With injuries already taking a major toll on fantasy rosters, it’s more important than ever to find the best streamers for your fantasy lineups. Every week, I’ll be answering two simple questions: who should I stream this week and who should I stash for the future?
To keep things simple, we’ll define a streamer as any player you wouldn’t usually start who is a viable option for this week. They may be on your bench or they may be on waivers, depending on your league. We’ll define a stash as any player you can probably find on waivers that you should stash for the future, either because they have a favorable match-up coming up, or because they could become a future fantasy starter.
Please also check out my rankings at ffdfantasyfootball.com and you can find my long-form videos on the Fantasy First Down Youtube channel and my Slot/Wide analysis on the Razzball Fantasy Youtube channel. If you have any questions, throw them in the comments below.
I’ll also be reporting my streamer record from the season to date above each section, to give you an idea of what to expect. Strong finishes mean top third of starters at the position, moderate means top half of starters and a bust is anyone else.
QB Streamers (Week 1: 2 strong, 1 moderate, 1 bust):
Joe Burrow (CIN vs WAS): You haven’t been able to start Joe Burrow through two weeks and he’s been dropped off many rosters. This week he faces the Commanders and Tee Higgins is likely back in the line-up. Burrow is a must-start unless you have one of the top quarterbacks.
Brock Purdy (SF @ LAR): Brock Purdy has had a brutal set of matchups to start the season leading to just 1 touchdown through two games. Deebo Samuel’s injury is an additional kick in the teeth and will lead to a lot of owners dropping the 49ers quarterback this week. I’m going in the other direction though. The Rams have been a Top 5 matchup against opposing quarterbacks the last two years so I’m backing Purdy to bounce back even without Deebo.
Derek Carr (NO vs PHI): Derek Carr has been the true shock of the season to this point. He now faces a susceptible Eagles defense at home. If you need a low-end option likely to have a boom week, Carr is the guy to target.
QB Stash:
Kirk Cousins (ATL vs KC): I still believe Kirk Cousins can be a weekly fantasy starter, but I’m not risking him this week against the Chiefs. I don’t love stashing quarterbacks but if you’re battling with ugly quarterback play, store Cousins for his future matchups.
RB Streamers (2 strong, 3 moderate, 2 bust):
Carson Steele (KC @ ATL): This is a bad matchup but any primary running back for the Chiefs (who is also getting the goal line carries) is always a solid start. If you’re running out of healthy runners, Steele is a good temporary solution until the Chiefs sign someone more permanent (see stashes).
Tony Pollard (TEN vs GB): With Tyjae Spears battling an ankle injury, Tony Pollard becomes a strong start against a mediocre Packers run defense. The Titans have shown an inclination to run the ball (I mean, have you seen Will Levis?) so you’d expect Pollard will get a solid workload.
Zamir White (LV vs CAR): The Panthers remain the team to target with running backs, kickers and DSTs. JK Dobbins popped off last week as both Chargers running backs had over 15 carries. In Vegas, Zamir White took back the full early-down role from Alexander Mattison in Week 2 and the former should be very busy against an awful Carolina run defense.
Zach Charbonnet (SEA vs MIA): Sadly, the Kenneth Walker injury was announced after my Week 2 article was released, but Zach Charbonnet was on my Top Handcuffs list for that exact reason. He unsurprisingly popped off and now faces a Tua-less Miami team which has proven generous against the run this season. I like going back to Zach.
RB Stashes:
Kareem Hunt (FA): Kareem Hunt may be returning to the team that drafted him after the news of Isiah Pacheco’s broken fibula. At the time of writing, he’s just trialling with KC, but he may have signed when you’re reading this. Regardless, Hunt is a worthwhile stash but you can’t start him out of the gate.
Running backs get injured more than any other player in fantasy, with the average Top 36 running back missing two games per season in fantasy. For that reason, your best bet in fantasy is to roster running backs who are an injury away from an every down role. Each week, I’ll be listing my favorite RB stashes, only including players you won’t be starting most weeks.
Top Handcuffs: Bucky Irving (Note: Rachaad White has a groin injury), Tank Bigsby, Ty Chandler, Braelon Allen, Tyler Allgeier, Ray Davis, Trey Sermon, Antonio Gibson
WR Streamers (1 strong, 5 moderate):
Demarcus Robinson (LAR vs SF): Cooper Kupp is joining Puka Nacua on the sidelines meaning Demarcus Robinson is the new WR1 in LA. The Rams face a 49ers secondary that is particularly kind to opposing wide receivers. He’s a viable streaming option for those battling injuries.
Andrei Iosivas (CIN vs WAS): I’m a simple man. I like secondaries that have conceded an average of over 35 fantasy points to opposing wide receivers in each of the last two seasons. The Commanders’ defense has somehow gotten worse this season and faces the suddenly-hot Bengals passing offense. Andrei Iosivas will certainly lose some value if Tee Higgins returns but I still like Iosivas as a deeper streamer with TD upside regardless.
Jauan Jennings (SF @ LAR): With Deebo Samuel suffering a calf injury, Jauan Jennings is the new 49ers starter. He gets a great matchup against the Rams and with CMC also out, Jennings should be the team’s third receiving weapon behind Brandon Aiyuk and George Kittle.
WR Stashes:
Diontae Johnson (CAR @ LV): With Andy Dalton taking over in Carolina, we COULD see a more functional passing offense. Diontae Johnson was almost an every-down player in Week 2 which is also a step in the right direction. I wouldn’t start him just yet but he’s worth stashing just to see if he can emerge as the true top weapon in an offense starved of quality play so far this season.
Elijah Moore (CLE vs NYG): Elijah Moore has 14 targets through two weeks but he lost snaps and some of the slot role to Jerry Jeudy against the Jaguars. It’s worth seeing how this offense settles in the coming weeks but Moore might be the bye week filler you’ll need come October and November.
DeAndre Hopkins (TEN vs GB): DeAndre Hopkins’s slow start to the season due to injury will have a lot of owners dropping him off rosters. If he’s available, he’s a worthwhile pick up as we know how good he can be when he’s healthy.
TE Streamers (1 moderate, 3 bust):
Hunter Henry (NE @ NYJ): In Week 1, Hunter Henry was my top tight end stash. I hope you listened because he’s clearly emerged as the top receiving option for Jacoby Brissett. This week he faces a Jets defense whose excellent cornerbacks remove wide receivers from the game. This will be a Rhamondre Stevenson and Henry week and I’m all for starting both.
Brenton Strange (JAC @ BUF): Truly desperate for tight end production? Well Evan Engram will likely be out a couple more weeks and Brenton Strange has taken over the Engram role after the starter’s shock hamstring injury during Week 2 warmups. The Jags face a Bills defense that has allowed the 8th most points to tight ends so far this season. Honestly, you could do worse than Strange after he received seven targets last week.
TE Stashes:
Greg Dulcich (DEN @ TB): Greg Dulcich has begun to emerge as the clear starter for the Broncos while Adam Trautman’s role continues to shrink. I wouldn’t be starting Dulcich just yet but he’s heading in that direction.
Zach Ertz (WAS @ CIN): Veteran tight end Zach Ertz has turned just eight targets into 90 yards this season. In an offense starved of wide receivers, Ertz could feasibly become the second receiver for Jayden Daniels if has route count rises even a little. Given the Commanders’ run game emphasis, that has limited upside, but he’s worth the stash just to see what happens as the season goes on.
K Streamers (2 strong, 2 moderate):
Daniel Carlson (LV vs CAR): Hey you! Pay attention to me while I’m speaking to you. Start kickers against the Panthers. Lesson over, you can head to lunch now.
Harrison Butker (KC @ ATL): The Falcons have been a great kicker matchup in each of the last two seasons. Harrison Butker is available in a surprising amount of leagues and is a great option this week.
DST Streamers (2 strong and 2 bust):
Raiders DST (LV vs CAR): The Chargers thrived against the dismal Panthers last week. Imagine what Maxx Crosby and co. can do!
Packers DST (GB @ TEN): The Packers have two top 12 DST finishes to start the year and they now face the team that has conceded the most DST points this season in the league. That’s a maths equation anyone can solve.
Please note I won’t be listing any kicker or DST stashes as you should never roster more than one of either of these positions.
