Andy Heidemann

Week 9 Streamers: Kicking and Streaming

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Week 9 Streamers: Kicking and Streaming

WHAT IS STREAMING IN FANTASY FOOTBALL?

When playing fantasy, there are a lot of players who are considered "every week starts". Some of these players include Christian McCaffrey, Davante Adams, Travis Kelce and so on. There are a few positions in fantasy football that don't have as many every week starters. Quarterbacks, defenses and kickers are very streamable positions, meaning that they're usually able to have their spots filled in a pinch off of the waiver wire and free agency. This is the week 9 streamers guide, Kicking and Streaming.

Every week, I'm going to bring you the most up to date streamers moving forward to make life as easy as possible for you! There will be two lists. The first list will be the best streams for the players matchup the upcoming week. The second list will be a players 3 week outlook for long term streamability.

Let's get started.

 

WEEK 9 STREAMERS - QUARTERBACKS:

 

TUA TAGOVAILOA

NEXT THREE GAMES - HOU, BAL, NYJ

Average Ownership: 43.7%

My top streaming QB in my fantasy football rankings is Tua. We all knew he was going to struggle against a great Buffalo Bills defense last week. The Houston Texans are an incredible matchup for Tua as they give up 22.1 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks. That's among the fifth most points allowed this NFL season. Tagovailoa has a great chance to be a top fantasy football quarterback in week 9 and he's only owned in 44% of fantasy leagues.

In week 10, Tua takes on the Baltimore Ravens and in week 11, the New York Jets. The Ravens rank dead last in passing yards allowed per game with 296.1. The Jets are also surprisingly bad at giving up passing yards. They rank 27th in the league and allow 275.3 yards per game through the air. This is where it gets interesting; both of their fantasy points allowed to QBs are much lower than you might expect. The Baltimore Ravens give up an average of 18 points per game to quarterbacks and the New York Jets are even better with only 17.6. With this in mind, I give Tua a week 9 grade of an A but his next 3 week schedule grade a C+.

 

TAYSOM HILL

NEXT THREE GAMES - ATL, TEN, PHI

Average Ownership: 6.4%

In week 9, I have to mention Taysom Hill. It is uncertain if he will clear the NFL's concussion protocol before game time but everything is progressing smoothly according to head coach Sean Payton. So far this season, Hill has only been used as a gadget player for the Saints. However, last season in the absence of Drew Brees, Taysom had a stretch of four straight games of fantasy relevance. As far as fantasy points in that time span, he averaged about 21 points per game. The added bonus Hill gets with his running ability makes him an awesome stream if he is cleared to go by game time. The Atlanta Falcons matchup isn't a match made in heaven as they rank 12th best against fantasy quarterbacks. I'm choosing to cling to the high floor he provides with his ground game and he is hardly owned in many leagues.

His week 10 and 11 matchups are a mixed bag. The Philadelphia Eagles rank even higher than Atlanta against fantasy quarterbacks, only allowing 18.1 fantasy points per game on the season. Week 11 has Taysom up against the Tennessee Titans who rank near the bottom when allowing fantasy points to opposing QBs. The Titans give up an average of 20.5 fantasy points per game. Over all, Taysom Hill isn't an every week starter with these matchups but in a pinch, his rushing floor will make him very handy. I give his week 9 grade a B and his next 3 week schedule a B+.

 

DEREK CARR

NEXT THREE GAMES - NYG, KC, CIN

Average Ownership: 63%

Coming off of his bye week, Derek Carr finds himself on my streamers list yet again. This man is averaging 18.1 fantasy points a game fantasy managers just don't seem to want to keep him rostered. In his seven games this season, only one was a truly poor performance while the rest have shown what an awesome player he can be. He has new coaching and one of the best tight ends in football in Darren Waller. His week 9 matchup is against the New York Giants and I fully expect Carr to pick up where he left off before the bye week.

Weeks 10 and 11 have a foot in both camps. Carr's upcoming matchup is against the Kansas City Chiefs and their defense is terrible. They give up the 2nd most fantasy points to quarterbacks on a weekly basis at 23.9 and they've got the fantasy players on the other side who can score so this game could very well be a divisional shootout! The Bengals on the other hand are the 10th best against opposing fantasy quarterbacks. They aren't the Arizona Cardinals or the Buffalo Bills but those numbers still aren't very comforting if you're streaming. I give his week 9 grade a B+ and his next 3 week schedule a B+.

 

WEEK 9 STREAMERS - FANTASY DEFENSES:

 

MIAMI DOLPHINS

NEXT THREE GAMES - HOU, BAL, NYJ

Average Ownership: 20.8%

On average, the Houston Texans allow double digit fantasy points to opposing D/ST's. It doesn't matter who they're playing, the Texans are bad, no matter how you slice it. I stream almost every defense I can against them. They're 6th worst against fantasy running backs, 6th worst against wide receivers and 4th worst against the tight end position. They have problems all over the place and allowing 10.1 fantasy points per game is almost laughable. It makes the Miami Dolphins my defensive stream of the week and it isn't even close.

Baltimore will be a tough matchup for them in week 10 and the Jets could be complicated if they march out hall of famer Mike White. As far as a stream goes, their week 9 grade is an A+ and their 3 week schedule grade is a C+.

 

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

NEXT THREE GAMES - CAR, CLE, ATL

Average Ownership: 60%

The Patriots D/ST are averaging double digit fantasy points and the Carolina Panthers are allowing 7.9 fantasy points per game to opposing defenses so this really seems like a no brainer. Throw in the fact that Sam Darnold could miss the game in the concussion protocol, I don't see a way that this gets better.

In the upcoming matchups, the Cleveland Browns rank pretty well against opposing D/ST's. However, this is on a season long average and the past 3 weeks they haven't really been themselves. The Falcons aren't bad for the Patriots either, especially with Ridley missing a significant chunk of time. I give their week 9 grade an A and their next 3 week schedule a B+.

 

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

NEXT THREE GAMES - ATL, TEN, PHI

Average Ownership: 61%

The Saints defense is averaging near 14 fantasy points per game. I'll say that again, nearly 14 fantasy points per game. That's crazy all by itself. Combine that with issues the Atlanta Falcons are having on offense and you've got a fantastic streaming option for week 9.

I don't recommend streaming this defense in weeks 10 and 11 due to matchups. Both the Titans and the Eagles rank very well against opposing D/ST's. It's worth mentioning that they have scored 17 points against the Green Bay Packers, 23.5 against the Patriots and 18.25 against the Buccaneers. So, maybe matchups aren't everything.

 

WEEK 9 STREAMERS - KICKERS:

So in week 6, I got a lot of comments telling me to check out the reddit user u/subvertadown for kicker info and oh my gosh, there's so much. It would be a crime not to take advantage of all this data and insight. From now on, this article will have it's kicking streamers come from them! Their newest take on kickers is to list the top 10 projected into categories so that's how we're going to do it.

 

KICKERS ON HIGH SCORING TEAMS:

MATT GAY - PLAYS THE TENNESSEE TITANS

73.6% average league ownership

TYLER BASS - PLAYS THE JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

78.6% average league ownership

HARRISON BUTKER - PLAYS THE GREEN BAY PACKERS

79.6% average league ownership

GREG ZUERLEIN - PLAYS THE DENVER BRONCOS

59.9% average league ownership

KICKERS WITH HIGH FIELD GOAL POTENTIAL:

NICK FOLK - PLAYS THE CAROLINA PANTHERS

58.4% average league ownership

MICHAEL BADGLEY - PLAYS THE NEW YORK JETS

4.9% average league ownership

LONG-DISTANCE KICKERS:

GREG JOSEPH - PLAYS THE BALTIMORE RAVENS

34.9% average league ownership

JUSTIN TUCKER - PLAYS THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS

84.7% average league ownership

CHRIS BOSWELL - PLAYS THE CHICAGO BEARS

8.23% average league ownership

HIGH ACCURACY KICKERS:

DANIEL CARLSON - PLAYS THE NEW YORK GIANTS

37.3% average league ownership

 

BYES:

We're to the point in the season where byes start to pile up and come at you quicker than you'd expect. It's very important to take note of your bye weeks and make sure you're prepared. You don't want to be the league mate caught with their pants down because you were too busy to take a look two or three weeks down the road. I have listed out this week's bye teams along with the most important players involved in fantasy football. If you see any players on your squad then, well... You'll need to address that quickly for the upcoming matches! And don't forget, quarterbacks, defenses and kickers are all extremely easy to stream.

Detroit Lions

  • D'Andre Swift

  • TJ Hockenson

Seattle Seahawks

  • DK Metcalf

  • Tyler Lockett

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Tom Brady

  • Mike Evans

  • Chris Godwin

  • Antonio Brown

  • Leonard Fournette

Washington Football Team

  • Antonio Gibson

  • JD McKissic

  • Terry McLaurin

 

KICKING AND STREAMING WEEK 9 CONCLUSION:

My favorite streams this time around are; Tua Tagovailoa, Taysom Hill, the Miami Dolphins D/ST, the New Orleans Saints D/ST, Greg Zuerlein and Nick Folk. Come back next week for more Kicking and Streaming and good luck in week 9!

Week 8 Streamers: Kicking And Streaming

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Kicking And Streaming: Week 8 Streamers

What is Streaming in Fantasy Football?

When playing fantasy, there are a lot of players who are considered “every week starts”. Some of these players include Christian McCaffrey, Davante Adams, Travis Kelce and so on. There are a few positions in fantasy football that don’t have as many every week starters. Quarterbacks, defenses and kickers are very streamable positions, meaning that they’re usually able to have their spots filled in a pinch off of the waiver fire and free agency. This is the week 8 streamers guide known as Kicking and Streaming.

Every week, I’m going to bring you the most up to date streamers moving forward to make life as easy as possible for you! There will be two lists. The first list will be the best streams for the players matchup the upcoming week. The second list will be a players 3 week outlook for long term streamability.

Let’s get started.

 

WEEK 8 STREAMERS – QUARTERBACKS:

CARSON WENTZ

Next Three Games – TEN, NYJ, JAX

Average Ownership: 46.9%

Week 8 of the fantasy football season is upon us and the teams on BYE leave the Lamar and Carr owners down and out. Luckily, quarterback is an extremely easy position to stream and I will help us through it. Carson Wentz has been putting in work as the Colts new QB. He was off to a rougher start with his initial injuries but has bounced back very well. Not only has he looked better, but Wentz is taking care of the football. only 1 INT on the season and he’s really started to find his rhythm. The week 8 fantasy matchup for the Colts is pretty nice being the Titans. Tennessee is the 7th worst defense in allowing fantasy points to the QB position and this is even after they held Patrick Mahomes to only 6.7 himself. Wentz is a great stream in week 8 fantasy matchups and he is only 46% owned so he should be out there to be picked up on the waiver wire.

In week 9 and week 10, the matchups remain juicy as Wentz will get the New York Jets and the Jacksonville Jaguars. All 3 of these defenses are horrid and if you’re looking for a long term streaming option, look no further. Two of his three next games have defenses that allow over 19.7 fantasy points per game. If that doesn’t convince you, I don’t know what will. I give Carson Wentz and his week 8 matchup an A- and his next 3 week schedule an A.

 

KIRK COUSINS

Next Three Games – DAL, BAL, LAC

Average Ownership: 51%

Kirk Cousins is the QB #11 on the season and has really only had 1 game that wasn’t great. And even in that week 5 matchup, he put up over 14 points and didn’t lose anyone their week. Dallas is a great matchup for opposing quarterbacks. The Cowboys are allowing 21.2 fantasy points per game and they know how to put points on the board. Combine those two facts and it’s a recipe for a great fantasy game for Kirk. Also coming off of BYE weeks, both the Vikings and Cowboys should be fully rested and be ready to sling the rock.

As for weeks 9 and 10, the matchups don’t look nearly as great. Well, they don’t look as great on paper that is. In weeks 1 and 2, the Vikings lost to both the Bengals and the Cardinals. Both of these teams rank bottom five in fantasy points given up to the quarterback and Kirk scored a respectable 22 and 24 points in those games. The Vikings might just be better than their record indicates. The Ravens and the Chargers might look scary to stream against but Kirk could still get it done. I don’t love those matchups but I won’t be freaking out over them. I give Cousins and his week 8 matchup an A- and his next 3 week schedule grade a B-.

 

DANIEL JONES

Next Three Games – KC, LV, BYE

Average Ownership: 28.5%

The Kansas City Chiefs defense is horrible. Not just bad, but historically bad. They allow almost 25 points per game to quarterbacks and that ranks #2, only behind the Washington Football Team. It’s a Monday night game this week so streaming Jones can be risky. We might not know if all of his weapons are available until game time. If that’s the case, you’ll be rolling the dice on Jones, with the weapons or not. His rushing yardage has given him more relevance this season, mixed with the fact that he’s turning the ball over less than previous seasons. I like the matchup a lot in week 8 but it’s a risky play.

In week 9, the New York Giants take on the Raiders. Las Vegas has been pretty middle of the pack in terms of points allowed to the QB position so you can expect an alright performance from Jones. In week 10, the Giants have their BYE week so they won’t be playing anyone. All in all, I give Jones’ week 8 grade a B- and his next 3 week schedule a C-.

 

WEEK 8 STREAMERS – FANTASY DEFENSE:

CINCINNATI BENGALS

Next Three Games – NYJ, CLE, BYE

Average Ownership: 33.6%

The Bengals are good, what year is it? Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase are changing the fate of the Bengals for the better and I’m here for it. I’m also here for the rise of their defense as they take on the Jets in week 8. On average, the Jets give up 10 fantasy points per game to opposing D/ST plays and I expect this week to be no different. We saw what they can do against a good offense in week 7. Also, at only 33% average ownership, they should be out on the waiver wire for easy picking.

Weeks 9 and 10 aren’t as kind as they play the Cleveland Browns who rank towards the bottom in terms of points allowed to opposing D/ST plays. I don’t really recommend them unless Baker Mayfield misses more time like he did last Thursday night. After the Browns, Cincinnati has their BYE. I give the Bengals week 8 grade an A and their next 3 week schedule a C.


SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Next Three Games – CHI, ARI, LAR

Average Ownership: 58%

Fantasy football is sometimes strange. By all accounts, the 49ers defense should be outstanding, and yet they are just kind of okay. I feel like several teams have that going on. The Los Angeles Chargers, for example, have a mean defensive roster but are only alright on defense. Luckily, because it’s fantasy football, none of that really matters anyway. The 49ers get to take on the Chicago Bears. The rankings show that the Bears allow the 3rd most fantasy football points to D/ST plays and we certainly saw that in week 7 when they took on the Buccaneers. They’re a little more owned than the other defenses I’ve listed here but it’s worth a waiver wire check to make sure.

Weeks 9 and 10 are awful. I won’t recommend that anyone plays the 49ers against the Cardinals or the Rams as they will just get torched. I give their week 8 grade an A and their 3 week schedule grade a D-.


ATLANTA FALCONS

Next Three Games – CAR, NO, DAL

Average Ownership: 8.4%

It pains me to say it but the Panthers are bad. Sam Darnold looks like he did when he played for the Jets and I don’t know what it’ll take to pull him out of it. What I can say for sure though, is that until he figures it out, he’s a DST target. The last 2 games, the Panthers have allowed an average of 14 points per game to opposing D/ST plays. The Falcons can handle this, even being an average defensive unit.

Weeks 9 and 10 are mixed. You’ll probably be fine playing the Falcons against the Saints unless they get Michael Thomas back. I certainly won’t be playing them against the Cowboys. The Falcons week 8 grade is a B+ and their next 3 week schedule grade is a C.

 

WEEK 8 STREAMERS – KICKERS:

So in week 6, I got a lot of comments telling me to check out the reddit user u/subvertadown for kicker info and oh my gosh, there’s so much. It would be a crime not to take advantage of all this data and insight. From now on, this article will have it’s kicking streamers come from them!

WEEK 8: BUTKER VS GIANTS

82.6% average league ownership

WEEK 8: ZUERLEIN @ VIKINGS

50.1% average league ownership

WEEK 8: JOSEPH VS COWBOYS

16.9% average league ownership

WEEK 8: MCPHERSON @ JETS

5.3% average league ownership

WEEK 8: BASS VS MIAMI

53% average league ownership

WEEK 8: SUCCOP @ SAINTS

45% average league ownership

WEEK 8: HOPKINS VS PATRIOTS

.95% average league ownership

 

BYES OF NOTE FOR WEEK 8 STREAMERS:

We’re to the point in the season where byes start to pile up and come at you quicker than you’d expect. It’s very important to take note of your bye weeks and make sure you’re prepared. You don’t want to be the league mate caught with their pants down because you were too busy to take a look two or three weeks down the road. I have listed out this week’s bye teams along with the most important players involved in fantasy football. If you see any players on your squad then, well… You’ll need to address that quickly for the upcoming matches! And don’t forget, quarterbacks, defenses and kickers are all extremely easy to stream.

Baltimore Ravens

  • Lamar Jackson

  • Mark Andrews

  • Marquise Brown

  • Rashod Bateman

Las Vegas Raiders

  • Derek Carr

  • Darren Waller

  • Josh Jacobs

  • Henry Ruggs

 

KICKING AND STREAMING WEEK 8 STREAMERS CONCLUSION:

My favorite streams this time around are; Carson Wentz, Kirk Cousins, any listed defense, Zuerlein and Joseph. Come back next week for more Kicking and Streaming and good luck in week 8!

Week 7 Streamers: Kicking And Streaming

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Kicking And Streaming: Week 6 Streamers

What is Streaming in Fantasy Football?

When playing fantasy, there are a lot of players who are considered "every week starts". Some of these players include Christian McCaffrey, Davante Adams, Travis Kelce and so on. There are a few positions in fantasy football that don't have as many every week starters. Quarterbacks, defenses and kickers are very streamable positions, meaning that they're usually able to have their spots filled in a pinch off of the waiver fire and free agency. This is the week 6 streamers guide known as Kicking and Streaming.

Every week, I'm going to bring you the most up to date streamers moving forward to make life as easy as possible for you! There will be two lists. The first list will be the best streams for the players matchup the upcoming week. The second list will be a players 3 week outlook for long term streamability.

Let's get started.

 

WEEK 6 STREAMERS - QUARTERBACKS:

TAYLOR HEINICKE

Next Three Games - KC, GB, DEN

Average Ownership: 8.9%

So my #1 quarterback stream for the week 6 fantasy matches is Taylor Heinicke. If you need a stream and want a shot at massive fantasy points, look no further. Both the Kansas City Chiefs and Washington Football Team aren't able to stop anything or anyone on defense. It's almost been hard to watch. With that being said, the Kansas City Chiefs should still have an offense that's firing on all cylinders so Heinicke and the Football Team will need to put up massive numbers to compete. To me, this is this week's Fantasy Points Bowl. There's no way we're getting out of this one with less than 60 combined points.

As for weeks 7 and 8, the Green Bay Packers and Denver Broncos aren't nearly on the same level when it comes to bad defenses. However, it's been seen that they can be scored on. Heinickes week 6 matchup is an A+ and his next 3 week grade is a B+.

 

SAM DARNOLD

Next Three Games - MIN, NYG, ATL

Average Ownership: 39.9%

Darnold put up a stinker of a game in week 5 against the Eagles. It was full of turnovers and bad decisions. Normally people would shake it off as a bad game but we all saw him play for the New York Jets. It's scary to see a QB with a turnover machine label slip back into old habits. Fortunately, Sam Darnold and the Carolina Panthers get the Minnesota Vikings in week 6 who have been looking pretty rough themselves. If you're in need of a stream, Sam will fill in nicely and he will be fairly cheap after his performance last week.

Weeks 7 and 8, Darnold will get a shot against the New York Giants and the Atlanta Falcons. This 3 week lineup is a match made in Heaven and is a great opportunity for fantasy points. His week 5 matchup grades out to a B but his next 3 week grade hovers an A-.

 

TREVOR LAWRENCE

Next Three Games - MIA, BYE, SEA

Average Ownership: 54.2%

The Jacksonville Jaguars have been bad. There have been some bright spots though. One of those bright spots is Trevor Lawrence. This is a guy who is clearly putting in the work and getting better week after week, despite the turmoil involving his organization and head coach, Urban Meyer. If Trevor Lawrence was going to have a breakout game, it would be in week 6. The Miami Dolphins have shown that they've basically thrown in the towel for the season and I don't expect much fight moving forward. On the flip side of that, the Jaguars are also pretty cooked, but their young rookie QB is set to prove himself.

Weeks 7 and 8 will not be nearly as good as week 6. Obviously, Lawrence can't score any points on his bye week. Week 8 could be pretty good but I can't imagine holding him through his bye, especially during such an injury heavy time of year. His week 6 grade is an A while his next 3 week grade is a C-.

 

WEEK 6 STREAMERS - FANTASY DEFENSE:

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Next Three Games - HOU, SF, TEN

Average Ownership: 55.9%

The Indianapolis Colts have kind of been all over the place when it comes to defensive fantasy points scored. They did almost have the defensive touchdown of the year against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football, but no dice. In week 6, the Colts get to take on the Houston Texans led by Davis Mills. Now, the Texans almost beat the New England Patriots and things were looking scary for Mac Jones at the time. To me, it mostly looked like the New England Patriots were suffering from that Tampa Bay Buccaneers matchup in week 4. I don't expect the Texans to put up a huge fight and I love the players on this Colts defense. They score about 7.5 fantasy points per game which is pretty good when looking for a streamer.

As far as their week 7 and 8 schedule, the San Francisco 49ers might be tough but I believe that the Tennessee Titans matchup should be favorable. It's a divisional rematch and it will be a very important game for both teams fighting for postseason spots. The Colts week 6 grade is an A+ while their next 3 week grade is a B-.

 

CAROLINA PANTHERS

Next Three Games - MIN, NYG, ATL

Average Ownership: 47.1%

The Carolina Panthers defense started the season historically well. They have scored 9 fantasy points or more in 4 of their first 5 games. The game they didn't was against the Dallas Cowboys who are emerging as an NFC powerhouse scorer. With all that being said, the Minnesota Vikings have been struggling lately and the Panthers are coming off of a tough loss to the Philadelphia Eagles that they'll want revenge for. I really like this matchup and if you're a defensive streamer (as you should be), then they just might be the defense for you.

Weeks 7 and 8 also look like juicy matchups for lots of defensive fantasy points. Fantasy football is all about matchups and analysis and it's clear that the Giants and the Falcons aren't very good. I give the Panthers week 6 grade a B+ and their next 3 week grade an A-.

 

GREEN BAY PACKERS

 

Next Three Games - CHI, WAS, ARI

Average Ownership: 31.8%

Averaging over 7 fantasy points per game over the last 4 weeks, the Green Bay Packers have a really nice week 6 fantasy matchup against the Chicago Bears. As far as fantasy football goes, Justin Fields hasn't looked like we all expected and that is partly to do with Matt Nagy. As long as Nagy is there, the Bears are limited on offense, no matter who the quarterback is. Taking that into account along with the Packers lower average ownership percentage, they are a very nice stream this week in your fantasy football leagues. If they're available on your waiver wire, go and snatch them up.

Weeks 7 and 8 aren't as good as the Bears but not many matchups could be. The Washington Football Team is able to score but if you get Heinicke on a bad day he won't be very productive. The Arizona Cardinals on the other hand will boat race you to the finish line and I don't expect many fantasy points for this Packers defense that week. Their week 5 grade is an A- while their next 3 week grade is a B.

 

WEEK 6 STREAMERS - KICKERS:

A Twitter user by the name of @Lindellions does a weekly kicker tier list with lots of great information. I've really enjoyed them and found them useful throughout the season. I know when to admit when I'm out of my depth and kickers are not a position I claim to know a lot about. Below I'll be posting her tier list along with the top 5s fantasy points and ownership average.

WEEK 6: TYLER BASS @ TEN

78.1% average league ownership

WEEK 6: GREG ZUERLEIN @ NE

59.7% average league ownership

WEEK 6: DUSTIN HOPKINS VS KC

3.4% average league ownership

WEEK 6: RYAN SUCCOP @ PHI

52.1% average league ownership

WEEK 6: MATT GAY @ NYG

59.1% average league ownership

 

KICKING AND STREAMING WEEK 6 STREAMERS CONCLUSION:

My favorite streams for the upcoming fantasy matchups are Taylor Heinicke, the Indianapolis Colts defense and Dustin Hopkins! Come back next week for more Kicking and Streaming and good luck in week 6!

 

Week 6 Streamers: Kicking And Streaming

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Kicking And Streaming: Week 6 Streamers

What is Streaming in Fantasy Football?

When playing fantasy, there are a lot of players who are considered "every week starts". Some of these players include Christian McCaffrey, Davante Adams, Travis Kelce and so on. There are a few positions in fantasy football that don't have as many every week starters. Quarterbacks, defenses and kickers are very streamable positions, meaning that they're usually able to have their spots filled in a pinch off of the waiver fire and free agency. This is the week 6 streamers guide known as Kicking and Streaming.

Every week, I'm going to bring you the most up to date streamers moving forward to make life as easy as possible for you! There will be two lists. The first list will be the best streams for the players matchup the upcoming week. The second list will be a players 3 week outlook for long term streamability.

Let's get started.

 

WEEK 6 STREAMERS - QUARTERBACKS:

TAYLOR HEINICKE

Next Three Games - KC, GB, DEN

Average Ownership: 8.9%

So my #1 quarterback stream for the week 6 fantasy matches is Taylor Heinicke. If you need a stream and want a shot at massive fantasy points, look no further. Both the Kansas City Chiefs and Washington Football Team aren't able to stop anything or anyone on defense. It's almost been hard to watch. With that being said, the Kansas City Chiefs should still have an offense that's firing on all cylinders so Heinicke and the Football Team will need to put up massive numbers to compete. To me, this is this week's Fantasy Points Bowl. There's no way we're getting out of this one with less than 60 combined points.

As for weeks 7 and 8, the Green Bay Packers and Denver Broncos aren't nearly on the same level when it comes to bad defenses. However, it's been seen that they can be scored on. Heinickes week 6 matchup is an A+ and his next 3 week grade is a B+.

 

SAM DARNOLD

Next Three Games - MIN, NYG, ATL

Average Ownership: 39.9%

Darnold put up a stinker of a game in week 5 against the Eagles. It was full of turnovers and bad decisions. Normally people would shake it off as a bad game but we all saw him play for the New York Jets. It's scary to see a QB with a turnover machine label slip back into old habits. Fortunately, Sam Darnold and the Carolina Panthers get the Minnesota Vikings in week 6 who have been looking pretty rough themselves. If you're in need of a stream, Sam will fill in nicely and he will be fairly cheap after his performance last week.

Weeks 7 and 8, Darnold will get a shot against the New York Giants and the Atlanta Falcons. This 3 week lineup is a match made in Heaven and is a great opportunity for fantasy points. His week 5 matchup grades out to a B but his next 3 week grade hovers an A-.

 

TREVOR LAWRENCE

Next Three Games - MIA, BYE, SEA

Average Ownership: 54.2%

The Jacksonville Jaguars have been bad. There have been some bright spots though. One of those bright spots is Trevor Lawrence. This is a guy who is clearly putting in the work and getting better week after week, despite the turmoil involving his organization and head coach, Urban Meyer. If Trevor Lawrence was going to have a breakout game, it would be in week 6. The Miami Dolphins have shown that they've basically thrown in the towel for the season and I don't expect much fight moving forward. On the flip side of that, the Jaguars are also pretty cooked, but their young rookie QB is set to prove himself.

Weeks 7 and 8 will not be nearly as good as week 6. Obviously, Lawrence can't score any points on his bye week. Week 8 could be pretty good but I can't imagine holding him through his bye, especially during such an injury heavy time of year. His week 6 grade is an A while his next 3 week grade is a C-.

 

WEEK 6 STREAMERS - FANTASY DEFENSE:

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Next Three Games - HOU, SF, TEN

Average Ownership: 55.9%

The Indianapolis Colts have kind of been all over the place when it comes to defensive fantasy points scored. They did almost have the defensive touchdown of the year against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football, but no dice. In week 6, the Colts get to take on the Houston Texans led by Davis Mills. Now, the Texans almost beat the New England Patriots and things were looking scary for Mac Jones at the time. To me, it mostly looked like the New England Patriots were suffering from that Tampa Bay Buccaneers matchup in week 4. I don't expect the Texans to put up a huge fight and I love the players on this Colts defense. They score about 7.5 fantasy points per game which is pretty good when looking for a streamer.

As far as their week 7 and 8 schedule, the San Francisco 49ers might be tough but I believe that the Tennessee Titans matchup should be favorable. It's a divisional rematch and it will be a very important game for both teams fighting for postseason spots. The Colts week 6 grade is an A+ while their next 3 week grade is a B-.

 

CAROLINA PANTHERS

Next Three Games - MIN, NYG, ATL

Average Ownership: 47.1%

The Carolina Panthers defense started the season historically well. They have scored 9 fantasy points or more in 4 of their first 5 games. The game they didn't was against the Dallas Cowboys who are emerging as an NFC powerhouse scorer. With all that being said, the Minnesota Vikings have been struggling lately and the Panthers are coming off of a tough loss to the Philadelphia Eagles that they'll want revenge for. I really like this matchup and if you're a defensive streamer (as you should be), then they just might be the defense for you.

Weeks 7 and 8 also look like juicy matchups for lots of defensive fantasy points. Fantasy football is all about matchups and analysis and it's clear that the Giants and the Falcons aren't very good. I give the Panthers week 6 grade a B+ and their next 3 week grade an A-.

 

GREEN BAY PACKERS

 

Next Three Games - CHI, WAS, ARI

Average Ownership: 31.8%

Averaging over 7 fantasy points per game over the last 4 weeks, the Green Bay Packers have a really nice week 6 fantasy matchup against the Chicago Bears. As far as fantasy football goes, Justin Fields hasn't looked like we all expected and that is partly to do with Matt Nagy. As long as Nagy is there, the Bears are limited on offense, no matter who the quarterback is. Taking that into account along with the Packers lower average ownership percentage, they are a very nice stream this week in your fantasy football leagues. If they're available on your waiver wire, go and snatch them up.

Weeks 7 and 8 aren't as good as the Bears but not many matchups could be. The Washington Football Team is able to score but if you get Heinicke on a bad day he won't be very productive. The Arizona Cardinals on the other hand will boat race you to the finish line and I don't expect many fantasy points for this Packers defense that week. Their week 5 grade is an A- while their next 3 week grade is a B.

 

WEEK 6 STREAMERS - KICKERS:

A Twitter user by the name of @Lindellions does a weekly kicker tier list with lots of great information. I've really enjoyed them and found them useful throughout the season. I know when to admit when I'm out of my depth and kickers are not a position I claim to know a lot about. Below I'll be posting her tier list along with the top 5s fantasy points and ownership average.

WEEK 6: TYLER BASS @ TEN

78.1% average league ownership

WEEK 6: GREG ZUERLEIN @ NE

59.7% average league ownership

WEEK 6: DUSTIN HOPKINS VS KC

3.4% average league ownership

WEEK 6: RYAN SUCCOP @ PHI

52.1% average league ownership

WEEK 6: MATT GAY @ NYG

59.1% average league ownership

 

KICKING AND STREAMING WEEK 6 STREAMERS CONCLUSION:

My favorite streams for the upcoming fantasy matchups are Taylor Heinicke, the Indianapolis Colts defense and Dustin Hopkins! Come back next week for more Kicking and Streaming and good luck in week 6!

 

Week 4 NFL DFS Guide

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Week 4 NFL DFS Guide

By Andy Heidemann

What are Daily Fantasy Sports?

So what are Daily Fantasy Sports? With sports gambling becoming legal in more and more states, Daily Fantasy Sports contests, or DFS for short, are beginning to shine even brighter. DFS contests have been legal for a while now as they are considered a game of skill and not gambling. However, many still don't know what these DFS contests even are. Let's take a look

I'll be using DraftKings as an example here. DraftKings DFS contests work like all the rest. They will assign you a total salary along with assigning values to professional athletes related to the sport you'd like to build a team for. You spend your given salary to build the best team you think is possible to compete against thousands of other contestants for cash prizes! And unlike traditional fantasy sports, this is a one-and-done contest type. Once the contest is finished for the weekend, you have either won or lost and then you can just go about your life without any more attachment to the team you built. Pretty neat, huh?

Okay, now that you've got the basics down, how do you find value when playing DFS? If you're into the NFL and fantasy football, then I'm your guy! Every week I'm going to bring you the best strategies and stacks that I believe give you the best shot at some DFS cash outs!

I'm ready to hop into it so let's go.

Strategy - The Stack

Stacking players in DFS is defined as rostering two or more players from the same team. The goal being that a fast and strong offense will help the other players to score more, allowing you to "double up" on points in a sense.

For week 4, I've got two stacks I'd like to focus on and I believe they're the base of our team.

Stack 1

Mathew Stafford - $7,000

If you've been watching football this season then you don't need me to tell you that Mathew Stafford is absolutely putting in work. In fantasy football leagues around the world, Stafford is lighting it up. In the first game of the season, Stafford threw three touchdowns. And in the next two games, he nearly threw for seven touchdowns. Cooper Kupp is no Megatron but he might be the best weapon Stafford has had since Megatron.

Cooper Kupp - $7,800

Speaking of Cooper Kupp, he has been turned into one of the league's elite pass catchers and wide receivers. With the new quarterback addition to the LA Rams, Kupp has never looked better and their connection is strong. He's got five touchdowns on the year and is a target monster. As far as fantasy points go, Kupp is simply destroying the competition. Adding the cherry on top, Kupp isn't even the most expensive wide receiver out there. Talk about a bang for your fantasy points buck.

Tyler Higbee - $4,600

Just under six catches last week and the first week, Tyler Higbee is seeing some major usage in the realm of tight ends. Sure, wide receivers will always be a QBs best friend (unless, of course, your names are Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce). But as is the rules in NFL DFS, you've got to roster and play a tight end, so why not play one with great stacking potential and delicious fantasy value?

Stack 2

Josh Allen - $8,000

Not only is Josh Allen really good at football, but he's just been heating up in general over the last week. Allen and the Buffalo Bills had a rough go of it in the passing game the first two weeks but really let Washington have it through the air in week three. Allen scored five touchdowns against the Washington Football Team and in week four, the Bills get to host the Houston Texans. It's a dream matchup.

Stefon Diggs - $7,600

To pair with your Josh Allen QB, Stefon Diggs is the perfect compliment. Diggs has been quiet for the Bills so far over the first three games but his target share is enormous. As long as Diggs continues to get the volume, he's a ticking time bomb of fantasy football points waiting to explode. He even had over eight catches two games ago against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He is one of the premier pass catchers in the NFL and he is the second part of the same game stack.

Dawson Knox - $3,600

Nothing too fancy here with Dawson Knox at tight end but what you do get is stability. So far over the first three games, Knox has seen consistent usage along with catching two passing touchdowns from Allen. The chemistry is certainly starting to build between these two and even better yet, Knox is an incredible week 4 NFL DFS value. Fire him up as the third piece of the same game stack.

Strategy - Value Bundles

Next up, I've put together some more bundles to add to your already rostered stacks. The bundles, however, do not come from the same team. Instead, they are built purely with value/performance in mind. It sounds silly, of course we want the best value/performance in all of our players. But that's so much easier said than done, I assure you.

Value Bundle 1

Elijah Mitchell - $5,400

The 49ers backfield situation is a complete mess. The good news is, you can take advantage of the low prices. I believe that Mitchel is going to play in week 4 and that Shanahan believes he needs Mitchell to win a crucial divisional matchup against the Seahawks. Last week he never saw the field due to injury but in his first two games he saw an average of 18 rushing attempts per game. In this 49ers offense, those are golden and Mitchell's price tag makes this an incredible value play. So valuable actually that he has found himself in both value bundles.

Jonathan Taylor - $6,300

It seems a little odd that the Colts have kept pulling back on Jonathan Taylors touches through the first three weeks. He showed last year that he can be the bell cow back they desire and so far they haven't used him like that at all. A little on the pricey side, I've thrown Taylor into this first bundle for one simple reason: Miami. The Dolphins are one of the two worst defenses against fantasy football running backs. JT is probably the lowest he'll be priced all year with the way his season has started. To me, that's an absolute smash. The analytics say to play him and I'm going to listen, especially at his current price.

Odell Beckham Jr. - $5,800

Coming back to football after an injury, Odell Beckham Jr. took his first snaps of the season in week three against the Bears. Luckily, it didn't seem like the Browns needed him but there are some things to note from his performance. Just over eight targets and five catches, Odell racked up seventy seven yards through the pass game. The Browns waited a long time to bring him back from his injury so I believe he is 100% a go and a great value. Baker can't just throw the ball to tight ends all game. With Landry on IR, wide receivers are thin for Cleveland. I expect a big week out of Beckham.

Value Bundle 2

Elijah Mitchell - $5,400

I told you! Here he is again. I'm not going to bore you with the same exact reasoning. But remember that his value is so good right now, it's insane.

Ezekiel Elliot - $6,500

Starting slowly in the beginning, Elliot has really ramped up his production over the last week. The Cowboys are feeding him the ball and he's the tenth running back on the board for DraftKings. Part of the reason he's so cheap this week is due to the Carolina Panthers and their current defensive stats. I'm a Panthers fan, and as much as I'd love for them to be stellar defensively, they haven't really played any real competition. I believe Zeke will do Zeke things and really help out your rosters.

Corey Davis - $5,000

Zach Wilson is not good. At least, he hasn't looked good yet this season. His arm talent is incredible but he doesn't set his feet, he runs around too much and he tries to push the ball where it shouldn't be pushed. With all of that being said, Corey Davis is the #1 on his team. Any wide receiver getting the volume that Davis is getting at the $5,000 price range isn't their teams #1 guy like Corey. I believe he's the best value there based on volume alone.

Strategy - Fill the Gaps

Now it's time to fill in the gaps. That's right, they can't all be studs. Above we spent time going over the core building blocks of your team. The players I recommend you build the team around as a whole. Filling in the gaps here, I've got a few more pairs of players who I think are great in value.

Let's hit it with the lightning round.

Gap Filler Bundle 1

Christian Kirk - $5,300

Getting lots of usage from the Arizona offense. Similar to Kirk's rookie season where he was initially considered a potential breakout, this season he's playing a majority of snaps from the slot. It really seems to be helping him and the team.

AJ Green - $4,500

It's a little strange stacking Kirk and Green but the way Green has been playing paired with the way the Cardinals offense is designed, I don't mind it. Green may have one final good year before riding off into the sunset. Plus his price tag is great.

Gap Filler Bundle 2

Chuba Hubbard - $5,900

Under $6,000, Hubbard could be a week winner in week 4. With Christian McCaffrey on the injury report, Hubbard is lined up to get all of his volume. When CMC went down last season, the Panthers didn't change the game plan for Mike Davis. Instead, they just went with it and expected him to keep up. He didn't have the same production of course, but he was still an NFL DFS force. I expect very similar usage out of Chuba this week.

Freddie Swain - $3,900

Tyler Lockett got a little banged up last week and is looking like he might miss this upcoming contest against the 49ers. I like Swain at his current price no matter what Lockett's game time status is on Sunday, but if Lockett is out, Swain just became a potential steal at his current price.

Gap Filler Bundle 3

Chuba Hubbard - $5,900

Hubbard again! Just go read the above portion on Hubbard. He's a great play this week.

Van Jefferson - $3,900

This could be a wasted slot if you aren't rolling with the Stafford stack. However, if you are, you've just added a big play boom player for under $4k. Winning teams and fantasy points go together like peanut butter and jelly. It just works.

Strategy - Streaming Defenses

In DFS, you can't really stream defenses in the traditional sense of fantasy football. you can get great value by looking at all the defenses in several leagues being called stream targets though. These defenses are considered "streamable" because they aren't good enough to continuously roster but they are good enough to have a great matchup. Based on the builds I've constructed above, there's really only one defense that makes sense and is affordable for you.

The Defense

Green Bay Packers - $3,300

The Packers play the Steelers this week with their beaten down quarterback and totally dismantled offensive line. Not to mention, Claypool seems to be on the injury list and both Johnson and Smith-Schuster are coming back from injuries. This Steelers team will be hard pressed to put up many points.

Week 4 NFL DFS Conclusion

My personal favorite build from the above pieces are as follows:

  • Mathew Stafford - $7,000
  • Cooper Kupp - $7,800
  • Tyler Higbee - $4,600
  • Elijah Mitchell - $5,400
  • Jonathan Taylor - $6,300
  • Odell Beckham Jr. - $5,800
  • Chuba Hubbard - $5,900
  • Freddie Swain - $3,900
  • Packers Defense - $3,300

 

Total = $50,000 with no left over salary.

 

That's it folks, that's the whole guide and breakdown. Good luck this week and come back for week 5 when we do this all over again!

Kicking and Streaming: Week 4 Streamers

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by Andy Heidemann

What is Streaming in Fantasy Football?

When playing fantasy, there are a lot of players who are considered "every week starts". Some of these players include Christian McCaffrey, Davante Adams, Travis Kelce and so on. There are a few positions in fantasy football that don't have as many every week starters. Quarterbacks, defenses and kickers are very streamable positions, meaning that they're usually able to have their spots filled in a pinch off of the waiver fire and free agency.

Every week, I'm going to bring you the most up to date streamers moving forward to make life as easy as possible for you! There will be two lists. The first list will be the best streams for the players matchup the upcoming week. The second list will be a players 3 week outlook for long term streamability.

Let's get started.

 

Quarterbacks:

Sam Darnold

Next Three Games - DAL, PHI, MIN

Average Ownership: 13.2%

Sleeper: 10%

NFL: 14.5%

ESPN: 15.1%

Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty, Darnold is free at last! That's right, free from the grasp that is the New York Jets and Adam Gase, Sam Darnold has been thriving in Carolina. Not only has he been killing it with his new team, this week he is going up against a soft Dallas Cowboys defense. A defense that has given up 402 yards of offense per game on average so far this season. Ranked 23rd in average fantasy points given up to the QB position with 22.8.

Darnold has the weapons to compete week in, week out for a top 12 fantasy football finish. The Panthers have shown that they also have no problems making the option call on the goal line, allowing Darnold some juicy goal line carry opportunities. After the Cowboys, he gets the Eagles and Vikings, another set of softer defenses. The Minnesota Vikings also rank in the bottom 6 in terms of average QB points allowed with 23.5. If you need a stream this week, Sam is my first option for sure.

 

Matt Ryan

Next Games - WAS, NYJ

Average Ownership: 48.1%

Sleeper: 93%

NFL: 19.6%

ESPN: 31.6%

Okay, I know this offense is struggling. And they aren't just struggling number wise, but they are not passing the eye test in any stretch of the imagination. So why is Matt Ryan a top streamer? Because he plays the Washington Football Team and has Ridley and Pitts as weapons, that's why. Before the season began, many people believed that Washington would be a legit defense and be hard to match up against. It's early yet but... it looks like that might have been wrong. Over the first three weeks, Washington has given up 1,295 yards and 92 points. They are also ranked dead last in fantasy points allowed to the QB with an average of 27.7 points a week.

Yikes.

Then in week 5, Ryan and the Falcons take on the New York Jets so he'll be streamable then as well. Sadly, he's on BYE the following week but you'll get two games out of Ryan in one pickup this week. If you need a streaming option and he's available in your league, check out Matt Ryan.

 

Ryan Tannehill

Next Games - NYJ, JAX

Average: 70.2%

Sleeper: 46%

NFL: 86.5

ESPN: 78%

The Jets have been bad. Oh man, have they been bad. They haven't been the worst about giving up yardage, but instead points. They give up an average of 23.4 points a game, which is pretty awful. Ryan Tannehill is efficient with the ball and isn't usually asked to do more than is necessary, so this week he has a chance to be solid if you really need a QB start.

The meat of this pickup is the fact that the Titans play the Jacksonville Jaguars in week 5. Defensively, they're even worse than the Jets because Urban Meyer hasn't figured it out yet. If you need the stream, Tannehill should be a nice option for your fantasy football team.

 

Joe Burrow

Next Three Games - JAX, GB, DET

Average: 74.6%

Sleeper: 84%

NFL: 72.9%

ESPN: 67.6%

Joe Burrow is pretty widely owned in a lot of leagues. However, I feel I have to mention him with his upcoming three game schedule. Wowza... Jacksonville, Green Bay and Detroit? Get ready for the continuation of last season's breakout.

Starting with Jacksonville, they've given up 418 offensive yards, 28.3 points per game and have given up 21.5 fantasy points to quarterbacks per match this season. Mix that with an offense that's clicking and you've got a recipe for monster fantasy points

Both the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions are within the bottom 10 in fantasy points allowed to the QB spot so Burrow is a full go.

Defenses:

Cincinnati Bengals

Next Three Games - JAX, GB, DET

Average: 21.5%

Sleeper: 12%

NFL: 10.5%

ESPN: 41.9%

The Bengals so far this season have racked up 10 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 3 interceptions. Against a team with a green NFL head coach and a rookie quarterback in Trevor Lawrence, there's a chance for big fantasy points to be scored for your fantasy football team this week. Not a whole lot to say about this matchup other than the Bengals defense isn't widely owned and the Jags stink.

Green Bay is a much harder matchup but Detroit should be much kinder to the Bengals in week 6. Short term stream, yes. Long term stream, maybe if you can hold out over the Packers.

 

Tennessee Titans

Next Games - NYJ, JAX

Average: 25.9%

Sleeper: 17%

NFL: 24.3%

ESPN: 36.6%

The Titans are my #1 fantasy football streamers defense this week and next week. Week 1 was a bit of a mess for Tennessee but they bounced back nicely last week against the Colts in a must win divisional game. Earning three and two sacks in the past two games, they are starting to wind up and get some momentum. And what better way to build momentum than playing the worst offense in the NFL in week 4 and then Jacksonville in week 5? This past week, the Colts only put up 16 points on the Titans and they are much better than the Jets.

I expect the Titans to be a top defense over the next two weeks as their opponents lack of good offense helps them out.

 

Green Bay Packers

Next Three Games - PIT, CIN, CHI

Average: 25.9%

Sleeper: 23%

NFL: 35.1%

ESPN: 19.6%

The Pittsburgh Steelers are a mess and their QB situation is falling apart. The Packers have given up some of the most points to the quarterback position this fantasy football season but with Big Ben looking the way he currently does and the Steelers not having a healthy wide receiver room, the Packers are a sneaky stream to grab off the waiver wire for week 4.

The Bengals may be too tough to play the Packers defense against but when week 7 rolls around, you can certainly start them against the Chicago Bears if Matt Nagy is still the Head Coach.

 

Kickers:

A Twitter user by the name of @Lindellions does a weekly kicker tier list with lots of great information. I've really enjoyed them and found them useful throughout the season. I know when to admit when I'm out of my depth and kickers are not a position I claim to know a lot about. Below I'll be posting her tier list along with the top 5s fantasy points and ownership average.

Week 4: Tyler Bass vs. HOU

48.1% average league ownership

Week 4: Matt Gay vs. ARI*

40.4% average league ownership

Week 4: Evan McPherson vs. JAX

3.7% average league ownership

Week 4: Daniel Carlson @ LAC*

59.7% average league ownership

Week 4: Rodrigo Blankenship @ MIA

42.5% average league ownership

 

Kicking and Streaming Week 4 Conclusion:

This upcoming week 4 matchups are primed for certain players to have a top week. My favorite streams on the list are Sam Darnold, the Bengals defense, the Titans defense Tyler Bass and Matt Gay. Come back next week for more Kicking and Streaming and good luck in week 4!