Each week throughout the NFL regular season, we will discuss the top fantasy football streaming options. These are deeper-league targets who have shown viable production or fit as a matchup-dependent play to give you a boost in the lineup this week.
Players listed below are rostered in less than 50% of ESPN leagues. Although you might notice some overlap with Eric Moody’s waiver wire column that publishes on Mondays, an important distinction is that the options mentioned in this column are focused solely on this week’s matchup and not on the players’ values for the remainder of the season.
With potential spots open in your lineup due to injuries at quarterback and running back, we have options here to discuss. We’ll also hit on the pass-catchers with WR3/flex upside, in addition to an available defense with a prime Week 3 matchup.
All references to fantasy points are for PPR leagues.
Quarterback
Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers (39.8% rostered; vs. Saints)
Tougher matchup this week for Love versus Dennis Allen’s defense, but we can’t ignore the production from the Packers quarterback. Love has thrown for three touchdowns and registered more than 20 fantasy points in each of his first two starts this season. He’s playing as a ball distributor in Matt LaFleur’s offense, and he could get a boost against the Saints if explosive-play wide receiver Christian Watson (hamstring) is up for the game. He’s a potential streaming option as a QB1 in deeper leagues and locked in as a starter in 2-QB/superflex formats.
Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans (4.7%; at Browns)
After a rough Week 1 (three interceptions), the tape was really good on Tannehill on Sunday in the win over the Chargers. Efficient passing, smart decision-making and a TD on a designed QB run. Tannehill logged 21.04 fantasy points in that one, while completing 20 of 24 passes. Take the throws that are available in a Week 3 matchup versus an aggressive, pressure-heavy Browns defense. Tannehill fits here as a starter in 2-QB/superflex leagues.
Running Back
Gus Edwards, Baltimore Ravens (32.0%; vs. Colts)
Edwards will continue to share backfield touches with Justice Hill in Baltimore. We saw that in Week 2 with Edwards logging 10 carries and Hill seeing 11. But the tape tells me that Edwards is the Ravens back to roll with versus the Colts this week. It’s about his straight-line burst and finishing power here, especially at the goal line. Edwards posted 62 yards rushing and a score in last week’s win over the Bengals. And if he’s not scooped up off waivers in your league, Edwards can start at the flex spot in Week 3.
Zack Moss, Indianapolis Colts (32.1%; at Ravens)
The only Colts running back to record a rushing attempt in Week 2, Moss got on a north/south track and played with a physical element in the win over the Texans. He finished with 88 yards rushing on 18 carries, including a red zone touchdown, while also adding another 19 yards on four receptions. In a Colts offense that could feature the running back position even more if quarterback Anthony Richardson is out (concussion), Moss is a really smart play for the Week 3 game versus the Ravens.
Craig Reynolds, Detroit Lions (0.6%; vs. Falcons)
With David Montgomery out with a thigh injury that could sideline him a couple of games, Jahmyr Gibbs should see a bump in volume. But Reynolds has the ability to jump into that early-down rushing role for the Lions, which includes goal line carries. Montgomery totaled 37 carries in the first two weeks of the season, with a rushing score in each game. This suggestion is really about opportunity for Reynolds behind a Detroit offensive line that will move people off the ball on both zone and power schemes. Expect Reynolds to be a hot name this week on waivers and for managers in deeper formats who want to stream the Lions running back until Montgomery returns.
Wide Receiver
Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers (13.9%; vs. Saints)
Even if Watson is back for Green Bay this week, I still see value with Reed in the lineup due to his dynamic skill set as a slot target for Love. In Week 2, Reed caught four of eight targets, including two red zone scores, on his way to posting 19.7 points. He’s a rapid accelerator who can see the ball on fly sweeps and quick throws. Plus, his red zone deployment tells a story here. There’s deeper-league WR3 value for Reed at Lambeau this Sunday.
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Loza: Jayden Reed becoming featured piece of Packers’ receiving core
Liz Loza discusses the fantasy potential for Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed.
Robert Woods, Houston Texans (6.4%; at Jaguars)
Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has thrown at least 44 passes in each of his first two games, which has created more opportunities for Woods. He’s seen 19 total targets already this season, and has scored in double digits in both games. Woods is a crafty, veteran route-runner who is willing to work the dirty areas of the field, making him a potential WR3 in deeper leagues this week against the Jags’ defense.
Josh Reynolds, Detroit Lions (4.7%; vs. Falcons)
Reynolds followed up his four-catch, 80-yard opening night effort by dropping 23.2 fantasy points on the Seahawks in Week 2, catching five of six targets for 66 yards, with two touchdowns. He’s seeing volume, and the fit works here with Reynolds running the schemed in-breakers off play-action, or isolating as a perimeter target. He’s a solid streaming option for Sunday.
Tight End
Noah Fant, Seattle Seahawks (3.1%; vs. Panthers)
Let’s take a look at Fant after he produced 54 yards on four receptions in the Week 2 win over Detroit. He has the catch-and-run traits to pick up numbers on Seattle’s boot concepts with Geno Smith getting to the edges, and we know he can work vertically off play-action to find windows in the seams. He’s a deeper-league target in Week 3 versus the Panthers’ defense.
D/ST
Kansas City Chiefs (9.7%; vs. Bears)
This Bears offense looks disjointed on tape, and the pass game with Justin Fields lacks both timing and rhythm. This is a great spot to play the Chiefs defense, especially with difference-making Chris Jones back. Kansas City posted 11 fantasy points in the Week 2 win over Jacksonville, logging four sacks and an interception. Look for a lot of late movement, disguise and pressure from the Chiefs here to change the picture post-snap, while heating up Fields.
Source: ESPN
