By The Stream Master General, Ryan Weisse
One unforeseen circumstance created by COVID-19 that I did not consider: more bench spots means fewer streaming options! It has been hard finding players that are rostered in fewer than 50% of fantasy leagues that you should start on your team. I know excuses help no one…but damn, it’s rough. More on my failures just a little later — you’re here for streams. Below you’ll find my top-5 options at QB, TE, and DEF/ST, all available in around 50% of fantasy leagues on either Yahoo or ESPN, sometimes both. If you’ve lost a player to injury or unexpected bye weeks, these players should be able to get you through this week.
Note: All roster % are as of Wednesday, most will have gone up by the day you are reading this.
Accountability
Odd weeks have not been my thing so far this season! Week 1- Sucked, Week 2- Bounce-back, Week 3-SUCKED. I missed on every QB and almost every TE last week. Thankfully, I’m still good at picking D/ST. Just a reminder, the goal here is that these guys finish in the weekly top-15. With them being available in more than half of fantasy leagues, finishing as a top-half player is a win. Below you’ll find my records for each position on the season. It’s not pretty, but I promise you, I’m putting in the work. Here’s hoping Week 4 is another return to glory.
Streams of the Week Recap 2020
QB | TE | DEF | |
---|---|---|---|
Last Week Wins | 2 of 5 | 1 of 5 | 3 of 5 |
Season Wins | 32 of 78 | 28 of 80 | 51 of 80 |
SotW - Last Week Rank/Score | QB17 / 20 fantasy pts | TE8 / 14 fantasy pts | DEF2 / 12 fantasy pts |
SotW - Season Rank/Score | QB17 / 287 fantasy pts | TE10 / 146 fantasy pts | DEF1 / 157 fantasy pts |
Best of the Bunch - Season Rank/Score | QB1 / 474 fantasy pts | TE3 / 241 fantasy pts | DEF1 / 214 fantasy pts |
**Best of the Bunch is my best pick each week, regardless if they were SOTW or not**
** Updated thru Week 16**
Quarterbacks
SOTW – Jared Goff vs NYG
Let me start by thanking ESPN managers, Goff is only available in 29% of Yahoo leagues but still out there in 54% of ESPN leagues. He shouldn’t be. Goff is the QB9 on the season and the Giants are definitely a plus matchup for the Rams (this might come up again). New York is allowing 250+ yards and 2 TDs per game to opposing QBs — basically the same numbers Goff is already putting up on a per-game basis. That will be enough to help him finish in the top-15 this week, with top-10 upside if he can hit on a 3rd TD.
2- Ryan Fitzpatrick vs SEA
3- Teddy Bridgewater vs ARZ
4- Daniel Jones @ LAR
5- Kirk Cousins @ HOU
Tight Ends
SOTW- Mo Alie-Cox @ CHI
In case some of our readers are not aware, I am also a writer for The Fantasy Footballers…and the Ballers love Mo Alie-Cox…GIGANTOR! With Trey Burton hitting the IR and Jack Doyle incapable of staying healthy, Cox’s role has steadily increased over the last two weeks. He had his first 100-yard game in Week 2 and scored his first TD of 2020 last week. The Bears surrender the 9th most PPR points to tight ends and Cox should have a huge role in this Colts offense in Week 4. He is available in more than 75% of leagues right now on both platforms.
1b- Robert Tonyan vs ATL – *Late Addition with injury to Lazard. Thus, he is not in the amazing graphic below.*
2- Jordan Akins vs MIN
3- Tyler Eifert @ CIN
4- Greg Olsen @ MIA
5- Logan Thomas vs BAL
DEF/ST
SOTW- LA Rams vs NYG
Remember when I said the Rams would outmatch the Giants…it’s going to happen on both sides of the ball. This is also another case of ESPN managers being far more generous than Yahoo. The Rams can be had in just over 50% of ESPN leagues but only 22% on Yahoo. The Giants give up the 4th most fantasy points to D/ST and just gave up a top-5 week to a banged-up San Fran defense. Aaron Donald is going to make Daniel Jones’ life hell for 60 minutes and this game could get ugly.
2- Seattle Seahawks @ MIA
3- Houston Texans vs MIN
4- Cincinnati Bengals vs JAX
5- Arizona Cardinals @ CAR