The 2018 NFL regular season is here, as is our weekly output of fantasy football content here at GoingFor2.
Week 1 isn’t the ideal point for fantasy owners to be considering a streamer, but quarterback, tight end and team defense are spots where it can be done all season.
So with that, here are my quarterback, tight end and team defense streamers for Week 1, 2018.
Quarterback: Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals at Indianapolis Colts
Just like his team as a whole, Dalton is coming off a down 2017 season. He dropped nearly 1,000 passing yards from 2016 and his completion percentage dropped a shade below 60 percent. But an offseason with Bill Lazor as offensive coordinator, and some changes in the playbook, should help foster a rebound and Dalton had a pretty good preseason.
Dalton is in line to start a new season on a high note, against an Indianapolis Colts defense that finished in the bottom half of the league in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks last year (ESPN scoring) and made no notable outside additions. Safety Malik Hooker is healthy after suffering a torn ACL last year, but he can only cover up so much.
For what it’s worth, Dalton went 17-for-29 for 243 yards and two touchdowns along with 10 rushing yards against the Colts in Week 8 last year. A similar performance would be just fine for a streamer quarterback, but Dalton could easily do better this time around on Sunday.
Yahoo! Ownership: 24%
ESPN Ownership: 17.8%
Others To Consider: Tyrod Taylor, Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers; Sam Bradford, Arizona Cardinals vs. Washington Redskins; Case Keenum, Denver Broncos vs. Seattle Seahawks
Tight End: Ben Watson, New Orleans Saints vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I’ll bet you didn’t realize Watson finished as a starting tight end (TE11) in ESPN leagues (default PPR scoring) last year. with the Baltimore Ravens (61 catches for 522 yards and four touchdowns). He came back to the Saints this offseason, where he set career highs in catches (74) and yards (825) and tied his career-high for touchdowns (six) catching passes from Drew Brees in 2015.
Watson’s age (37) could mean a decline will come quickly. But he defied that age curve last year, after a season out with a torn Achilles, and the Saints have room for someone to contribute at tight end.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers tied for the third-fewest fantasy points to tight ends last year (9.3 per game, ESPN scoring). But that’s as much a bi-product of being the worst against wide receivers and fifth-worst against running backs as anything, rather than a particular prowess shutting down tight ends, since they allowed the third-fewest targets to the position (88).
Watson may not have a huge game on Sunday. But I’m putting him on 4-5 catches, 50 yards and maybe a touchdown in a better matchup than it might look like for Week 1.
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Yahoo! Ownership: 40%
ESPN Ownership: 36.8%
Others To Consider: Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Jacksonville Jaguars at New York Giants (check injury report);Â Charles Clay, Buffalo Bills at Baltimore Ravens; Ricky Seals-Jones, Arizona Cardinals vs. Washington Redskins; Antonio Gates, Los Angeles Chargers vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Team Defense: Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles (Thursday night)
His performances in the NFC Championship Game and the Super Bowl has brought rose-colored glasses, but Nick Foles is still Nick Foles when it’s all said and done. He’s starting the season opener Thursday night, as Carson Wentz works his way back from a torn ACL.
In the Divisional Round last year, the Falcons held the Eagles to 15 points and Foles went 23-for-30 for 246 yards. Heading into Week 1 Philadelphia is expected to be without wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (shoulder), and wide receiver Nelson Agholor (lower body) and running back Corey Clement (leg) were a little banged up during the preseason. Foles needs a full complement of pieces around him to succeed, and he won’t have it Thursday night.
The Falcons are a little outside the box as a streaming defense for Week 1. But there’s only so much a well-designed offense can cover up, and I’m betting on Foles turning back into a pumpkin quickly.
Yahoo! Ownership: 35%
ESPN Ownership: 9.8%
Others To Consider: Detroit Lions vs. New York Jets (Monday night); Cincinnati Bengals at Indianapolis Colts; Tennessee Titans at Miami Dolphins; Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns
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