Stream of the Week: QB, TE, and Defense Rankings | Week 12

Late-season streaming can get WEIRD. Russell Wilson killed me last week as my Stream of the Week. However, I also mentioned Jared Goff as my second favorite option, and he finished as the QB2. Who was the QB1, you ask? Taysom Hill. The same Taysom Hill who also finished as the TE1 and was on my list of favorite options to stream at TE in Week 11. But he was not my Stream of the Week. That was Jonnu Smith, who finished as the TE2. Weird. Overall, it has been an excellent year for streaming. With my Streams of the Week, we’ve built the QB11, TE2, and DEF8. Not bad, but it could be even better. From the options I’ve given you this season, my Best Pick would rank as the QB2, TE1, and DEF1. My DEF/ST picks have scored 80 more fantasy points than the current DEF1. I really do love streaming! Let’s keep it going. Here are the best streaming options at QB, TE, and Defense from our Week 12 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.

Accountability

Am I any good at this? I’ll let the numbers tell you. In this section, you’ll see how my Stream of the Week (SOTW) and Best Pick finish every week. Since I always give five options, my Best Pick is the one that scores the most points, even if I didn’t call it the Stream of the Week. Basically, Best Pick shows you what streaming is capable of.

Scores and rankings are based on PPR scoring and 4-point passing TDs. I know the world uses 6-point passing TDs, but data providers love 4-point, and I am trying to keep this simple.

Week 12 Streams of the Week

Note: All of these players were available in around 50% of ESPN leagues as of Wednesday morning after waivers had run.

Quarterback

Geno Smith vs. ARZ

We are 11 weeks in, and Geno Smith still leads the league in passing. It’s not just a phase! This week, the Seahawks get a division matchup with Arizona, and I like this game to have plenty of scoring. With an Over/Under of 47.5, it is tied for the 4th-highest implied point total on the week, and Seattle is an underdog at home; they should be throwing plenty. While Arizona has been tough on QBs lately, they haven’t exactly been facing the best competition either, with a washed Aaron Rodgers being their latest beatdown. However, Justin Herbert managed 349 yards on them back in Week 7, and Jordan Love threw four TDs against the Cards the week before. Smith is the QB11 in fantasy right now, and the Seahawks’ willingness to throw gives him a safer floor than the Cardinals’ recent opponents. If he can find the endzone two or three times like he did in Week 9, it could be a great week,

Other Options

• Russell Wilson @ CLE
• Tua Tagovailoa vs. NE
• Tommy DeVito vs. TB
• Drake Maye @ MIA

Tight End

Will Dissly vs. BAL

Since we can’t use Taysom Hill as a cheat code this week, we must look elsewhere. Does Anthony Richardson have TE eligibility, too? No? Then Will Dissly it is! The Ravens have been beaten by TEs all season and rank 10th-worst against the position for fantasy points allowed. Four of their last six opponents have had a TE hit double-digit fantasy points. Dissly has emerged as the leader of this group for the Chargers. Over the last five weeks, he ranks as the 13th-best fantasy tight end and averages over six targets per game in that span. He just hasn’t found the endzone much, but he just scored his first TD last week. Hopefully, it becomes a habit. The Ravens have allowed two TE-TDs in their previous four games, so I like his odds to make it two scores and two top-10 finishes in a row.

Other Options

• Jonnu Smith vs. NE
• Ja’Tavian Sanders vs. KC
• Theo Johnson vs. TB
• Pat Freiermuth @ CLE

Washington Commanders vs. DAL

With six teams on bye, the pickings are slim for streaming defense this week. When you don’t love the defenses, you pick on the offenses, and Dallas is an easy target. Even before Dak Prescott went down, they were giving up a lot of points to DEF/ST. Going back to Week 6, they have played five games and allowed the most points to fantasy defenses, an average of over 10 per game. With Copper Rush, they have allowed eight sacks and turned the ball over seven times in two games. In those games, they scored one touchdown and three FGs in total! They have also allowed one DEF/ST TD, so they give up as much on offense as they score. The Commanders the DEF19 on the season, but a lot of that is due to a rough start. Since Week 4, they are actually the 11th-best fantasy D/ST and should have another good week against a reeling Dallas team.

Other Options

• Bears vs. MIN
• Buccaneers @ NYG
• Browns vs. PIT
• Cardinals @ SEA

Be sure you’re following Ryan on Twitter! Also, you can find Club Fantasy’s Week 12 rankings here and the rest of our Week 12 content here!