Fantasy Football Week 12 Streamers: QB, TE, Team Defense

Before going to my Week 12 fantasy football streamers at quarterback, tight end and team defense, let’s review Week 11’s picks (Yahoo! PPR scoring, four points per passing touchdown).

Quarterback: Marcus Mariota-4.10 points
Tight End: Vance McDonald-11.70 points
Team Defense: Arizona Cardinals-4 points

Now, here are my quarterback, tight end and team defense fantasy streamers for Week 12. Just two teams are on a bye, but with the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams idle plenty of fantasy owners are going to be looking for options.

Quarterback: Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. San Francisco 49ers

After Ryan Fitzpatrick threw three interceptions against the New York Giants in Week 11, Winston stepped again, played well (12-for-16 for 199 yards and two touchdowns) and now he’ll get the start in Week 12 against the San Francisco 49ers.

The 49ers are in the bottom-10 of the league against quarterbacks (19.4 fantasy points per game; ESPN scoring). Going into their Week 11 bye they allowed multiple passing touchdowns in four out of five games, and they’ve allowed multiple passing touchdowns in eight of 10 games this season.

All five quarterbacks San Francisco have faced on the road this season have thrown multiple touchdowns, four threw for at least 250 yards and all five have topped 19 fantasy points (four over 20 fantasy points, ESPN scoring). Add in just two interceptions all season (second-fewest in the league), and it’s a great matchup for Winston.

A benching is always looming for Winston, and his status as the Buccaneers’ starter can’t be comfortably predicted week-to-week. But for Week 12, however narrowly, he’s my top streaming quarterback.

ESPN Ownership: 9.4%
Yahoo! Ownership: 10%

Others To Consider: Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens vs. Oakland Raiders; Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals; Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Redskins (Thanksgiving Day); Case Keenum, Denver Broncos vs. Pittsburgh Steelers; Eli Manning, New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles; Nick Mullens, San Francisco 49ers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tight End: Jonnu Smith, Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans (Monday night)

Smith caught a touchdown in Week 9 and Week 10, then he set season-highs for catches (six) and targets (eight) in Week 11 against the Indianapolis Colts while topping 40 yards in the second straight game. He has over 10 PPR points in three straight games.

Marcus Mariota left last week’s game with a stinger, related to his previous elbow injury, so Blaine Gabbert may start against the Houston Texans. That’s not an ideal situation for any Titans’ pass catcher, but it’s a decent matchup for Smith.

After allowing 18 catches and 198 yards and two touchdowns to tight ends over their last two games, with the majority of that allowed to Jeff Heuerman (10 receptions for 83 yards with a touchdown) and Jordan Reed (seven catches for 71 yards and a touchdown), the Texans are now in the bottom-12 of the league against the position (ESPN PPR scoring).

If Gabbert is going to target anyone heavily next Monday night, it will probably be Smith and/or running back Dion Lewis. If you’re a Travis Kelce owner or just in general have been struggling to find a tight end with a pulse, Smith is in line for a better game than you’d think in Week 12.

ESPN Ownership: 2.4%
Yahoo! Ownership: 7%

Others To Consider: Vance McDonald Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos (check ownership; Jeff Heuerman, Denver Broncos vs. Pittsburgh Steelers; Ed Dickson, Seattle Seahawks vs. Carolina Panthers; Ben Watson, New Orleans Saints vs. Atlanta Falcons (Thanksgiving night); Lance Kendricks, Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings (Sunday night)

Team Defense: Indianapolis Colts vs. Miami Dolphins

In terms of points allowed, the Colts have been up and down defensively this year. But they’re coming off a positive showing in Week 11, as they held the Tennessee Titans to 10 points with five sacks and two takeaways. They’ve posted eight or more fantasy points (Yahoo! scoring) five times this season, and they’re in line to make it two strong outings in a row in Week 12.

The Miami Dolphins ceded a top-10 fantasy score to the New York Jets and Green Bay Packers’ defenses going into their Week 11 bye. They’ve also allowed the 11th-highest sack rate in the league so far this season, with Ryan Tannehill and Brock Osweiler combining to throw nine interceptions (tied for 10th-most in the league).

Tannehill (shoulder) may return and get the start in Week 12. But it really won’t matter who is under center for the Dolphins on Sunday, as the Indianapolis defense sits atop a small heap of good streaming defenses this week.

ESPN Ownership: 21.7%
Yahoo! Ownership: 26%

Others To Consider: Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals; Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Redskins (Thanksgiving Day); Buffalo Bills vs. Jacksonville Jaguars; New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles; San Francisco 49ers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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