"Streaming" quarterbacks, defenses and kickers has been a fantasy football strategy I've successfully used 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 — which can be of assistance in a pinch.
The concept behind streaming is that you add someone for a given week based on the matchup, rather than putting the emphasis behind a player's long-term projection.
Note that these players are rostered in fewer than 50% of Yahoo! leagues, but that these recommendations do not mean that they are the best streamer play for your league — be sure to check my up-to-the-minute rankings to see who the best available player is in your league.
Read on for my Week 12 streaming analysis.
Commanders QB Taylor Heinicke vs. ATL (14% rostered)
It’s a bad week for streaming the QB position as so many of the potential options have a 50% or more rostership right now.
There is a chance someone I have ranked higher than Heinicke is available in your league. As always, refer to my Week 12 rankings when it comes to making your personal decision.
Heinicke has been playing well enough to ensure he has a pretty long leash as the Commanders starting QB right now. He has a good matchup this week against a Falcons defense that ranks 28th in DVOA against the pass. He also has rushing upside, but Heinicke hasn’t tapped into it as much this year. Last season, he had 3 games of 40+ rushing yards and I think we could see him get there in the coming weeks.
Jets TE Tyler Conklin vs. CHI (20%)
The TE landscape is somewhat rough right now, but I think the sneaky move to begin the week would be to pluck Conklin off waivers in the hope that the Jets turn to Joe Flacco or Mike White this week.
Flacco would be ideal as Conklin posted the fourth-highest score at the position in Weeks 1-3 – when Flacco was under center – and Conklin has been averaging a steady 75% routes run rate over the past 4 weeks. That gives him TE1 upside. If the Jets stick with Zach Wilson under center we can pivot to Evan Engram or Foster Moreau.
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Seahawks K Jason Myers vs. LV (29%)
The Seahawks have the sixth-highest implied team total against the Raiders this week. They should be able to provide Myers with plenty of scoring opportunities and he opens the week as my fifth-ranked kicker.
Dolphins DEF vs. HOU (27%)
The Commanders came up big as the top streaming play last week in this position as they posted the top score of the week against the Texans.
Now, we get a Dolphins defense that’s widely available and gets to face Houston. Bradley Chubb has gotten off to a bit of a slow start on his new team, but this could be a breakout game for him. Miami opens the week as my fourth-ranked defense and is worth a couple FAAB if you are in “win now” mode.
