"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 you add someone for a given week based on the matchup, rather than putting emphasis on a player's long-term projection.
Note most of these players are rostered in fewer than 50% of Yahoo! leagues, but that these recommendations do not mean 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 17 streaming analysis.
49ers QB Brock Purdy @ Raiders (37% rostered)
Hopefully you are already set at the QB position heading into the final week because this is one of the worst streaming weeks at the position for the entire season.
As always, check my updated rankings to see who your league's top available QB is. You might have a Daniel Jones (63% rostered) type available. However, Purdy does offer a solid floor/ceiling combination as a mid-range QB2 option against a Raiders defense that ranks dead last in DVOA against the pass.
Purdy also has some sneaky rushing upside that he has yet to flash, but I would not be surprised if he rushes for 20-plus yards at some point. Mike White is the other streaming option I like this week, but there is at least some risk of him having an in-game setback with his rib injury, so Purdy seems like the safer bet.
Saints TE Juwan Johnson @ Eagles (31%)
It’s also a pretty rough week for streaming TEs as most of the top 12 are unavailable.
There is a chance that Tyler Higbee (65%) was dropped in your league and I would go out of my way to try and snag him if that's the case. However, Johnson is the top TE who is available in 69% of leagues and he is a touchdown-dependent TE2 option. I would lean towards him if you're an underdog this week, but if you are a favorite I would prefer Tyler Conklin (27%) who offers a higher floor if Mike White is able to return.
Falcons K Younghoe Koo vs. Cardinals (39%)
The Falcons are 3.5-point home favorites this week and have a 22.5-point implied team total, which is pretty high for them.
Atlanta may be able to move the ball against the Cardinals only to stall once they get inside the red zone. Either way, it sets up nicely for Koo, who will be kicking indoors. We won’t have to worry about the weather with him, which is key at this time of the year. Koo opens the week as my K4.
Giants Defense vs. Colts (12%)
The Colts might stick with Nick Foles this week after he was sacked seven times and threw three interceptions against the Chargers on Monday Night Football.
New York loves to blitz and they will be able to overwhelm the Colts' struggling O-line. The Colts have one of the lower team totals of the week (17.5), though I realize some people are traumatized by the Broncos' defense coughing up 51 points against the Rams last week.
That’s just part of streaming defenses (they are a crapshoot after all), but it’s worth noting that the Broncos were out of the playoff hunt and gave up on their coach. The Giants are fighting for their playoff lives this week and will be giving maximum effort. I consider them a high floor/ceiling option this week and they open as my DEF2.
