Field of Streams: Week 16

In this series, we narrow the focus to just the current week and give you some streaming options for the upcoming games. The goal is to identify a player at each offensive position, as well as a team defense, who is owned in less than 30 percent of leagues and may be in line for a productive outing.

You can read more about this series here. We use MFL rates for the ownership percentages.

Let’s take a look at how things went for our top picks in week 15, using standard PPR scoring. The weekly average through 14 weeks is in parenthesis.

QB — A.J. McCarron, 11.88 points (15.9)

WR — Jermaine Kearse, 18.0 points (12.83)

RB — Brandon Bolden, 7.4 points (10.37)

TE — Will Tye, 15.3 points (10.63)

K — Josh Lambo, 6.0 points (8.73)

D — Indianapolis Colts, 8.0 points (7.6)

With Cincinnati in control, McCarron attempted just 21 passes in the win over San Francisco, totaling 192 yards and a touchdown. Kearse blew up for 110 yards on seven grabs as Seattle continues to morph into Texas Tech. Bolden saw ten touches, but he did very little with them and was a non-factor in the red zone. Tye made five grabs for 43 yards and a score. Lambo drilled one field goal and three extra points while also missing a field goal try. The Colts generated three sacks and two turnovers, but considering the two quarterbacks they faced, it was a disappointing day.

Here are the picks for week 16.

Quarterback

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Zach Mettenberger, QB TEN

(owned in 5.26 percent of leagues)

With Marcus Mariota out for the year, I’m going with Mettenberger as the top streaming option this week. Tennessee gets a home game against Houston. It’s a tough matchup, as Houston is allowing the second least passing yards per game, but none of the other quarterback options are more enticing. Blaine Gabbert in a road start at Detroit isn’t a terrible play. The Lions defense is middle of the road against the pass, allowing the 15th-most points to quarterbacks. I don’t necessarily feel great about Gabbert this week, but I feel better about him than Johnny Manziel at Kansas City, Case Keenum at Seattle, McCarron at Denver or Brandon Weeden versus anyone. Manziel’s penchant for scrambling does give him a decent floor this week, if you’re desperate in a two-quarterback league.

Honorable mention: Gabbert (at DET), Manziel (at KC).

Wide receiver

Dontrelle Inman, WR SD

(19.6 percent)

Inman, when healthy, has been a solid option over the past few weeks. In his last four full games, Inman has averaged six targets, 3.5 receptions and 55.5 yards per game. He made three catches for 78 yards in week 15. The Chargers take on Oakland in week 16. The Raiders are allowing the fifth most yards per game. If Steve Johnson returns this week, I’d lean towards Kansas City’s Albert Wilson, who has seen at least four targets in all but two games since week six, including ten looks over the last two weeks. The Kansas City passing game gets a great home matchup with the Cleveland Browns.

Honorable mention: Wilson (vs. CLE).

Running back

Kendall Gaskins, RB SF

(2.8 percent)

Shaun Draughn (knee) exited early in week 15, and Gaskins led the 49ers with eight touches thereafter, including six catches for 52 yards. I like Gaskins in week 15 in a nice matchup with Detroit, assuming Draughn doesn’t play. Travaris Cadet will likely see some touches, as well, but I expect Gaskins to lead the backfield. I also like Marcel Reece as a shot-in-the-dark gamble on a touchdown. The Raiders take on the Chargers in week 16. San Diego is allowing 120 rushing yards per game. While Latavius Murray should be the biggest beneficiary of the mouth-watering matchup, game flow could lead to a decent amount of touches for Reece. If Denard Robinson and T.J. Yeldon are both out this week, Jonas Gray would be a nice play in a stellar matchup with New Orleans. I’d rate him above both Gaskins and Reece, but I’m operating under the assumption Robinson will suit up.

Honorable mention: Reece (vs. SD), Gray (at NO).

Tight end

Will Tye, TE NYG

(22.58 percent)

For some reason, Tye is owned in far too few leagues. I’m not really sure why. With Larry Donnell on the shelf, Tye has worked his way into a really nice role in the New York offense. Over the last six games, Tye is averaging 6.3 targets, 4.6 receptions and 48.7 yards per game with a pair of touchdowns in that span. The matchup with Minnesota this week isn’t ideal but neither was Tye’s matchup with Carolina in week 14, and he still produced. Zach Miller has been a reliable option for the Bears over the last six weeks. He’s gone over 47 yards in four of his past six games, including two 100-yard outings, and he’s caught five touchdowns in that stretch. The Bears’ passing game gets a solid matchup with Tampa Bay this week.

Honorable mention: Myers (at TB).

Kicker

Matt Prater, K DET

(28.83 percent)

Detroit has a nice home matchup against San Francisco. Entering the Monday night game, Prater was a perfect 17-of-17 on field goals and 26-for-29 on extra points this season. In week 15, he made all five of his extra-point tries but missed a chip shot field goal. Connor Barth gets a home game against the Bears. Barth hit all three of his field goals in week 15, including a 53 yarder. He’s also 21-of-22 on extra points this year. Tampa Bay should be able to move the ball fairly well against Chicago.

Honorable mention: Prater (at NO).

Team defense

Tennessee Titans

(21.5 percent)

Tennessee is an average defense, ranking in the middle of the pack against the run and pass, but with Brian Hoyer looking doubtful, they get a home game against Brandon Weeden and the Texans in week 15. I expect Houston to be extremely conservative, which will limit the Titans’ chances for turnovers, but at some point, Houston is going to have to throw the ball. Even though I listed two 49ers as decent plays this week, Detroit’s defense isn’t a bad streaming option, as well. Playing at home against a poor offense, the Lions could be in line for a productive day.

Honorable mention: Detroit (vs. SF).

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