Fantasy Football Streamers Week 1: QB, TE, Team Defense
The 2023 NFL season is here, and we’re back with weekly fantasy football quarterback, tight end and team defense streamers. Here’s a refresher of our formula, simple as it is.
Matchups of course drive the choices, but so does availability. There is wiggle room if the situation dictates, but the general criteria to be a streamer is being rostered in 50 percent or less of both ESPN and Yahoo! leagues.
With that, here are our quarterback, tight end and team defense streamers for fantasy football in Week 1.
Quarterback: Sam Howell, Washington Commanders vs. Arizona Cardinals
Howell made one start to end his rookie season last year, and he had 169 passing yards, 35 rushing yards and two total touchdowns (19.3 fantasy points, with an interception). Coming off a strong preseason, he starts his second season with a nice matchup.
The Arizona Cardinals are in tank-mode, and outside of Budda Baker and Zaven Collins the starters on defense do not strike fear in opposing offenses.
Howell has good weapons around him, with or without wide receiver Terry McLaurin (toe) in Week 1. This is set up to be a nice confidence builder for a young quarterback, and a finish as a QB1 (top-12) for the opening week is firmly in play.
ESPN Ownership: 9.8%
Yahoo! Ownership: 22%
Others to Consider: Jared Goff, Detroit Lions at Kansas City Chiefs (Thursday night, check availability); Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. San Francisco 49ers; Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Minnesota Vikings; Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears; Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks; Desmond Ridder, Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers;
Tight End: Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints vs. Tennessee Titans
A converted wide receiver, Johnson hasn’t quite put it all together in his previous three NFL seasons. But he had seven touchdowns last season, and now he has Derek Carr as his quarterback. Carr elevated Darren Waller to an elite-level fantasy tight end, and reports out of training camp had Carr and Johnson building quick rapport. After Chris Olave, the Saints have question marks in their target tree. Week 1 is looking like a potential launch point for Johnson.
It was last year, but the Tennessee Titans were one of the more generous teams in the league to tight ends in terms of catches and yards.
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It’s odd that Johnson wasn’t drafted in more fantasy leagues. But that just presents an easy streaming opportunity for Week 1, and as long as qualifies.
ESPN Ownership: 29.5%
Yahoo! Ownership: 38%
Others To Consider: Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions at Kansas City Chiefs (Thursday night, check availability); Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Minnesota Vikings; Hayden Hurst, Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons; Irv Smith Jr., Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns; Luke Musgrave, Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears; Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants (Sunday night)
Team Defense: Washington Commanders vs. Arizona Cardinals
Even without Chase Young for much of last season, the Commanders’ defense was quite good; top-10 in scoring defense, top-5 in yards allowed and 12th in sacks. Young is healthy now, and the secondary is bolstered by the addition of rookie cornerback Emmanuel Forbes. Even straddling the criteria to be a streamer, the Week 1 matchup here is too good to ignore.
Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon is being coy about who his starting quarterback will be. as if it matters between journeyman Josh Dobbs or rookie Clayton Tune. Colt McCoy was released, and Kyler Murray is of course out.
If the Commanders should not allow much of anything to the Cardinals on Sunday. A low score, with the prospect of multiple sacks and a few takeaways….the weekly targeting of Arizona’s offense in this part of streamers column this year easily starts here.
ESPN Ownership: 47.2%
Yahoo! Ownership: 67%
Others to Consider: Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers; Tennessee Titans at New Orleans Saints; Minnesota Vikings vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears; Seattle Seahawks vs. Los Angeles Rams; Las Vegas Raiders at Denver Broncos
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