Streaming has become an integral part of fantasy football over the last few years. Whether it be quarterbacks, tight ends, defenses, or heck, even running backs and wide receivers at times. If you don’t know what streaming means, it’s where you’ll play a different player at that position each and every week. While it may sound nuts, it works if you know how to approach the waiver wire.
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How many times have you watched your fantasy matchup on Sunday/Monday, only to go search the waiver wire for your streamer next week and see a player available who has a premier matchup that everyone will attempt to pick up? Not anymore. This article is designed to give you a leg-up on your competition. That’s right, we’ll be adding the players before they’re able to. With that being said, here’s the players you should be adding to your fantasy roster on Saturday/Sunday morning who will be streaming options in Week 4. I’m going to be using Yahoo as the gauge for ownership, and we’ll stick to players who are less than 40 percent owned.
Quarterbacks
Case Keenum (DEN) vs. KC
Probably the best pickup for those who stream quarterbacks, as the Chiefs don’t have a defense that scares anyone, especially a quarterback who needs a confidence-builder. Despite the Broncos starting 2-0, Keenum has thrown four interceptions before their game with the Ravens. It’s unlikely he gets his confidence back in that game, making the game against the Chiefs at home one to target. Despite the run-game doing really well, Keenum has thrown 74 attempts through two games, so there should be a very solid floor.
Andy Dalton (CIN) at ATL
It’s tough to write this before the game in Carolina this weekend, but this is a forward-thinking article, right? Missing his starting center Billy Price in Week 3 may scare some people off starting him in Week 4, but the Falcons defense is a shell of its former self. After losing safety Keanu Neal for the year, they then lost star linebacker Deion Jones, and now pass-rusher Takkarist McKinley is dealing with a groin injury. The game is in a dome, eliminating a lot of factors, and Dalton has actually played better on the road throughout his career.
Mitch Trubisky (CHI) vs. TB
If Keenum and Dalton are taken, Trubisky could be your streamer in Week 4. He’s flashed at times this year, while there’s been other times he’s looked like an inexperienced quarterback where the stage is too big for him. Fortunately, the Bucs secondary doesn’t present much of an issue, as they’ve been starting two rookie cornerbacks. Even Nick Foles was able to put up 334 yards and a touchdown against them in Week 2, which shows the potential floor. Trubisky also has very underrated mobility, which provides an attractive floor for streamers.
Running Backs
Javorius Allen (BAL) at PIT
It’s hard to find streamers at the running back position who are less than 40 percent owned, but Allen should be a very good one. Since 2014, the Steelers have averaged at least 7.3 more points at home than they have on the road, which means many more passing-plays for the Ravens, and it’s been proven that Allen is their preferred target in the passing game. In the matchup between the two in Pittsburgh last year, Allen totaled 57 total yards and two touchdowns, and that’s while Alex Collins had 166 total yards and a touchdown. He’s worth a spot-start in this matchup.
Nyheim Hines (IND) vs. HOU
Despite his horrible preseason, Hines is a big part of the Colts offense. He’s now played 62 snaps through two weeks, which is more than Matt Breida, Phillip Lindsay, Kerryon Johnson, Rex Burkhead, Jay Ajayi and others. He also leads the Colts running backs in PPR points. Not that it’s saying much, but against the Texans fierce pass-rush, they’ll need to utilize him in the screen-game. His 10 targets rank 14th among running backs, so they’ve already shown the willingness to use him in that fashion. He’s also tallied nine carries, but that’s not what we’re counting on here. He’s not a great streaming option, but he’s the best of what’s behind Javorius Allen, especially in PPR leagues.
Wide Receivers
Calvin Ridley (ATL) vs. CIN
We saw the benefit to playing alongside Julio Jones in Week 2, as the Panthers had James Bradberry shadow him, while leaving rookie cornerback Donte Jackson on Ridley. This is going to happen quite often (again in Week 3 with Marshon Lattimore on Jones), and it may even happen against the Bengals in Week 4 where William Jackson is the only one who has close to the talent to cover Jones. Even if you don’t need Ridley to spot-start, add him prior to the Week 3 game where he should increase his value against Ken Crawley in coverage.
Anthony Miller (CHI) vs. TB
It’s not the most confidence-inspiring thing to snag a wide receiver who’s seen just six targets through two weeks, but Miller is going to have a phenomenal matchup in Week 4 against the Bucs. He’s running 71 percent of his routes inside the slot, which will match him up against rookie M.J. Stewart. He’s now seen 11 targets in his coverage this year and has allowed 11 catches for 95 yards and a touchdown on them. You know how we always wonder how rookies will adapt to the NFL? Well, this is rookie-on-rookie and Miller is the far superior player.
Devante Parker (MIA) at NE
It’s still mind-blowing to me that he’s available in 68 percent of Yahoo leagues right now, as he’s the No. 1 receiver on the team. For those who are Kenny Stills truthers, he’s currently fourth on the team in targets, and that was with Parker out of the lineup. Going into New England, he may see Stephon Gilmore in coverage, which wouldn’t be the greatest thing, but knowing the Dolphins will be throwing the ball quite a bit is appealing. Gilmore did allow a touchdown to Donte Moncrief in Week 2 and Parker should be a bit more acclimated to the offense after he plays in Week 3. Follow targets in a potentially high-scoring affair. Worst case scenario, you still have a No. 1 wide receiver on your team.
Tre’Quan Smith (NO) at NYG
He’s a player I’ve already added in multiple leagues, as Sean Payton recently said they need to get him more opportunities going forward. I recall something similar being said about Michael Thomas two years ago, and then Alvin Kamara last year. If you missed it, Smith was one of the best receivers in the preseason totaling 15 catches for 189 yards and a touchdown on just 17 targets. His snaps jumped more than double in Week 2 and knowing he’ll play against Eli Apple and the Giants in Week 4 might be a breakout party. On top of all this, Ted Ginn is dealing with a knee injury that could open the door a bit more. Snag Smith before it’s too late.
Others who should be owned: Chris Godwin (TB), Geronimo Allison (GB), James Washington (PIT)
Tight Ends
Jake Butt (DEN) vs. KC
Despite running four less routes than his teammate Jeff Heuerman, Butt has totaled more than double the targets (9-4) and has totaled six catches for 77 yards. Of the 22 tight ends who’ve seen at least eight targets, Butt ranks fourth in yards per route run. As we’ve seen with Emmanuel Sanders, Keenum clearly has a connection with Butt that has led to positive results. Against a Chiefs team that’s struggling on defense (just allowed Jesse James 138 yards and a touchdown), you could definitely do worse than Butt as a streamer.
Mark Andrews (BAL) at PIT
Most see Nick Boyle as leading the Ravens in snaps and assume that he’s the leader of the clubhouse, but he’s not when it comes to pass routes run. Andrews leads the tight ends in pass routes and if we’ve seen a trend, it’s that Andrews is becoming more and more of a weapon to Joe Flacco. After running just 13 snaps in Week 1, he ran 25 routes in Week 2. While Hayden Hurst is going to return soon, he’s already been ruled out for Week 3, so he may not be ready next week. Still, Andrews deserves streaming consideration against a Steelers team who just allowed Travis Kelce to rack up 109 yards and two touchdowns. In a game where Flacco may throw the ball 40-plus times, we could see Andrews (who is a receiving-only tight end) see five-plus targets.
Last ditch one to consider: A.J. Derby (MIA) at NE
D/ST
Green Bay Packers vs. BUF
C’mon. Any time you can get a defense to stream against the Bills, you have to do it. The Bills will be on the road against the Packers, who would probably like to give their quarterback a game to relax. Through two games, the Bills have allowed 11 sacks and four interceptions to their opponents. One of them was the Chargers defense without Joey Bosa. You want to stream anyone you can against the Bills offense right now.
Seattle Seahawks at ARI
If you’ve watched the Seahawks play the first two weeks, you know that the demise of their defense has been a tad exaggerated. They’ve totaled three sacks and five interceptions through two games, and we watched the Bears offensive line struggle to get push in the run-game. They should have both Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright back in the lineup against the Cardinals, who just might have a bottom-five offensive line. Who knows, they may be going up against a rookie making his first start in this game if Sam Bradford continues to struggle in Week 3.
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Mike Tagliere is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @MikeTagliereNFL.