Don't underestimate the value of streaming in fantasy.
Streaming quarterbacks, kickers and defenses each week allows you to take advantage of the best available options. And if you missed out on a high-caliber tight end in drafts, you can even stream that position with some success.
Each week I highlight the best streaming options at all four of those positions. Here’s how those recommendations would rank with each position through Week 15:
- Quarterback: QB6 (294.62)
- Tight End: TE18 (83.2)
- Kicker: K2 (143)
- Defense: DEF4 (151)
Now let's dig into my top fantasy streaming options at quarterback, tight end, kicker and defense for Week 16.
Note: All ownership data via Yahoo Fantasy and as of early Tuesday.
Week 16 Fantasy Football Streaming Targets
QB: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Miami Dolphins
Matchup: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Ownership: 25%
I had previously pegged Dolphins-Bengals as the "Joe Burrow Bowl."
It appears the Bengals have the first overall pick locked up for 2020, so it's not quite the high-draft-stakes game I thought it might be. A lot of that is due to Fitzpatrick playing out of his mind over the second half of the season — he's playing with nothing to lose and has been the QB7 over the last month.
I never thought I would recommend FitzMagic as a streamer for fantasy football finals week, but here we are. His rushing upside gives him a nice floor/ceiling combo and he should be able to pick apart the soft Bengals defense with DeVante Parker and Mike Gesicki.
Fitzpatrick is currently my QB8.
TE: O.J. Howard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Matchup: vs. Houston Texans
Ownership: 41%
The Bucs are likely without Mike Evans and Chris Godwin this week, which will make Howard one of Jameis Winston's top options.
Howard has had a disappointing 2019 season, but has come on of late for lines of 5/61/0, 4/73/0 and 4/46/0. This stretch has been driven by the fact he's averaged 65% routes run over these past three games.
It's safe to assume we can bank on this sort of usage with a spike in target share with Evans and Godwin out of the picture, giving Howard the ideal floor/ceiling combo we want from our TE slot.
Kicker: Chase McLaughlin, Indianapolis Colts
Matchup: vs. Carolina Panthers
Ownership: 4%
Chase opens the week as my No. 5 kicker. The Colts are 6.5-point favorites in a home matchup against Carolina. They have the fourth-highest team total, so McLaughlin should see ample kicking opportunities.
Another factor that makes him a priority add early in the week is that this game will be played in a dome. Week 16 always has the threat for inclement weather in any outdoor game, so taking that out of the equation is sharp.
Defense: Denver Broncos
Matchup: vs. Detroit Lions
Ownership: 32%
The Broncos opens the week as my second-ranked defense as they face the struggling Lions at home.
With a couple games worth of film, teams have figured out David Blough. He has a one-to-four touchdown-to-interception ratio over his last two games. The Broncos are likely to force him into a pass heavy game script that will enhance the odds of sacks and turnovers.
It's important to remember that there are only a few predictive stats for fantasy defenses. As a result, it's best to think of high-ranked defenses as having the highest floor and as being the least likely to have a dud. This is what we've seen with our defensive streamers of late, and why this column's recommendations have churned out overall DEF4 numbers. Defense's with higher ceilings, meanwhile, are more likely to be unavailable.
The Broncos have the lowest team total against, fourth-highest turnover and 12th-highest sack projection in my model. This makes them a safe bet, and hopefully we can get lucky with a defensive or special teams touchdown to have a ceiling game in the week it matters the most.
