Now that bye weeks are in full swing; streaming becomes a more viable and almost necessary strategy. Knowing who to add and when to start them could be the ultimate difference-maker in a weekly matchup. Making the right streaming decisions throughout the season could easily be the difference between missing the playoffs and having a shot to win a championship.
Each week, I will create a team of streamers for you to choose from. They will be broken down based on ownership levels and league size. I will make specific recommendations for 14, 12, and 10-team leagues to give you the most guidance possible when selecting a streamer. 14-team streamers will be players with ownership levels around 15%, 12-teamers will be around 30%, and 10-teamers will be around the 45% mark. Keep in mind that just because a player is listed as a streamer for a particular league size, it does not mean you can't use them in a different league size. For instance, if a 12-team league streamer is available in your 14-team league, by all means, use them accordingly.
Let's take a look at Week 8's best streaming options with some highlighted players to keep an especially close eye on.
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Stream Team for 14-Team Leagues
- QB: Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders- 21% Owned
- RB: J.D. McKissic, Detroit Lions - 12% Owned
- RB: Benny Snell Jr., Pittsburgh Steelers - 8% Owned
- WR: Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers - 13% Owned
- WR: A.J. Brown, Tennessee Titans - 19% Owned
- TE: Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati Bengals - 11% Owned
Derek Carr (QB, OAK) - 21% Owned
Derek Carr has had a lackluster start to the 2019 season and is likely available on the waiver wire in your league. He has not had a 300-yard passing game this season and has yet to eclipse 20 fantasy points in any game in most scoring formats. That all changes this week vs. the Texans.
Houston has an awful secondary. They have allowed quarterbacks to throw for 2,062 yards, which ranks dead-last in total yards. This equates to them allowing 294.5 yards passing per game to the position. They have also allowed 15 passing touchdowns to quarterbacks and only managed to intercept three passes. In terms of fantasy points allowed per game, the Texans rank sixth-worst by allowing 20.8 points to the position. This is the perfect spot for Carr to get right and put up some solid fantasy numbers.
Benny Snell Jr. (RB, PIT) - 8% Owned
This is purely a wait and see on James Conner and Jaylen Samuels type of add. As of now, Jaylen Samuels is listed as doubtful but has practiced partially. Odds are he ends up missing this contest. Conner is currently listed as questionable with the quad injury he sustained last week vs. the Chargers. Keep an eye on the Steeler's injury report throughout the week and if both look likely to miss time, snatch up Snell and start him.
The Dolphins woes against the run have been observed again and again this season. They have allowed the most rushing yards per game (139) to the running back position. They have also allowed five rushing touchdowns to running backs through their first six games and are also giving up 26 fantasy points per game to the position, which ranks second-worst in the league behind only the Bengals. He's a must-start if he ends up being the feature back.
A.J. Brown (WR, TEN) - 19% Owned
A.J. Brown and the Tennessee Titans are going up against a horrid Tampa Bay secondary this week. Brown had one of his most productive games of 2019 last week, with Ryan Tannehill under center. He hauled in six of eight targets for 64 yards. It was the most targets he had seen in a game all season as well as the most receptions.
The Bucs have allowed the most receiving yards per game to wide receivers by allowing over 203 yards per game. They have also given up seven receiving touchdowns to wide receivers so though their first six games. In terms of fantasy points allowed to the position, they rank thrid-worst in the league, allowing just under 30 points per game. Look for the Titans to use the pass more than usual this week with Tannehill hooking up with Brown and another wide receiver to be named shortly.
Stream Team for 12-Team Leagues
- QB: Teddy Bridgewater, New Orleans Saints - 28% Owned
- RB: Darrell Henderson, Los Angeles Rams - 26% Owned
- RB: Mark Walton, Miami Dolphins - 20% Owned
- WR: Corey Davis, Tennessee Titans - 48% Owned
- WR: Cole Beasley, Buffalo Bills - 26% Owned
- TE: Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills - 22% Owned
Teddy Bridgewater QB, NO) - 28% Owned
Teddy Bridgewater is a solid play at home this week vs. the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals are currently giving up the third-most passing yards to quarterbacks with a total of 1,999 yards. On average, they are allowing the quarterback to throw for 285.5 yards per game as well as 2.4 passing touchdowns per game. The Saints have an implied total of just over 28 in this game, which also bodes well for Teddy and the passing attack. Bridgewater has picked up the pace of late in the season, throwing for 835 yards and seven touchdowns in his last three games. Stream him with confidence this week.
Corey Davis (WR, TEN) - 48% Owned
As previously mentioned, the Titans and Corey Davis get a delectable matchup this week vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Much like his teammate, Davis also had one of his most productive games of 2019 last week with Ryan Tannehill under center. He hauled in six of seven targets for 80 yards and a touchdown. It marked the second time this season he was able to find the endzone and marked his highest catch and target total of the season. Perhaps Tannehill under center is just what this Titan's passing attack needed. If so, Week 8 could be another opportunity to break out.
Cole Beasley (WR, BUF) - 26% Owned
This week, the Bills get the tip-top matchup for the wide receiver position when they face the Philadelphia Eagles at home. Beasley has been a favorite target of Josh Allen in the early going this season, racking up 30 receptions on 45 targets for 283 yards and a touchdown. He should be able to continue increasing his stat line this week as he goes up against the worst secondary in the league.
The Eagles have allowed the second-most yards per game to wide receivers at 197.6 yards per game. This ranks only behind Tampa Bay on a per-game basis, but the Eagles have allowed the most total receiving yards (1,383) to wide receivers. The Eagles have also allowed the most touchdown to wide receivers with 11. This means Beasley could have a solid opportunity to improve upon his one touchdown reception this season. Not surprisingly, the Eagles also rank dead-last in fantasy points per game allowed to wide receivers as they have given up a whopping 31.8 points per game. This is 2.3 more points than the next closest team, the Oakland Raiders. Beasley should make for a solid stream this week.
Stream Team for 10-Team Leagues
- QB: Daniel Jones, New York Giants - 28% Owned
- RB: Duke Johnson, Houston Texans - 61% Owned
- RB: Ty Johnson, Detroit Lions - 56% Owned
- WR: Kenny Stills, Houston Texans - 39% Owned
- WR: Jamison Crowder, New York Jets - 54% Owned
- TE: Eric Ebron, Indianapolis Colts - 61% Owned
Ty Johnson (RB, DET) - 55% Owned (at time of writing)
Depending on when you are reading this, Ty Johnson could be a very sneaky stream option this week. Kerryon Johnson left last week's tilt vs. the Vikings with a knee injury and was later seen on the bench with a knee brace. He has since been placed on IR with the injury. When Kerryon exited the game vs. the Vikings, Ty Johnson stepped in and carried the ball 10 times for 29 yards and also hauled in four of four targets for 28 yards. While the production was not superb vs. a stout Vikings Defense, the usage shows they have trust in Ty to handle the ball when needed. This week, if needed, he faces a less than stellar defense in the Giants.
The Giants are allowing 115 rushing yards per game to running backs, which ranks third-worst among teams that have played at least seven games thus far. They have also allowed running backs to score seven rushing touchdowns on the seasons, which ties them for second-worst overall. The matchup for Ty will be superb. Also, JD McKissic may see some time in the backfield as well, but I would expect lead duties to go to Ty. GET HIM WHILE HE IS AVAILABLE.
Kenny Stills (WR, HOU) - 39% Owned
Kenny Stills should have a solid matchup and a larger target share in Week 8 vs. the Oakland Raiders. Will Fuller is expected to miss some time with a hamstring issue, therefore Kenny Stills should step in as the number two wide receiver. Last week vs. the Colts, Stills caught four of five targets for over 100 yards and a score. This week vs. Oakland, he could see double the targets and catches.
Oakland is not very good vs. the pass. They have already allowed 1,125 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns to the wide receiver position in only six games. They are also allowing 29.5 fantasy points to wide receivers per game, which ranks second-worst behind only the Philadelphia Eagles. Stills should be able to put forth a solid effort and is worth streaming this week.
Eric Ebron (TE, IND) - 61% Owned
As we all know (and as I've mentioned in almost every one of these articles) streaming at the tight end position has gotten increasingly difficult. This week, Eric Ebron may be a solid stream at the position if he is available in your league. He has received at least four targets in every game this season except Week 1. He has also scored in two of his last three games and managed to rack up 70 yards on four catches last week vs. Houston, who has been decent vs. the tight end position.
Denver has allowed 34 receptions to tight ends for a total of 326 yards, which ranks them in the bottom third and bottom half of the league, respectively. They have only given up one touchdown to tight ends on the season, so expectations for Ebron should be tempered slightly. You could do a lot worse than Ebron this week, and I would feel comfortable streaming him if I needed a bye week replacement.