Don't underestimate the value of streaming in fantasy.
Streaming quarterbacks, kickers and defenses each week allows you to take advantage of the best available options. And if you missed out on a high-caliber tight end in drafts, you can even stream that position with some success.
Each week I highlight the best streaming options at all four of those positions. Here's how those recommendations would rank with each position through three weeks:
- Quarterback: QB12 (122.28 points)
- Tight End: TE18 (36.5 points)
- Kicker: K3 (70 points)
- Defense: DEF2 (93 points)
Now let's dig into my top fantasy streaming options at quarterback, tight end, kicker and defense for Week 8.
Note: All ownership data via Yahoo Fantasy and as of Monday.
Week 8 Fantasy Football Streaming Targets
QB: Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions
Matchup: vs. Giants
Ownership: 57%
Stafford might not be considered a weekly QB1 in fantasy, but when he is in a spot where I have him ranked as one, he typically comes through. This week the Lions will be without Kerryon Johnson so we can expect them to lean a bit more on the passing game and Stafford.
The Giants have been a sieve to quarterbacks, allowing at least 300 passing yards four of seven games so this is also a great matchup for them to air it out.
Deeper league flier: Ryan Tannehill vs. Buccaneers (5%)
TE: Vance McDonald, Pittsburgh Steelers
Matchup: vs. Dolphins
Ownership: 49%
Vance’s nagging shoulder injury is likely closer to 100% after the Bye week. The Steelers are massive favorites against the Dolphins which means we should see a pretty conservative run-heavy approach.
This could lean to them drawing up a couple plays to get him the ball and let him bowl a few people over after the catch. Streaming tight ends is no pleasant thing, but it offers a fairly safe floor and decent enough ceiling to roll the dice on him this week.
Deeper league flier: Irv Smith vs. Redskins 1%
Kicker: Matt Prater, Detroit Lions
Matchup: vs. New York Giants
Ownership: 53%
Prater is consistently one of the more accurate kickers in the league as he is now in his fifth-straight season with an 85% make percentage.
Given how many 50-yard kicks he attempts, my model — which adjusts for expected field goal percentage — makes him one of the top-three accurate kickers once you factor in the degree of difficulty.
The Lions should move the ball with ease against the Giants and be on their side of the field quite a bit. No Johnson could make them more likely to stall (than normal) once they get in field goal range this week.
Deeper league flier: Dan Bailey vs. Redskins 15%
Defense: Pittsburgh Steelers
Matchup: vs. Dolphins
Ownership: 47%
The Steelers defense not only gets the dream matchup against the Dolphins, but they have been heating up lately. Rookie Devin Bush looks like the real deal and is the answer they have been looking for ever since they lost Ryan Shazier.
They will have a field day against Ryan Fitzpatrick who was certainly more “Fitzmagic” last week. But the spell has likely worn off and could be in for an ugly game where we see them have Josh Rosen play in the second half (even more fantasy potential).
This week my streamer pick is also currently my No. 1 ranked DEF.
Deeper league flier: Lions vs. New York Giants 9%
