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How many times have you heard someone telling you to “stream” a position? Whether it be quarterback, tight end, or defense, the idea of streaming is great, provided you get the players you want off the waiver wire. The issue with streaming week-to-week is that everyone knows who you’ll be targeting in those good matchups and you might have that player swiped from underneath you, or even worse, your opponent that week may snag a player just to ensure you don’t get them.
We started this article so you don’t have to worry about that anymore. Each Saturday morning, you’ll head over to your waiver wire and snag the players who are lined up for good matchups the following week. They may have a brutal matchup for that current week. Great, even better. That just means they’re more likely to be available for you. By snagging them a week prior, you eliminate the need to spend a lot of FAAB dollars on the top tier defense that everyone is chasing. Here are the players who have solid Week 4 matchups on tap and are less than 40 percent owned.
Quarterbacks
Case Keenum (WAS) at NYG
Let’s be clear – Keenum isn’t going to average 300.5 yards and 2.5 touchdowns per game this season. He’s currently the No. 5 quarterback in fantasy football, ahead of Deshaun Watson. He can, however, be a phenomenal streamer against the Giants, who have allowed a massive 10.6 yards per attempt and 71.0 percent completion rate through two games. Despite seeing just 62 total pass attempts against them, they’ve allowed the QB2 and QB7 performances.
Mason Rudolph (PIT) vs CIN
We have only seen him in a small sample size, but Rudolph looked competent enough against the Seahawks, completing 12-of-19 passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns. He threw an interception, but that was due to the ball bouncing off Donte Moncrief‘s hands (shocker). The Bengals are essentially Dolphins-lite right now, as they’ve allowed 10.9 yards per attempt and an 11.1 percent touchdown-rate, while the Dolphins have allowed 11.9 yards per attempt and a 14.8 percent touchdown-rate.
Other solid alternatives (it’s a good week to stream quarterbacks): Daniel Jones (NYG) vs WAS, Andy Dalton (CIN) at PIT, Jacoby Brissett (IND) vs OAK, Derek Carr (OAK) at IND
Running Backs
Justin Jackson (LAC) at MIA
How is he just 30 percent owned? He’s playing the role that Austin Ekeler did behind Melvin Gordon, which nets 7-10 touches per game. Jackson has done extremely well with them, too, as he’s averaged a robust 8.9 yards per carry, which doesn’t even include a long touchdown run that was called back last week. We also saw Ekeler fumble another goal-line carry last week, which was one of the factors that lost them that game. Against the Dolphins, there’s plenty of work to go around, as they’ve faced an average of 34.5 rushing attempts per game by running backs alone. Jackson will be on the RB3 radar next week and will be owned in many more leagues.
Ty Johnson (DET) vs KC
Not many know who Johnson is, but you should now that C.J. Anderson has been released. He’s a speedster the Lions drafted in the sixth-round who appears to be headed for the role they had slated for Anderson. They’ve continually mixed-in running backs alongside Kerryon Johnson, as evidenced by the 24 carries and five targets that have gone to others. Against the Chiefs, there may be a lot of scoring and production to be had. The Chiefs allowed a massive 4.96 yards per carry last year, the most in the NFL. They also allowed 20 running backs to eclipse 12.5 PPR points, which was the average top-24 finish last year.
T.J. Yeldon (BUF) vs NE
We don’t know if Devin Singletary will miss multiple weeks with his hamstring injury, but it’s possible. Because of that, Yeldon should be rostered for a matchup with the Patriots next week. They’ve allowed just 25 rushing yards in each of their first two games this year, which will make life difficult on Frank Gore. That would mean they’ll rely on the better pass-catcher of the two, and that’s Yeldon. When the Bills played the Patriots last year, the running backs totaled seven targets in their Week 16 matchup with Josh Allen under center.
Darren Sproles (PHI) at GB
With the Eagles likely without both Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson, they’re going to need to rely on Sproles for a lot more production in the passing game. With the amount of pressure the Packers pass-rush is generating, Sproles could see more targets than most realize.
Should be picked up in case Marlon Mack needs to miss time: Jordan Wilkins (IND) vs OAK
Wide Receivers
Randall Cobb (DAL) at NO
First, why is he available in nearly 70 percent of leagues? Pick him up right now. He has a great matchup in Week 4 (what this article is for), but he also has a phenomenal matchup in Week 3. With Michael Gallup out 2-4 weeks, Cobb has become a much safer option, though he saw five and six targets in the games with Gallup. The Saints have continually been burned through the slot, as nickel cornerback P.J. Williams just isn’t very good. Since the start of 2018, Williams has faced 102 targets in coverage. On those targets, he’s allowed 73 receptions for 923 yards and nine touchdowns.
Keke Coutee (HOU) vs CAR
There were a lot of analysts who loved Coutee this offseason, though his injury derailed the hype train. He was back on the field last week, as they’re easing him back into the offense. He should be at/near 100 percent for this matchup with the Panthers, which features a matchup with rookie slot cornerback Javien Elliott, who has seen six targets in his NFL career, and has allowed every one to be caught. With James Bradberry on Deandre Hopkins and Donte Jackson on Will Fuller, we should see a solid game out of Coutee in Week 4.
Trey Quinn/Paul Richardson (WAS) at NYG
I’d make the argument that both can contribute against the Giants, as they’ve already allowed six different wide receivers finish with 12-plus PPR points. Quinn has seen 13 targets through two games, including three in the red zone. Many will be clamoring to start Terry McLaurin in Week 4, though Quinn and Richardson might just surprise you.
James Washington/Diontae Johnson (PIT) vs CIN
It seems likely that Washington will be the guy who sees a significant bump with Mason Rudolph under center, as they played at Oklahoma State together. Washington was also the leader in snaps behind JuJu Smith-Schuster, though Johnson saw a nice bump as well, as it seemed the Steelers are moving on from Donte Moncrief in the starting lineup. The Bengals have allowed at least two top-46 wide receivers in each of their first two games.
Decent alternate options: J.J. Arcega-Whiteside (PHI) at GB, Cole Beasley (BUF) vs NE, Geronimo Allison (GB) vs PHI
Stash him because it could be big: Parris Campbell (IND) vs OAK
Tight Ends
Will Dissly (SEA) at ARI
Not only did Dissly just have a two-touchdown game, but he’s about to play against the Cardinals defense that allowed the No. 2 tight end in Week 1, and then the No. 1 tight end in Week 2. Both T.J. Hockenson and Mark Andrews went bananas in those games. In fact, it wasn’t just them. The Cardinals have now allowed 17-of-23 passing for 273 yards and three touchdowns to the tight end position.
Jordan Reed (WAS) at NYG
If he’s healthy, the Redskins passing attack just adds another weapon. We watched both Jason Witten and Blake Jarwin score touchdowns against the Giants in Week 1, and then they went on to play against Dawson Knox in Week 2, who’s not expected to post results. The Giants will have their hands full with the Redskins receivers, which could make Reed an underappreciated asset in Week 4.
Good alternative option who’s extremely low-owned: Gerald Everett (LAR) vs TB
D/STs
Denver Broncos vs JAX
Through two games, the Broncos defense doesn’t have a sack. How is this possible? The team obviously hasn’t played well under Vic Fangio, but coming back to Denver in a home game against Gardner Minshew and the Jaguars offensive line should help. He’d been sacked five times on 71 dropbacks prior to the Titans game on Thursday night, which was among the highest rates in the league.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs CIN
I know everyone wants to hate on the Steelers defense right now, but you can’t forget they played against Tom Brady and Russell Wilson the first two weeks. It’s fair to say most defenses would struggle against them. The Bengals lost two starting offensive linemen before the start of the season and are now dealing with a few more of them. Healthy or not, the Bengals line doesn’t have the talent to stop T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward. Playing at home after trading for Minkah Fitzpatrick, count me in.
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Mike Tagliere is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @MikeTagliereNFL.
