Field of Streams: Week 15

Austan Kas

streams

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 14, using standard PPR scoring. The weekly average through 14 weeks is in parenthesis.

QB — Matt Hasselbeck, 9.08 points (16.10)

WR — Dwayne Harris, 9.1 points (12.5)

RB — Bilal Powell, 19.2 points (10.52)

TE — Jared Cook, 2.1 points (10.49)

K — Chris Boswell, 18.0 points (8.9)

D — San Francisco 49ers, 5.0 points (7.57)

Boswell and Powell saved me from a rather pathetic week. Powell continued to impress, racking up 82 total yards and a score. He has 44 points over the last two weeks. Boswell drilled four field goals and three extra points on his way to a season-high output. Hasselbeck turned in his second straight dud, and that feel-good story may have run its course. Harris had a decent day with five receptions for 41 yards . The 49ers turned in a stinker against the Browns, with Cleveland gashing them for 230 yards on the ground.

Here are the picks for week 15.

Quarterback

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A.J. McCarron, QB CIN

(owned in 2.03 percent of leagues)

Quarterback streaming is getting to be a bloodbath. There are just not many decent options. When Kirk Cousins is owned in over 50 percent of leagues, you know it’s been a rough season at the quarterback position. McCarron is the Bengals’ starter after Andy Dalton’s thumb injury. His first start is a road game at San Francisco. McCarron came into a tough spot against the Steelers in week 14 and didn’t play terribly, despite an ugly pick-six. He completed 22-of-32 passes for 280 yards, two scores and two picks. I don’t hate Case Keenum for the Rams’ Thursday night game against Tampa Bay. Notice I didn’t say I liked him, but there’s honestly just not much from which to choose.

Honorable mention: Keenum (vs. TB).

Wide receiver

Jermaine Kearse, WR SEA

(22.3 percent)

With Russell Wilson dominating through the air, the Seattle passing attack looks better than it has in quite some time. Doug Baldwin has lost his mind the past two weeks and is stealing a lot of headlines, but Kearse is coming off his best game of the season. In week 14, he hauled in 7-of-8 targets for 72 yards. Seattle will likely continue to lean on the passing game this week in a lovely matchup with Cleveland as both Marshawn Lynch and Thomas Rawls are expected to be out. Seth Roberts is only owned in 17 percent of MFL leagues, but that number is likely higher for dynasty formats. Roberts has ten receptions for 184 yards and three scores over the past three weeks. Oakland gets a home matchup with Green Bay this week.

Honorable mention: Roberts (vs. GB).

Running back

Brandon Bolden, RB NE

(29.98 percent)

LeGarrette Blount (hip) exited early in week 14, and if he doesn’t suit up this week, I like Bolden as a solid play. He saw a big bump in touches as a result of Blount’s injury. New England plays at home against the Titans in a contest where game script should favor the Patriots’ running game. Powell is still a good option, as well. There are just not many running backs owned in less than 30 percent of leagues who are getting roughly ten touches per game and really producing with them. Because of a slew of injuries in week 14, there are a couple more options this week. Tim Hightower is owned in just 21 percent of leagues. I don’t like his matchup against Detroit, but based on volume alone, he can be useful for running-back needy owners. Denard Robinson is a decent play this week, if T.J. Yeldon (knee) is out. Robinson worked in an every-down role once Yeldon left in week 14, and the Jaguars face the Falcons’ porous defense.

Honorable mention: Powell (at DAL), Robinson (vs. ATL), Hightower (vs. DET).

Tight end

Will Tye, TE NYG

(13.2 percent)

Tye entered the Monday night game averaging 67.3 yards on 6.3 targets over the past three games. Against Miami on Monday, he caught all five of his targets for 30 yards and a touchdown. With the Larry Donnell on the shelf, Tye is locked into a nice role in the Giants’ offense, although Carolina certainly presents a tough matchup this week. Still, the consistent production is too much to ignore at a depleted tight end position. Luke Willson is a roll of the dice in a matchup with the Browns. All of the reasons I listed with Kearse also apply to Willson. He dropped a touchdown this past week, which isn’t good, but it means he’s getting opportunity.

Honorable mention: Willson (vs CLE).

Kicker

Josh Lambo, K SD

(29.28 percent)

The Chargers’ offense has been sabotaged by injuries, which has limited Lambo in recent weeks. Lambo, a rookie, hasn’t scored more than seven points since Week 8, but he’s 21-of-24 on both field goals and extra points this season. Facing Miami in a home game, I think the Chargers will be able to move the ball better than they have in recent weeks, which should set Lambo up for a productive day. Matt Prater and the Lions travel to New Orleans in week 15. The struggles of the Saints’ defense have been well documented. In a dome game, Prater and the Lions’ offense should be set up for success.

Honorable mention: Prater (at NO).

Team defense

Indianapolis Colts

(24.75 percent)

It’s a tough week for streaming defenses as a lot of the best matchups belong to defenses which are owned in a vast majority of leagues. The Colts get a home game with the Houston Texans, who may be without Brian Hoyer (concussion), meaning T.J. Yates could be under center. The Colts’ defense has scored double digit fantasy points in three of the last four weeks, totaling seven turnovers and two defensive scores in that stretch. The Buccaneers are another decent option as they take on the Rams. Tampa Bay boasts a stout run defense, which sits eighth in rushing yards allowed per game. If the Buccaneers can contain Todd Gurley, then the Rams’ offense will fall on the shoulders of Keenum.

Honorable mention: Tampa Bay (at STL).

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