Field of Streams: Week 12

In this weekly 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 11, using standard PPR scoring. The weekly average through 11 weeks is in parenthesis.

QB — Mark Sanchez, 14.84 points (17.6)

WR — Jamison Crowder, 1.5 points (13.1)

RB — Dexter McCluster, 3.8 points (8.2)

TE — Scott Chandler, 1.3 points (10.6)

K — Greg Zuerlein, 1.0 points (8.09)

D — Tennessee Titans, 9 points (7.6)

Whew! It was a rough week. Sanchez had 261 yards and three scores, but he also tossed three picks. He was unable to take advantage of game flow working perfectly in his favor. Crowder had a nightmare game, hauling in his only target for five yards. Like Sanchez, he couldn’t take advantage of ideal game script. McCluster was having a decent day as the Titans’ pass-game back, but left early with a knee injury. Chandler didn’t see an increase in usage despite the Patriots’ injuries. Zuerlein missed a field goal and extra point. Tennessee totaled four sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery in a solid day. The Titans had the 10th-best week among defenses. All in all, it was my worst week of the season for kicker, tight end and receiver.

I’m hopping back on the saddle for Week 12.

Quarterback

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Brian Hoyer, QB HOU

(owned in 18.6 percent of leagues)

Hoyer gets an ideal matchup with a home game against the Saints, who haven’t done much to slow down any passing game this season. Prior to getting hurt against the Bengals, Hoyer had put up at least 17 points in five straight weeks. Sanchez has a fantastic matchup against a Lions’ defense which ranks 22nd against the pass, although it appears Sam Bradford (shoulder, concussion) is going to play. Johnny Manziel is another decent option. The Browns take on Baltimore on Monday night. With his running ability, Manziel figures to provide a safe floor as well as enticing upside.

Honorable mention: Manziel (vs. BAL), Sanchez (at DET).

Wide receiver

Dontrelle Inman, WR SD

(19.2 percent)

Assuming Malcom Floyd (shoulder) is sidelined again, Inman is a nice play this week at Jacksonville. The Jaguars are ranked 23rd against the pass, and Inman is in line for decent volume as Philip Rivers’ No. 2 receiver. Inman had three catches for 51 yards in Week 11. Albert Wilson, fresh off a four-catch, 56-yard day last week, faces the Buffalo Bills in Week 12. With Buffalo having a stout run defense, the Chiefs are likely going to have to air it out. Bills’ top corner Stephon Gilmore figures to lock down Jeremy Maclin, meaning Wilson could garner more looks.

Honorable mention: Wilson (vs. BUF).

Running back

Shaun Draughn, RB SF

(22.8 percent)

Draughn isn’t very good, and his matchup with Arizona is tough, but he’s getting too much volume to ignore. Against Seattle in week 11, he racked up 20 touches, with eight of those coming through the air, and 77 total yards. The Niners got down big against the Seahawks, and Draughn was a checkdown monster. I see the game against the Cardinals playing out in similar fashion. If Carlos Hyde plays, look elsewhere. In for an injured Charcandrick West, Spencer Ware looked lively against the Chargers last week. If West (hamstring) is out, Ware would likely see 15-to-20 touches against the Bills.

Honorable mention: Ware (vs. BUF).

Tight end

Zach Miller, TE CHI

(11.3 percent)

Miller has come out of nowhere and produced these past three weeks, racking up 177 yards and two touchdowns in that stretch. In the same span, Martellus Bennett has 102 yards and a score. Facing Green Bay in Week 12, game flow figures to work in the favor of Miller and the Bears’ pass-game options. His value would rise even more if Alshon Jeffery sat again. Honestly, the rest of the tight end landscape is pretty awful. Jared Cook saw six targets in week 11, making four grabs for 31 yards. Game flow could also work in his favor as the Rams travel to Cincinnati this week.

Honorable mention: Cook (at CIN).

Kicker

Nick Novak, K HOU

(6.2 percent)

Novak has drilled seven straight field goals for Houston, and as we already touched on, the Texans have a superb matchup with the Saints. This game will also be played indoors. Caleb Sturgis and the Eagles play at Detroit this week. Sturgis has made 11-of-13 kicks since Week 5. Philadelphia’s offense should be able to move the ball fairly well against Detroit. The game being indoors at Ford Field is another plus.

Honorable mention: Sturgis (at DET).

Team defense

Cleveland Browns

(5.8 percent)

Cleveland gets an enticing home matchup with the Baltimore Ravens, who will be without their starting quarterback, top running back and number one wideout. Baltimore is going to be an offense to stream against the rest of the way. I don’t like streaming defenses against good quarterbacks, and Jacksonville takes on Philip Rivers this week. However, the offense around Rivers is so depleted, he’s going to have a tough go of it for the remainder of the season. Coming off a bye week in week 11, the Chargers were a mess against Kansas City, giving up a fumble recovery, pick, defensive touchdown and three sacks.

Honorable mention: Jaguars (vs. SD).

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