The 2019 NFL season is upon us, with the opening game between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears Thursday night.
It’s also the start of another year for my weekly quarterback, tight end and team defense fantasy streamers column.
Without further ado, here are my quarterback, tight and team defense streamers for Week 1.
Quarterback: Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills at New York Jets
From Week 12-Week 17 last year, spurred by 476 rushing yards (four games with at least 95 yards) and five scores on the ground, Allen was the highest-scoring quarterback in fantasy football. One of those games came against the Jets, when had 307 total yards (101 rushing) and a rushing touchdown (albeit with two interceptions).
The Jets gave up the sixth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks last year (20.63 per game, Yahoo! scoring), and a look at their cornerback depth chart shows an injured underachiever in Trumaine Johnson (hamstring) that may not be 100 percent on Sunday and thin talent behind that. Buffalo’s additions of John Brown and Cole Beasley this offseason will help Allen take advantage of that deficiency.
His running ability naturally raises his fantasy floor, but Allen is in line to improve as a passer this year. Week 1 is an opportunity for a big start, and he’s an easy choice as my top streaming quarterback this week.
ESPN Ownership: 20.2%
Yahoo! Ownership: 34%
Others To Consider: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Miami Dolphins vs. Baltimore Ravens; Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions at Arizona Cardinals; Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Jacoby Brissett, Indianapolis Colts at Los Angeles Chargers; Eli Manning, New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys; Nick Foles, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Kansas City Chiefs; Case Keenum, Washington Redskins at Philadelphia Eagles
Tight End: Jack Doyle, Indianapolis Colts at Los Angeles Chargers
Doyle only played six games last year due to a hip injury, which opened the door for Eric Ebron to have a long-awaited breakout season. But in the games the two guys played together last year, Doyle had an affect on Ebron’s snap rates and he himself produced solidly (26 catches on 33 targets).
When Jacoby Brissett started in place of Andrew Luck in 2017, Doyle led the Colts in receptions (80) and came in a close second in targets (109). He finished as top-10 tight in standard scoring and full-point PPR. The talent has been upgraded in Indianapolis since then, but the move from Andrew Luck to Brissett is not a death knell for Doyle’s fantasy value.
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The Los Angeles Chargers finished in the middle of the pack in fantasy points allowed to tight ends in 2018, so the matchup doesn’t look that good for Doyle in Week 1. But safety Derwin James (foot) will be missed as a multi-level force. In two games against the Chargers last year, due in part to James’ effort, Travis Kelce totaled eight catches for 67 yards on 16 targets while posting two of his three worst games in yards per catch.
Doyle was largely forgotten about in fantasy drafts, but all that means is there’s an opportunity to add him and stream him in Week 1.
ESPN Ownership: 34.6%
Yahoo! Ownership: 33%
Others To Consider: Darren Waller, Oakland Raiders vs. Denver Broncos (Monday night); Matt LaCosse, New England Patriots vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (Sunday night); Irv Smith Jr., Minnesota Vikings vs. Atlanta Falcons
Team Defense: Detroit Lions at Arizona Cardinals
The Lions made moves to bolster their defense this offseason, signing a pass rusher (Trey Flowers) and one of the best slot corners in the NFL (Justin Coleman) in the first wave of free agency before making a late move to add an interior force in Mike Daniels after he was cut by the Packers.
The Arizona Cardinals consistently professed all preseason how they hadn’t fully unveiled whatever new head coach Kliff Kingsbury‘s offense will be in the NFL. But a bad offensive line was not notably upgraded during the offseason, and in the second preseason game the Oakland Raiders showed the rest of the league an easily prescribed formula to send constant pressure after Kyler Murray. Sacks, a safety and multiple off-the-mark throws followed.
In the first game with a full playbook deployed, the Cardinals will have some kinks to work out. One game won’t be enough to draw any conclusions about Murray, but Detroit’s defense is clearly lined up to succeed in Week 1.
ESPN Ownership: 2.8%
Yahoo! Ownership: 3%
Others To Consider: Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears (Thursday night); San Francisco 49ers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders (Monday night); Kansas City Chiefs at Jacksonville Jaguars
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