Streaming quarterback, kicker and defense has been a strategy I've used successfully for years.
I've parlayed that success into a series of weekly recommendations of the top streaming options at those three positions as well as tight end — a position I don't recommend streaming week-to-week, though still offer recommendations for fantasy players who may need a short-term rental.
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Here are this season's results through Week 4:
- Defense: DEF1
- Quarterback: QB24
- Kicker: K16
- Tight end: TE15
Now without further ado, let's go streaming!
Note: All recommendations are available in at least 50% of Yahoo Fantasy leagues as of writing.
Week 5 Defense Streamer
Cowboys vs. Giants
- Rank: DEF8 [Go To My Full Rankings]
- Available in: 75% of leagues
It takes a tremendous leap of faith to stream the Cowboys defense — they rank dead last with one fantasy point to date.
If you want to take a safer route, you can't go wrong by finding the top available defense (other than the Cowboys) in my Week 5 rankings, but I'll be rolling the dice on the Cowboys as Daniel Jones typically raises the floor/ceiling of opposing defenses. The Giants quarterback has been sacked 14 times (third in the NFL), thrown an interception in every game and lost two fumbles. The Giants also have the 12th-lowest team total (22.5) of the week.
All the more predictive DEF/ST stats favor the Cowboys, so I'm rolling the dice on them this week.
Week 5 QB Streamer
Panthers QB Teddy Bridgewater at Falcons
- Rank: QB9 [Go To My Full Rankings]
- Available in: 81% of leagues
Teddy erupted for 27 fantasy points in Week 4 and should keep it rolling against a struggling Falcons defense.
Bridgewater has a decent chance to clear 300 passing yards in this matchup, especially with how Robby Anderson has played this season — the wide receiver has at least 99 yards in three of four games so far. Anderson has a decent chance to make that four of five against a Falcons defense that has allowed seven different WRs 90 or more yards through four weeks.
D.J. Moore is the type of player who helps elevate Bridgewater's floor, while Anderson helps unlock his quarterback's ceiling. I love both wide outs in this matchup.
Bridgewater's weekly floor/ceiling should be further elevated as his rushing upside returns for the first time since his career-threatening injury in 2016. He's rushed for 20 or more yards in two of four games so far, and looked elusive on his 18-yard touchdown run last week.
Week 5 Kicker Streamer
Texans K Ka'imi Fairbairn vs. Jaguars
- Rank: K5 [Go To My Full Rankings]
- Available in: 68% of leagues
I'm sticking with Fairbairn this week. The Texans were finally able to generate some offense, which was expected once their schedule opened up. They face Jacksonville this week as 6-point home favorites (find real-time odds here), and they have the fifth-highest team total of the week.
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Week 5 TE Streamer
Seahawks TE Greg Olsen vs. Vikings
- Rank: TE14 [Go To My Full Rankings]
- Available in: 78% of leagues
I'm sticking with Olsen for the second straight week. He posted a satisfactory 5/35/0 stat line last week. However, he had a team-high seven targets, three of which were in the red zone. There's a ton of potential here with Russell Wilson #cooking, so I think we need to stick with Olsen.
