Fantasy Football Week 5 Streamers: QB, TE, Team Defense

Week 5 is the second week of bye weeks on this year’s NFL schedule, with the Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints and Jacksonville Jaguars idle. That will leave fantasy football owners without a lot of viable options, and here are this week’s streamers for quarterback, tight end and team defense.

Quarterback-Brian Hoyer, Chicago Bears at Indianapolis Colts
Yahoo! Ownership: 5%

Jay Cutler‘s thumb injury opened up an opportunity for Hoyer, and he has responded with back-to-back 300-yard games with two touchdown passes in both starts. Cutler remains very questionable going forward, and Bears’ head coach John Fox has suggested Hoyer could keep starting regardless of Cutler’s health.

For Week 5, Hoyer gets a very favorable matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts have allowed two 300-yard passing games so far this season, and they’ve allowed over 260 yards through the air three times in four contests. The only exception was Week 4 in London, but Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles accounted for three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) to still put up a very nice fantasy stat line.

An added element for the Colts is they are the first team to play in London and not get a bye the following week. Fatigue may not be a huge factor on Sunday, but it can’t be ruled out completely either. Hoyer is well-positioned to take advantage of a favorable matchup no matter what, but the prospect of playing a defense that is extra fatigued lines him up as a great streaming option this week.

Others To Consider: Trevor Siemian/Paxton Lynch, Denver Broncos vs. Atlanta Falcons; Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles at Detroit Lions

Tight End-Hunter Henry, San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders
Yahoo! Ownership: 31%

Henry has stepped in capably for an injured Antonio Gates, with nine receptions (12 targets) for 133 yards and a touchdown over the last two games. Doubt about Gates‘ status going forward makes Henry a viable outright waiver wire addition, but his ownership in Yahoo! and ESPN leagues (32.5 percent owned) suggests fantasy owners are fairly slow to get on board.

Chargers’ quarterback Philip Rivers likes to throw to his tight end, and he should continue to do so in Week 5 against the Oakland Raiders. The Raiders have allowed just one tight end touchdown in four games and allowing 10 catches for 180 yards to the Atlanta Falcons’ tight ends in Week 2 helps put them in the bottom half of the league against the position. But if Delanie Walker of the Tennessee Titans had played in Week 3, Oakland would likely look worse against tight ends.

Henry’s viability as a streamer may end very soon, with a rise in his ownership rate. But he still qualifies this week, with a favorable-looking matchup to boot.

Others To Consider: Clive Walford, Oakland Raiders vs. San Diego Chargers; Charles Clay, Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Rams

Team Defense-Buffalo Bills, at Los Angeles Rams
Yahoo! Ownership: 45%

Even after facing a banged-up third string quarterback, the Bills’ defense is riding high after shutting out the New England Patriots in Week 3. Since being utterly dismantled by the New York Jets in Week 2, they’ve registered eight sacks with four interceptions (all in Week 4) and two fumble recoveries over the last two games. Leaving out that Jets game, Buffalo has allowed a total of 29 points with 12 sacks in their other three games.

Buffalo will get one of their best defensive players back this week against the Los Angeles Rams, as defensive tackle, Marcell Dareus is set to return from a four-game suspension. The Rams have looked better offensively over the past two weeks, but they’ve still scored more than 17 points just once in four games with multiple sacks allowed three times. Add in Case Keenum under center, and Buffalo’s defense is set up for success.

A longer-term waiver wire add of the Bills’ defense seems viable, with one bad game in four and having gotten back on track over the last two weeks. For Week 5, there isn’t a better streaming defense.

Others To Consider: Tennessee Titans, at Miami Dolphins; San Francisco 49ers, vs. Arizona Cardinals (check Carson Palmer‘s status)

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