Streaming players is a crucial part of fantasy football managers’ strategy. The technique is largely used for the positions of quarterback, tight end, defense, and kicker, where the waiver wire is usually plentiful and matchups are particularly important.
With 46 games in the books for 2024, let’s examine the data so far to see which options fantasy managers may be looking to target as streamers in Week 4.
Target These Streamers for Week 4 | QB
Daniel Jones, New York Giants (vs. DAL)
The idea of telling you to start Daniel Jones makes me cringe. We are talking about the deepest leagues in 1QB settings or 10-team Superflex leagues where he might not be rostered. However, in the past two weeks, Jones has posted an average of just under 19 fantasy points per game, which is a more than solid return.
This week, he faces a Dallas Cowboys defense that is allowing an average of 19.39 fantasy points per game to opposing QBs, the third-worst number in the league. A big part of that is that the Cowboys are allowing 128.67 yards after the catch per game and a 90% touchdown rate when opposing offenses get into the end zone.
Malik Nabers was targeted 12 times on 34 routes for 8 receptions, 78 yards and 2 touchdowns, accounting for 56.9% of the Giants team air yards.
Nabers is the only receiver in the NFL to account for over half of his team's air yards (57.6%) this season.
Powered by @awscloud pic.twitter.com/4H42o4zASW
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) September 22, 2024
The biggest concern with Jones is that if Dallas can shut down Malik Nabers, he could have some issues. Of the 600 yards Jones has thrown for in the first three weeks, 271 of them have gone to Nabers. That is a whopping 45.2% of his passing yards aimed at one player. Similarly, Nabers has 75% of Jones’ passing touchdowns this season.
It is a risky play, but Jones has a knack for scoring fantasy points, and the matchup is solid. This is not a play to start Jones over top-10 options, but if you have a QB facing a tough defense this week or you are still reeling from losing Tua Tagovailoa, then Jones could be a solid Week 3 option.
Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings (at GB)
At this point, Sam Darnold is becoming less of a streamer and more of a borderline weekly start. He has scored over 20 fantasy points in his last two games, thanks in large part to scoring a combined six touchdowns (eight on the season). His offensive line is doing a great job giving him time, and Darnold is making smart decisions.
All four of Sam Darnold’s touchdowns against the Texans came on short passes (0-10 air yards), against no blitz, and against man coverage; three were on dropbacks over 2.5 seconds.
Darnold currently leads the NFL in TDs on dropbacks over 2.5 seconds (6).#HOUvsMIN | @Vikings pic.twitter.com/iOR7E9oYQd
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) September 22, 2024
The matchup with the Green Bay Packers is not perfect, as they are allowing just 13.29 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks. However, that is helped by facing Anthony Richardson and Caleb Williams, who are still inside their first 10 games as starters in the league.
One thing to watch with Darnold is that he is getting an MRI on his knee Monday. The belief is that he will be fine, and we should have a better idea before the majority of waivers run on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.
Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns (at LV)
Deshaun Watson has been a solid, if not spectacular, fantasy option through the first three weeks. He has scored at least 12.5 fantasy points in all three outings but has not got over 16.5 points. That could change this week against the Las Vegas Raiders, who are allowing an average of 17.1 fantasy points per game to the QB position this season.
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Andy Dalton just threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns on the Raiders’ defense. He finished the week with 24.56 fantasy points and looked like an elite option in the matchup. Deshaun Watson should be a better QB than Dalton at this stage of their career, so there is no reason not to lean on him this week if you need a starter.
Which Tight Ends Could You Stream This Week?
Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals (at CAR)
Mike Gesicki has posted some solid numbers through the first two weeks of the season, scoring a total of 15.9 fantasy points. He had a touchdown overturned in New England, which was later stated as being an error. Without that, he would be averaging over 10 fantasy points per game.
The most encouraging element has been his targets, with 13 through the first two weeks. It will not always result in big games, but at the tight end position, you are often playing for upside, especially if you do not have one of the more reliable options. Gesicki offers that upside for fantasy managers heading into Week 3.
The Panthers have the third-worst fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends (15.23 per game in PPR scoring). They have allowed 152 yards and two touchdowns from 22 targets through the first two weeks. The average return without the touchdowns is five receptions and 50 yards, which is essentially 10 fantasy points per game in PPR scoring.
That would be a nice return for Gesicki, who is off to a nice start in a new home in Cincinnati.
Johnny Mundt, Minnesota Vikings (at GB)
We are going deep into the list here with Johnny Mundt, but the matchup this week is enticing, and there is reason for optimism. The Packers have allowed 12.4 fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends, with 152 receiving yards, 16 receptions, and one touchdown. Without the touchdown, they are allowing an average of just over 10 fantasy points per game to the position.
Sam Darnold's 4th TD pass!
📺: #HOUvsMIN on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/ykJlLMWmBK— NFL (@NFL) September 22, 2024
Mundt found himself in the end zone this week, but other than that, the numbers were not convincing, with just two yards and one reception from three targets. The touchdown catch was impressive, given he was surrounded by defenders, and showed the talent he has as a pass catcher. Through the first three games, he has seen three targets in each game, posting five receptions for 29 yards.
With T.J. Hockenson out to start the season, Mundt has been the primary tight end. He has played 113 out of the 165 offensive snaps, running routes on 65 of his 69 passing snaps. The only other tight end who has seen more than 80 offensive snaps is Josh Oliver, but he has only run 27 routes this season and been targeted just three times.
Brock Wright, Detroit Lions (vs. SEA)
Whether you should trust Brock Wright this week very much depends on the news with Sam LaPorta’s injury. With LaPorta out for part of Week 3, Wright saw five targets, reeling in four receptions for 34 yards. Those numbers do not seem impressive, but it is 7.4 fantasy points in PPR scoring, and opportunity is everything at the tight end position.
The Seattle Seahawks have not had much success against the tight end position this week, allowing 11.4 fantasy points per game. Opposing tight ends have 17 receptions for 172 yards, although the majority of those were Hunter Henry in Week 2. It is hard to judge too much about their defense from Week 3 against the Miami Dolphins.
If we hear that LaPorta could miss time, then Wright may have more appeal than just a streamer. That could make him a touch more expensive than your average streamer if you are in a league that uses FAAB and pushes him up waiver priorities this week.
Who Are the Top Defense Streaming Options in Week 3?
Tennessee Titans (at MIA)
It doesn’t matter who is under center for the Dolphins out of Tim Boyle, Skyler Thompson, or Tyler Huntley; the Tennessee Titans make for a great play as a fantasy defense in Week 3. Miami has looked woeful in the last two weeks and didn’t even look that great when Tagovailoa was in the game.
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The concern with the Titans is that their offense will continuously put their defense under pressure, and we have seen that through the first three weeks. However, we have seen flashes of this defense playing well against the Chicago Bears and New York Jets. Things got a little messy against the Packers this week, but they should be able to bounce back against the Dolphins on Monday Night Football.
Miami Dolphins (vs. TEN)
As it turns out, the two most targetable offenses this week are both playing in the same game. The fact we are recommending both the Dolphins and Titans as defense streaming options does not bode well for a high-octane exciting game from the first of the two Monday Night Football games this week.
Tennessee is averaging just 16 points per game this season, thanks to eight turnovers. What is even more extraordinary is that the Titans have already given up three touchdowns to opposing defenses and special teams combined.
Once again, I fear that the Dolphins’ offensive struggles could put a lot of pressure on the defense to make stands and cause issues in terms of leaking points late in the game. Therefore, this might be a better play on ESPN, where points scored are generally not a factor when calculating defensive scoring.
Houston Texans (at JAX)
The options for streaming this week are reasonably limited, so on Yahoo and leagues where defense scoring is linked to points scored by opposing offenses, we need to look at games where scoring could be low. That is the case for the Texans, who are facing a Jacksonville Jaguars team that enters Monday Night Football averaging just 15 points per game.
We have seen the Texans’ defense play reasonably well. Their Week 3 performance against the Vikings is hard to judge because their offense put them in many tough spots. They may have given up four passing touchdowns to Sam Darnold, but they also held him to just 180 yards. The Vikings only averaged 4.6 yards per play in Week 3.
Which Kickers Could You Stream This Week?
Brayden Narveson, Green Bay Packers (vs. MIN)
That is now three straight weeks with double-digit returns from Brayden Narveson. He has not been perfect, missing kicks in each of the last two games, but he is averaging three made-field goals a game and seeing 3.67 opportunities per game. The Packers’ offense has been gifting him plenty of opportunities, which should hopefully continue into this week.
Even with Jordan Love back under center, this offense is unlikely to suddenly start ripping off touchdown after touchdown. Their defense has been playing well enough that they can pass up fourth-down opportunities and take field goals, which is useful for Narveson’s value.
Blake Grupe, New Orleans Saints (at ATL)
Blake Grupe’s start was very impressive: He scored 22 points in Week 1. Since then, he has only added 14 fantasy points over two weeks. However, he has remained perfect on field goals, with seven, even if he has missed an extra point. This week, he is on the road but still playing in a dome, which certainly helps his value outside of Caesars Superdome.
The Falcons have played a lot of bend-but-don’t-break defense through the first three weeks. They have allowed 11 field goals, so there is certainly an opportunity here for Grupe to rack up some points.
Matt Prater, Arizona Cardinals (vs. WAS)
Matt Prater will make it three games in a row at home as he looks to continue his impressive consistency to open the season. The veteran kicker has a 100% record, averaging two field goals per game and adding eight extra points.
The Cardinals’ offense stumbled a little in Week 3 but should be able to get back to moving the ball effectively against the Commanders. There is every chance that we will see Prater with another couple of field goals and some extra points. A double-digit week is very much in play for the Cardinals kicker.
All data from TruMedia unless otherwise stated.