RADIO
Now that the playoffs are beginning in most leagues and the final march for a championship has begun, streaming becomes a 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 could easily be the difference in winning 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 14'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: Kyle Allen, Carolina Panthers - 19% Owned
- RB: Chris Thompson, Washington Redskins - 15% Owned
- RB: Ameer Abdullah, Minnesota Vikings - 2% Owned
- WR: Russell Gage, Atlanta Falcons- 10% Owned
- WR: Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers- 12% Owned
- TE: Jonnu Smith, Tennessee Titans - 14% Owned
Kyle Allen (QB, CAR) - 19% Owned
Kyle Allen has been a mixed bag in 2019, but he has managed to put up over 15 fantasy points in five of his last seven games. He also gets a solid matchup this week vs. a Falcons Defense that has been rather generous to quarterbacks in 2019.
The Falcons are currently allowing the 10th most passing yards per game (269) to quarterbacks and have given up the seventh-most passing touchdowns with 23. This equates to them allowing the third-most fantasy points per game to the position with 21.6.
Allen should see plenty of volume in this game as well considering the total is set at 47.5, which is the third-highest on the board. He has also attempted an average of 43.75 passes per game over his last four games, which is a telling sign of how the Panthers are going about moving the ball, especially against stronger run defenses. Atlanta has one of those stronger run defenses as they only allow 90 rushing yards per game to backs, so Allen will likely be throwing even more due to this. In Week 11 vs. Atlanta, Allen threw the ball 50 times, so we could see similar volume this week as well.
Russell Gage (WR, ATL) - 10% Owned
Russell Gage has seen increased volume since the departure of Mohamed Sanu and saw even more volume last week when Julio Jones missed the action. I like this stream a lot if Jones misses Week 14 vs. Carolina, but I also like it enough to play even if Jones does not miss action.
The Panthers have struggled mightily vs. wide receivers this season as they have allowed the 6th most receiving yards in the league with 2,137 or 178.1 yards per game. They have also given up the second-most receptions with 182.
Gage has seen an average of 7.4 targets per game over his last five games. He has managed to turn these targets into double-digit fantasy performances in three of those five games and has a great opportunity to do so again at home this week, which is where each of the previous double-digit performances occurred.
Diontae Johnson (WR, PIT) - 12% Owned
Diontae Johnson is in a similar spot as Russell Gage; I like this stream if JuJu Smith-Schuster sits out, but I still like it even if he plays. The matchup will be extremely solid if Juju does not play, because James Washington should attract Patrick Peterson, leaving Johnson as essentially the number one target. If Juju does play, Johnson should still have success. just not to the same level as if he sat.
The Cardinals Defense is also very generous to wide receivers. They allow the third-most receiving yards to wide receivers with 188.75 yards per game. They also have allowed the third-most receptions with 178 and the 10th most receiving touchdowns with 13. This equates to them allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to the position with 25.4 points allowed per game.
Stream Team for 12-Team Leagues
- QB: Jacoby Brissett, Indianapolis Colts - 38% Owned
- RB: Adrian Peterson, Washington Redskins - 39% Owned
- RB: Benny Snell Jr., Pittsburgh Steelers - 35% Owned
- WR: Zach Pascal, Indianapolis Colts- 19% Owned
- WR: Darius Slayton, New York Giants- 27% Owned
- TE: Vance McDonald, Pittsburgh Steelers - 49% Owned
Jacoby Brissett (QB, IND) - 38% Owned
Jacoby Brissett has put up solid numbers this season and gets a solid matchup vs. the Buccaneers this week. This stream is that simple as we all know how abysmal the Bucs have been against the pass this season.
The Bucs currently rank second-worst in passing yards allowed per game with 300. They also rank third-worst in passing touchdowns allowed with 27. Overall, they have allowed quarterbacks to put up 21.1 fantasy points per game, which ranks fifth-worst in the league. The total in this game is the fifth-highest on the board with 46.5 points expected and the Bucs are favored by three points. If you believe in this spread, then you should like Brissett even more as this means he should be throwing a little more than usual as the underdog.
Zach Pascal (WR, IND) - 19% Owned
If you need upside in your matchup this week, pairing Pascal with Brissett may not be such a bad idea as the Bucs also struggle mightily vs. wide receivers.
The Bucs rank dead last in receiving yards allowed to wide receivers with 204 yards allowed per game. They also rank dead last in receptions allowed to the position with 15.3 receptions allowed per game. They do not quite complete the trifecta though, as they only rank second-worst in touchdowns allowed to wide receivers with a total of 19 given up. This equates to them allowing 31.3 fantasy points per game to the position, which also ranks dead last in the league.
Pascal should see plenty of volume in this game as T.Y. Hilton will likely still be sidelined. Pascal has seen an average of six targets over his last five games but saw 10 targets last week vs. the Titans with Hilton sidelined. This should be a prime spot to use Pascal.
Vance McDonald (TE, PIT) - 49% Owned
This is a prime spot to stream Vance McDonald as he gets a ridiculous matchup vs. the Arizona Cardinals.
The Cardinals have allowed the second-most (77) receptions, the most (953) receiving yards, and the most (13) touchdowns to the tight end position. It should come as no surprise that this equates to them allowing the most fantasy points per game to tight ends with 14.4 points per game. Just last week, they allowed Tyler freakin' Higbee to haul in seven of eight targets for 107 yards and a touchdown. McDonald should have an absolute field day vs. this defense.
Stream Team for 10-Team Leagues
- QB: Sam Darnold, New York Jets - 51% Owned
- RB: Alexander Mattison, Minnesota Vikings - 47% Owned
- RB: Duke Johnson, Houston Texans - 53% Owned
- WR: Cole Beasley, Buffalo Bills - 34% Owned
- WR: Robby Anderson, New York Jets - 61% Owned
- TE: Jack Doyle, Indianapolis Colts - 63% Owned
Alexander Mattison (RB, MIN) - 47% Owned
As of this writing, Mattison is only 47% owned, but I imagine it will tick higher before this is published Thursday morning. If he is available when you read this, go out and grab him. Dalvin Cook said he is fine and expects to play, but whether or not that happens is yet to be seen. The Vikings are in the middle of a playoff push and may not want to risk injuring him further, especially against a Lions Defense that has struggled to stop the run against pretty much any running back.
The Lions have allowed running backs to rack up 98 rushing yards per game, which ranks 10th-worst in the league. They have also allowed the fourth-most rushing touchdowns to backs with 10. They also struggle vs. the pass when it comes to backs as they have allowed the third-most receiving yards to them with 676 yards, and have allowed the most receiving touchdowns to backs with eight. Mattison is a multi-purpose back as demonstrated by his four receptions last week after Cook's departure. If Cook is out, Mattison is a must-start, and even if Cook suits up, Mattison should have flex appeal.
Cole Beasley (WR, BUF) - 34% Owned
Cole Beasley has been a target monster for Josh Allen all season and that should continue this week vs. the Ravens, making him a worthwhile stream option.
The Ravens are currently allowing the sixth-most receptions to wide receivers with 164 total. This averages out to roughly 14 receptions per game. This sets up well for Beasley as he has seen 6.5 targets per game over his last four games and has managed to haul in an average of five receptions per game for 74.5 yards and a total of two touchdowns. He has been an absolute machine. He has also caught touchdowns in five of his previous seven games. The Ravens are six-point favorites according to Vegas, so Allen should be throwing the ball plenty late in the game and I would expect Beasley to be the beneficiary of several of those targets. It is almost shocking that he is only 34% owned as he is currently ranked as the 25th-best wide receiver in PPR leagues.
Jack Doyle (TE, IND) - 63% Owned
I am going to pick on the Buccaneers Defense one last time since they are also awful against the tight end position, and Jack Doyle is now the lead tight end in Indianapolis as shown by his double-digit fantasy performance last week vs. the Titans.
The Bucs have given up the seventh-most receptions, fourth-most receiving yards, and third-most receiving touchdowns to the tight end position in 2019. This equates to them allowing 10.1 fantasy points per game to tight ends, which ranks second-worst behind only the Arizona Cardinals, who were highlighted above with the Vance McDonald recommendation.
Doyle should have another solid day Sunday as he is now the main focal point at tight end for Brissett and the colts.
