By The Stream Master General, Ryan Weisse
Welcome back, streamers! We have crossed the half-way point of the fantasy regular season but we are still deep in the middle of bye weeks, meaning streamers are still competing with the rest of their leaguemates for quality QBs, TEs, and DEFs (kickers too, but just don’t start the guy playing in a snowstorm and you’ll be fine!) My picks have done really well the last few weeks but since I am ever the realist, that means regression is coming! We’ll fight this storm together though! Below you’ll find my top-5 stream options for QB/TE/DEF, all available in around 50% of fantasy leagues on Yahoo, ESPN, and sometimes both.
Accountability
Week 7 didn’t quite live up to Week 6’s hype but it was far from the tragedy I feared. We hit on 50% of our picks, which is quite good considering almost everyone I pick is typically available after your league waivers have run. On the season, my average Stream of the Week TE and DEF are both top-6 at the position, while QB is quite a bit behind, though still not completely unplayable, considering QB scoring is always so tightly packed.
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 – Derek Carr @ CLE
To start, this could’ve been Teddy Bridgewater again, but we don’t choose Thursday night players for my streams, since this article comes out on Friday. **Editor’s note: That article drop date helped you dodge a bullet since Bridgewater was knocked out of the game for several series.** Now, back to the real Stream of the Week: Derek Carr. Cleveland has a good defense but the secondary is still rough. They give up the 8th most fantasy points to QBs, 2nd most to WRs, and 12th most to TEs. This game will likely end up being a high-scoring shootout, much like when Las Vegas played Kansas City in Week 5. Carr was the QB9 in that game. He’s thrown a TD in every game this season and has thrown for 250+ yards in each of his last five games. Carr is available in more than 60% of leagues on both Yahoo and ESPN.
2. Baker Mayfield vs LV
3. Jimmy Garoppolo @ SEA
4. Nick Foles vs NO
5. Jared Goff @ MIA
Tight Ends
SOTW – Richard Rodgers vs DAL
Dallas can’t stop TEs and Rodgers is all Philly has at the position until Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert get healthy. He played almost 70 snaps last week and will be on the field for this entire game too. Last week, he turned eight targets into six catches and 85 yards. He was the TE6 on the week with 14 fantasy points. Dallas gives up 15 fantasy points-per-game to TEs on average this season. Rodgers has a top-10 floor and could be a legit top-3 play if he finds the end zone this week. Dallas has allowed three TEs to score a TD this season, so that is a real possibility. Rodgers is available just about everywhere, over 80% of leagues on both platforms.
2. Trey Burton @ DET
3. Harrison Bryant vs LV
4. Drew Sample vs TEN
5. Dalton Schultz @ PHI
DEF/ST
SOTW – Tennessee Titans @ CIN
This was a huge toss-up between the Titans and Packers for Stream of the Week. The Packers play a weaker offense (looking at you, Kirk Cousins) but the Titans have a better defense. I am betting on talent. The Titans played pretty well against Pittsburgh last week, especially towards the end of the game. They picked off Ben Roethlisberger three times and Joe Burrow has thrown five interceptions this season. Even with the hype around the rookie QB, the Bengals still give up the 6th most fantasy points to D/STs this season. Fantasy D/STs succeed based on sacks and turnovers and Cincinnati will give up both. The Bengals allow almost nine fantasy points-per-game to defenses and just gave up a top-10 score to Cleveland last week. The Titans were also top-10 last week against a much better Pittsburgh offense. Top-10 seems very much possible again in Week 8 and that would be more than enough to make streamers happy. The Titans are available in 80% of ESPN leagues but just 67% on Yahoo.
2. Green Bay Packers vs MIN
3. Cleveland Browns vs LV
4. Cincinnati Bengals vs TEN
5. Denver Broncos vs LAC
Looking for more great Week 8 content? Check out Josh’s Confidence Plays and Kyra’s DFS Kash Grabs. We also have our new DFS Matchup Report to help you make lineup decisions!
