Stream of the Week: QB, TE, and Defense Rankings | Week 1

After seven long months, FOOTBALL IS BACK. While everyone else wasted early picks on quarterbacks and tight ends, you’re different. You’re a streamer! Welcome back to my weekly attempts to find gold in the bottom half of the rankings. If you’re new here, glad to have you. Here’s a quick breakdown of what I do. Every week, after waivers have run, I will pick my favorite options at QB, TE, and Defense that are below 50% rostership. That means if you’re in a pinch, they are probably available on waivers in your league right now. Next week, you cut bait and start a new guy with a better matchup. That’s streaming in a nutshell, but enough talking about it. Let’s be about it. Here are the best streaming options from our Week 1 QB, TE, and Defense rankings.

A Quick Note: You will notice that I do not cover Kicker streams. We leave that to the experts, so check out Linda’s rankings.

Week 1 Streams of the Week

Quarterback

Baker Mayfield vs. WAS

Baker Mayfield was a pleasant surprise last season. He took over the Bucs after Tom Brady’s retirement and immediately gelled with new OC Dave Canales. Mayfield finished the year with over 4000 yards and 28 TDs, which was good enough for a QB10 finish in fantasy football. He’s available on so many waiver wires because Canales left town, and Tampa Bay will be running another new offense. I’m not as worried. Liam Coen is the new offensive coordinator, and he comes from the Rams coaching tree, which has been good for fantasy. Plus, Mayfield still has Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. In Week 1, Mayfield plays the Washington Commanders. No team in the league gave up more fantasy points to QBs than Washington last season, and they are transitioning with new coaches in 2024 as well. They are a young defense that doesn’t seem to have a great pass rush or corners. Mayfield can play it safe and still walk out with 250 yards and two TDs. In the streaming world, that is a perfect day!

Other Options

• Matthew Stafford @ DET
• Geno Smith vs. DEN
• Will Levis @ CHI
• Derek Carr vs. CAR

Tight End

Taysom Hill vs. CAR

Three years ago, when this Taysom Hill is a TE nonsense started, I wouldn’t even put him on my Streaming list out of protest. In 2022, he was permanently my #2 option because almost no TE has his upside, but it still didn’t feel right to call him a tight end. Now, waivers are thin, and he gets one of the worst defenses in the NFL, so he is my Stream of the Week. Hill is the RB2, WR3, TE2 (maybe even TE1 with Juwan Johnson dealing with injury), and, most importantly, the QB2 for the Saints. Most fantasy tight ends would be lucky to see ten targets. Hill might get ten touches. With the plethora of ways he will touch the ball, Hill has a great chance to find the endzone, and a TD pretty well locks in a top-15 fantasy spot at tight end.

Other Options

• Tyler Conklin @ SF
• Chigoziem Okonkwo @ CHI
• Cade Otton vs. WAS
• Hunter Henry @ CIN

Defense

Houston Texans @ IND

I love this Houston defense, and they actually rank in my Top 5 for season-long rankings. They should not be on this many waiver wires and won’t be again after Week 1. In DeMeco Ryans’ first season, they improved their sack numbers, had 24 takeaways, scored three DEF/ST touchdowns, and allowed 75 fewer points. Things should get better in Year 2, especially when you throw in the additions of Danielle Hunter and Azeez Al-Shaair. In Week 1, they get the division rival Colts, and since I spent the entire offseason bad-mouthing Anthony Richardson, I’m putting my money where my mouth is. Richardson only played four games last season and only finished two, but did turn the ball over twice in those limited snaps. I think we see working off some rust, taking a couple of sacks, and giving the ball up at least twice. Fantasy defense is all about sacks and turnovers, and the Texans should start with at least two of each.

Other Options

• Raiders @ LAC
• Falcons vs. PIT
• Chargers vs. LV
• Seahawks vs. DEN

Be sure you’re following Ryan on Twitter! Also, you can find Club Fantasy’s Week 1 rankings here and the rest of our Week 1 content here!