYJ in Week 12
The targets have to go somewhere, right? The Dolphins aren’t throwing the ball much with Tua under center, which is problematic, but despite that, Grant has seen 10 targets over the last two weeks. With Preston Williams out until Week 13, Grant is operating as the No. 2 receiver behind DeVante Parker, which has value against a Jets team that allowed Grant to catch all four of his targets for a season-high 48 yards in their first meeting (Williams was active for that game). He’s my least favorite option of these receivers listed, but he could work in a pinch.
Desperation option: Randall Cobb (HOU) at DET in Week 12
Tight Ends
Jordan Reed (SF) at LAR in Week 12
No one wants to grab a tight end and hold onto them through their bye week, right? That’s the only reason Reed is available in 85 percent of leagues. Back in a full-time role before their bye, Reed hauled in 5-of-6 targets for 62 yards against the Saints. In three full games without Kittle in the lineup, he’s posted lines of 7/50/2, 2/23/0, and 5/62/0. I understand having worries about playing him every week due to his health concerns, but while he’s healthy, he’s playable. The Rams cornerback trio has been arguably the best in the NFL, which will certainly limit the appeal of the 49ers receivers, and why tight ends have accounted for 21.4 percent of the production to skill-position players against them, which ranks as the fourth-highest number in the league. Opponents have also given their tight ends a 24.3 percent target share (3rd in NFL) against the Rams, so Reed should come with a solid floor.
Dalton Schultz (DAL) vs WAS in Week 12
It’s not great, that’s for sure. Tight end has been a mess to begin with, but imagine trying to find one who is under 40 percent rostered. Schultz has seen 15 targets over the Cowboys last two games and has turned them into 10/101/0, so it’s not all bad. Look, Andy Dalton was terrible in that one game he played, which was against Washington, but it could’ve simply been just a bad day. Despite playing with four different quarterbacks, Schultz has seen at least five targets in 6-of-8 games as the starter, so there’s value in that. Washington has also allowed five different tight ends to post double-digit PPR points.
DSTs
Green Bay Packers vs CHI in Week 12
We don’t know who the Bears will have under center in Week 12, but does it really matter at this point? The Bears have not scored more than 23 points since way back in Week 3, which does well for the points allowed category. The Bears have allowed their quarterback to be sacked 14 times in the last four weeks, which presents a floor. Oh, and they’ve turned the ball over 14 times in their last eight games, which gives you a ceiling.
New York Giants at CIN in Week 12
I really don’t love playing defenses against Joe Burrow because he’s the type who can put up 30-plus points any given week, but this is about the floor you’re getting with the Giants. They’ve generated multiple sacks in every single game this year, including three-plus sacks in four of them. They’ve also forced 15 turnovers, which presents a bit of upside. Meanwhile, Burrow has been sacked at least three times in 6-of-9 games. They’re not the greatest streamer, but they should offer a decent floor.
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Mike Tagliere is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @MikeTagliereNFL.