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Quarterback & Tight End Streamers: Week 3 (2021 Fantasy Football)

Quarterback & Tight End Streamers: Week 3 (2021 Fantasy Football)

If Week 1 confused you, you were left even more baffled after Week 2.  The start of this NFL season and all its chicanery is still not over. Week 3 is still honestly a “see what happens” week and we probably won’t start seeing the players we expected to start separating from the pack. We are also seeing that some defenses we expected to be bad like Atlanta be bad. But we are also seeing teams like Carolina play as if they are top-tier when we expected them not to be. One thing is abundantly clear in 2021 (yet again). Streaming quarterbacks is fun. Streaming tight ends is not.

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Upside Quarterback Streamer of the Week: Daniel Jones (NYG) vs Atlanta Falcons

Daniel Jones is only 19% rostered in Yahoo. He’s coming off one of his best games ever against a defense that many had as best heading into the 2021 season. He’s now against arguably the worst defense. It is still too early to anoint him the next Josh Allen because he still has Mitchell Trubisky in his range of outcomes. However, in many ways, this is a defining week for Jones. He’s been dealt a poker hand that has a ton of aces. Saquon Barkley has been limited in his first two weeks and will most likely be back at full strength. When healthy, it is clear that Sterling Shepard is a stud. Kenny Golladay is only going to get more acclimatized to the Giants’ offense. Darius Slayton got undeservedly slammed this past week for his “drop” that resulted in the Giants’ loss and is still a great deep threat. And oh yeah, Evan Engram appears to be back. It all comes down to whether or not you believe in Jones. There’s a possibility that Jones folds but with this matchup and his confidence soaring I’m all in.

Safe Floor Quarterback Streamer of the Week: Teddy Bridgewater (DEN) vs New York Jets

Steady Teddy may carve his initials in the Safe Floor Quarterback Stream of the Week seat for the entire season. After two excellent weeks, he is still only rostered in 17% of Yahoo leagues. And I’m ok with that. If you are looking for a consistent player that will get you around 20 fantasy points to allow the rest of your team to pull you through easily look no further. I’ve been a huge believer in Teddy for years and was shocked when Carolina let him go after having a quiet yet stunning year. Bridgewater also has quiet yet stunning rushing upside. Nothing fancy. Nothing spectacular. Just consistent. Dependable. Just. Teddy.

Darkhorse: Sam Darnold (CAR) at Houston Texans

Sam Darnold falls somewhere between Daniel Jones and Teddy Bridgewater. He lacks the rushing potential of Jones but throwing for four touchdowns in a game is definitely possible. In many ways, Darnold is exactly where Jones is at the moment. Two young highly touted prospects that have not lived up to expectations. Both have the tools but both are very confidence-dependent. The move to Carolina was exactly what Darnold needed for sure. He’s been steadily getting better than playing against a Texans team should not stop his progress. Be aware that Houston has not been Atlanta though. While the Falcons have been the most generous versus quarterbacks so far in 2021, Houston is ranked 19th. Common sense would tell us though that without Tyrod Taylor, Houston may be very bad this week. This can only help Darnold. But then again, looking back at the first two weeks of the season, common sense was often missing. Here’s hoping that in Week 3, common sense will somehow start showing up. I think worst-case scenario Darnold puts up 20 fantasy points but has the capability to put up more. He’s only rostered in 15% of Yahoo leagues.

Upside Tight End Streamer of the Week: Evan Engram (NYG) vs Atlanta Falcons

This is a no-brainer for me this week. This so much uncertainty this early for streaming tight ends, we are gifted with Evan Engram. He’s been injured is supposed to be back. He’s only 32% rostered but that should go up considerably. Engram has been underrated all off-season even before the injury and has top-10 upside. He’s always been a target hog and despite entering a receiving room that is rather crowded, Engram has built a strong rapport with Daniel Jones since the beginning. He may not knock it out of the park this week since he is returning, but look for him to be better than practically anyone else on the wire. More importantly, moving forward, he may be someone you keep and rely on week-to-week. Seriously, after Engram returns, there is a void at tight end unless someone steps up and becomes this year’s Robert Tonyan. This could happen but don’t hold your breath. As the British would say it’s “not bloody likely.”

Safe Floor Tight End Streamer of the Week: Jack Doyle (IND) @ Tennesee Titans

Jack Doyle personifies the term “not sexy”. Many have been waiting for the Mo Allie Cox breakout. Many others have been hoping for the rookie, Kyle Granson to make a statement. However, it has been Doyle who has shown up, even if it has been ever so slightly. Last week he had eight targets, five receptions, 64 yards, and converted a two-point conversion. That’s probably his ceiling but you can probably expect him to get you in the neighborhood of 10 fantasy points. That is not sexy for sure but 10 points are much better than many can expect week-to-week from far sexier options. If you want upside, stay away. But if you need a player to just give you something and let the rest of your team dominant, plug in Doyle.

Darkhorse: Pat Freiermuth (PIT) vs Cincinnati Bengals or Cole Kmet (CHI) @ Cleveland

I did not think that Pat Freiermuth, despite his talent, would usurp Eric Ebron this season. I thought he was a great stash in dynasty with the excitement beginning in 2022. Seems that the Pittsburgh Steelers are too excited to wait. Freiermuth was on the field for 50% of his team’s offensive snaps last week compared to Ebron, who only saw 46%. Seems like the tide is changing. Freiermuth is like a T.J. Hockenson. A true, great blocking, solid tight end who has top-5 potential. If Diontae Johnson is out for a while then I see Freiermuth’s usage (especially in the red zone) increase. If Freiermuth is still too dark to be your horse, then look no further than Cole Kmet. He disappointed last week with only one reception for zero yards but did have a 73% snap share. And he could get Justin Fields this week. Both have the potential to be league winners this week and beyond. Both are that good.

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Marc Mathyk is a featured writer at FantasyPros and is a co-founder of Veridian Global, a fantasy football apparel company. He is also a member of The Undroppables. For more from Marc, check out his archive and follow him @Masterjune70.

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