Streaming options at positions like quarterback, tight end, and defense can be a popular strategy in many fantasy football leagues.
After some encouraging performances to start the 2024 NFL season, who are some of the top streaming options at these positions entering Week 2?
Target These QB Streamers for Week 2
Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield’s outstanding Week 1 performance may seem him start the season as the QB1 overall entering Week 2 of the 2024 NFL season. His 289 passing yards and four scores with no turnovers against the Washington Commanders was nothing short of outstanding.
Mayfield even left a little beat of meat on the bone with a mild overthrow to Jalen McMillan early in the first quarter, which was one of just six incompletions from the 2018 No. 1 overall pick in the season opener.
Mayfield is set to enter Ford Field to take on a Detroit Lions defense that he lit up to the tune of 349 passing yards and three scores in the Divisional Round of last year’s postseason.
If Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and the aforementioned McMillan can build off their great debut against Washington, we could see Mayfield light up the scoreboard again in Week 2.
Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings
This may be tough to wrap your mind around, but Sam Darnold looked very competent in this Minnesota Vikings passing attack against a formidable New York Giants pass rush on Sunday with 208 passing yards and two scores in his starting debut in Kevin O’Connell’s offense.
It doesn’t hurt that he managed to help star WR Justin Jefferson find the end zone in Week 1, and he’ll certainly need to rely on him in an attempt to keep pace with a high-powered San Francisco 49ers offense he witnessed tear up the league last year first-hand.
Another fortunate development is that Jordan Addison’s ankle injury is not expected to be serious, which is great news considering the USC product went for seven receptions for 123 yards and two scores against this Niners secondary last year.
The emergence of Jalen Nailor as a reliable third option in this passing attack could lay the foundation for another quality outing to make Darnold a streaming option again in Week 2.
Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints
If you can’t tell already, boring pocket passers tend to be the archetype you can find on the waiver wire in your fantasy league. This means we have to try to identify the best potential options to plug and play in your roster.
Quite frankly, Derek Carr looked great in the most lopsided contest of the Week 1 slate with the New Orleans absolutely dismantling the Carolina Panthers at home.
Carr’s 200 passing yards and three scores while throwing just four incompletions marks one of the cleanest performances we’ve seen from him in a Saints uniform.
The Dallas Cowboys’ defense looked outstanding against the Cleveland Browns in Week 1, but this unit can be vulnerable to explosive vertical threats who excel against man coverage. Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed are both dangerous vertical options in the passing game who could pop a couple big plays against this talented secondary.
Additionally, the Cowboys’ offense looked very good against a quality Cleveland Browns defense in the season opener — which suggests the Saints could have to play a bit of catch-up later in the contest.
Carr doesn’t have a cupcake matchup, but his debut was encouraging enough to put him in streaming consideration if you need a QB entering Week 2.
Target These TE Streamers for Week 2
Colby Parkinson, Los Angeles Rams
The potential loss of Puka Nacua in this offense combined with Tyler Higbee’s current residency on the PUP list means there could be a potential opportunity for another pass catcher to emerge from this passing attack. Colby Parkinson’s role in the first half of the 2024 season opener is enough to put him in the TE streaming conversation entering the Rams’ Week 2 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.
Parkinson hauled in three receptions for 45 yards in the first half against the Detroit Lions. Additionally, he was the only tight end to catch a pass through the first three quarters of the contest in Week 1.
You won’t hear me make a compelling argument regarding Parkinson’s athletic profile or dynamic RAC upside, but his understanding of this scheme, reliable hands, and target-share opportunity all make him an intriguing option at the position.
Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders
It was a bit of a rough outing for the Washington Commanders passing attack in the 2024 season opener against a vulnerable Tampa Bay Buccaneers secondary, but Zach Ertz still caught three of his four targets for 28 yards against the Bucs.
Rookie QB Jayden Daniels will face a better pass rush against the New York Giants in Week 2, which should force him to get the ball into the hands of his playmakers on the perimeter a bit more often. This is also a Giants defense that got tuned up by the likes of journeyman QB Sam Darnold last week — which makes me still willing to stream a proven veteran with a lengthy track record of production in an offense devoid of a true WR2.
Another encouraging sign for Ertz’s case for a streaming option in Week 2 was the fact rookie TE Ben Sinnott didn’t see a single target in his NFL debut. If there is a TE to start in this offense, Ertz is the correct answer at the moment.
Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers
The streaming options at the TE position gets pretty thin really quick, but one player whose stock should be going up after seeing his usage in the season opener is Green Bay Packers TE Tucker Kraft, who was on the field for 96% of the offensive snaps in the Week 1 loss at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Kraft’s final stat line at two receptions for 37 yards didn’t do much for fantasy managers last week, but he appears to have secured the TE1 role over Luke Musgrave at this point.
The fantasy outlook would be far more exciting if it was Jordan Love under center against the Indianapolis Colts, but instead, it would appear Kraft will be forced to catch passes from Malik Willis in Week 2 — which should not excite anyone.
Yet, if you are simply in need of a talented pass catcher who is on the field enough to make a fantasy difference if Matt LaFleur can manage to scheme him up a couple of looks — then Kraft should be on your streaming radar for Week 2.
Target These DST Streamers for Week 2
Los Angeles Chargers
In the world of streaming a fantasy defense, it can be as simple as finding a defense available on your waiver wire facing off against a terrible offensive unit. One could make the argument that no offense was worse to start the 2024 NFL season than the Carolina Panthers.
The Carolina offense produce just 193 total yards (average of 3.5 yards per play), scored just 10 points, and turned the ball over three times against the New Orleans Saints. In case you are wondering, those numbers helped produce a total offensive EPA of -19.14 in Week 1.
Quarterback Bryce Young showed very little progress from the struggles we saw from him last year, which makes this a favorable matchup for Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa, and Derwin James entering Week 2.
Seattle Seahawks
The Mike Macdonald effect was apparent in his head coaching debut with the Seattle Seahawks, as Seattle absolutely rattled a young rookie signal-caller in Bo Nix in its season-opening win against the Denver Broncos.
The Seahawks revamped defense managed to produce two sacks, two interceptions, and force two fumbles in Week 1, and it now draws a New England Patriots offense devoid of a significant amount of firepower.
The Seahawks managed to completely stifle the running back duo of Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin — which suggests they could have drastically improved their run-stopping capabilities from last season.
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts faced a talented Houston Texans offense with an ascending superstar under center in C.J. Stroud in Week 1. Fortunately for this unit, they will likely face the likes of Willis in their Week 2 matchup against the Green Bay Packers after the injury to Love against the Eagles.
To give you an idea of what a fantasy-friendly quarterback Willis is for an opposing fantasy defense, here is a closer look. Willis has thrown a total of 67 passes in his career. Willis has been sacked 15 times and thrown three interceptions.
This means he takes a sack an average of every 4.4 pass attempts and throws a pick every 22 pass attempts.
Translation… You want to start a fantasy defense who is facing off against Willis. Additionally, if you are playing in an IDP league — then make sure you start rookie Laiatu Latu in Week 2 as well.
Target These Kicker Streamers for Week 2
Chris Boswell, Pittsburgh Steelers
In the world of streaming a kicker, find a hot kicker. No kicker had a better week than Chris Boswell of the Pittsburgh Steelers — who managed to go 6-for-6 with his field-goal attempts against the Atlanta Falcons.
As if hitting all six field-goal attempts wasn’t impressive enough, consider three of those conversions came from 50+ yards.
You don’t need me to tell you that is outstanding, but I am here to suggest you should put Boswell in your fantasy lineup if this Steelers offense continues to struggle to finish drives once it enters the opponent’s side of the field.
The Steelers are set to square off against a Denver Broncos offense starting a rookie quarterback in Week 2, which could make for a low-scoring affair where field goals may be the main source of points.
Chase McLaughlin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offense managed to generate seven scoring drives against the Washington Commanders. The four that ended in touchdowns featured scores that emanated from the arm of Baker Mayfield, while the other three culminated in Chase McLaughlin field goals.
The Bucs could find themselves in a shootout against a Detroit Lions defense that gave up 387 total yards in regulation against a Los Angeles Rams offense that has been decimated by injuries along the offensive line, wide receiver, and tight end.
If the Bucs’ offense continues to operate like it did against the Commanders, then McLaughlin feels like a solid streaming option in a potentially high-scoring affair in the Motor City.
Cameron Dicker, Los Angeles Chargers
Remember when I said the Panthers could struggle to score points against the Chargers’ defense? Well, that should play right into the fantasy hands — or in this case, foot — of Los Angeles kicker Cameron Dicker in Week 2.
The Chargers should regularly have the football if the Panthers’ offense can’t get right this week, which means Chargers new head coach Jim Harbaugh may be able to run the football and settle for field goals regularly if Los Angeles steamrolls Carolina in a similar manner to what we saw from the Saints’ offense in Week 1.
Dicker managed to hit three field goals in the opener, which means he should be able to pay off these opportunities when the Chargers inevitably move the ball on this Panthers defense.