Before looking at Week 17, let’s take a look at how Week 16’s streamers fared in championship week for a lot of fantasy football leagues (Yahoo! scoring, 0.5-point PPR)
Quarterback: Jalen Hurts-20.58 points
Tight End: Austin Hooper-10.60 points
Team Defense: Arizona Cardinals-6 points
If you’re in a fantasy league that extends to the season’s final week, I’m here to help one last time in 2020. Here are my quarterback, tight end and team defense streamers for Week 17.
Quarterback: Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions
The Vikings’ atrocious defensive performance against the New Orleans Saints on Christmas Day was the headline from that game. But Cousins had another productive outing, completing 27 of 41 passes for 291 yards and three touchdowns. He has multiple passing touchdowns in seven of his last eight games, with more than 270 yards through the air in six of those.
The Vikings are eliminated from the playoffs, but at this point Cousins is not in line to be rested Sunday against the Detroit Lions. The Lions entered Week 16 as a bottom-five fantasy defense against quarterbacks, then Tom Brady (and Blaine Gabbert!) combined for 491 passing yards and six touchdowns against them last Saturday. So the Lions are now allowing the most (ESPN scoring) or tied for the most (Yahoo! scoring) fantasy points per game to quarterbacks in 2020.
Cousins has been one of the most productive quarterbacks in the league since a Week 7 bye. For Week 17, again assuming he plays (and plays a full game), a top-five fantasy finish among quarterbacks is easy to see coming.
ESPN Ownership: 32.8%
Yahoo! Ownership: 56%
Others To Consider: Philip Rivers, Indianapolis Colts vs. Jacksonville Jaguars; Mitchell Trubisky, Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers; Andy Dalton, Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants; Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders at Denver Broncos; Daniel Jones, New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys; Alex Smith, Washington Football Team at Philadelphia Eagles (Sunday night, check injury status)
Tight End: Irv Smith Jr., Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions
Smith had a good showing against the New Orleans Saints in Week 16, with six receptions (on nine targets) for 63 yards and two touchdowns. He has scored and topped 50 yards in two of his last three games, with Kyle Rudolph (foot) missing all three, and he has scored in three of his last five games.
Surely due to how generous they’ve been to every other position, as literally the worst defense (tied or alone) against quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers, the Detroit Lions have been among the most stingy teams against tight ends in terms of targets, catches and yards allowed. But the nine touchdowns they’ve allowed to the position are tied for the third highest in the league. In Week 9 against them, both of Smith’s catches were touchdowns.
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It seems likely Rudolph will sit again in Week 17. But even if he does play, Smith should practically never leave the field in the season finale after playing more than 80 percent of the snaps in the each of the last two games. With or without a touchdown against the Lions, Smith should further pave the way for a 2021 breakout on Sunday.
ESPN Ownership: 6.1%
Yahoo! Ownership: 15%
Others To Consider: Jimmy Graham, Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers; Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams vs. Arizona Cardinals; Dalton Schultz, Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants; Jack Doyle, Indianapolis Colts vs. Jacksonville Jaguars; Chris Herndon, New York Jets at New England PatriotsÂ
Team Defense: Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams
The Cardinals’ defense was in a good spot against the San Francisco 49ers for Week 16, which made them my top streamer. They delivered a solidly unspectacular outing (20 points allowed, three sacks, one takeaway) and six fantasy points (Yahoo! scoring). But I’m going back to the well in Week 17.
The Los Angeles Rams have scored 20 of fewer points in four of their last five games. Jared Goff has not been playing well, then he suffered a broken thumb in Week 16. He has had surgery already, so he’ll miss Week 17. AAF star John Wolford, who has never taken a regular season snap, will make his first NFL start Sunday against the Cardinals. Running back Cam Akers (ankle) may be able to play after missing last week, but Darrell Henderson (ankle) is out. Malcolm Brown may be the Rams’ lead back against Arizona, with Xavier Jones and Raymond Calais behind him if Akers can’t suit up.
Rams QB depth chart:
John Wolford
Bryce Perkins
Blake Bortles – TBD from Broncos practice squadRams RB depth chart:
Malcolm Brown
Xavier Jones
Raymond Calais
Cam Akers — high ankle sprain, questionable
Darrell Henderson — high ankle sprain to IR— Lindsey Thiry (@LindseyThiry) December 29, 2020
The Cardinals have 17 sacks over their last three games, with at least three sacks in five of their last six. The matchup against the Rams seemed solid looking ahead to the season finale before last Sunday. Now, with significant injuries thinning the talent for Los Angeles, the Arizona defense is a perfect streamer for Week 17-high upside with a high floor.
ESPN Ownership: 35.7%
Yahoo! Ownership: 43%
Others To Consider: Las Vegas Raiders at Denver Broncos; Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants; Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington (Sunday night); Washington at Philadelphia Eagles (Sunday night); Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears; Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions (if Matthew Stafford doesn’t play)
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