The Stream Option is a weekly article where The Undroppables explore the best options at Quarterback, Defense, and Tight End that should be available in most leagues.
*Note: ESPN rostership rates were gathered on 11/18/2020 and are subject to change.
Unfortunately, this week’s Stream Option was delayed until Wednesday due to a broken computer. Please excuse our difficulties.
Quarterbacks
Jameis Winston/Taysom Hill – NO vs ATL
With Drew Brees out for the next two weeks, Head Coach Sean Payton has yet to make the call on which of his two quarterbacks will get the start against the league’s worst passing defense. If one is named the starter over the other, I am actually quite bullish on their opportunity with passing game weapons such as Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara against the incredibly poor Falcons pass defense. The Falcons have allowed the most fantasy points per game this season to opposing QBs. Meanwhile, Jameis Winston was the QB8 over the course of 2019, and, while he had his struggles with interceptions, his propensity to push the ball downfield could open up another layer to this already strong Saints offense. On the other hand, if Taysom Hill is named the starter, an outcome I see as less likely, then he is a must-add on fantasy services, such as ESPN, which have him as TE eligible. ESPN has announced that even if he is named the starter this week, he will keep his TE eligibility, in which case he is likely a top 5 TE option. Winston is rostered in just 15.5% of ESPN leagues while Hill is rostered in 18.2%.
Alex Smith – WAS vs CIN
Alex Smith led the NFL in passing yards in week 10. However, to go along with 390 yards, Smith also posted zero touchdowns as the Football Team elected to hand the ball off in the redzone. In Smith’s start in week 9, he also surpassed 300 yards, passing for 325 yards along with a TD and three interceptions. If Smith plays another clean game, avoiding turnovers and putting a couple of touchdowns on the scoreboard through the air, he could have a very strong fantasy outing. Luckily for Smith, there are very few defenses better for having such a game than the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals come into Week 11 allowing the 6th most points per game to opposing fantasy quarterbacks and have allowed over 30 points to opposing offenses in six of their nine games this season. Alex Smith is only rostered in 5.8% of ESPN leagues.
Other options: Kirk Cousins – MIN vs DAL (15.7% rostered)
Tight Ends
As mentioned above, Taysom Hill is likely a top 5 TE option if named the starting QB and your fantasy service allows him to be played at TE.
Logan Thomas – WAS vs CIN
Another QB turned TE, Logan Thomas has seen 6 targets in each of his past two games playing with Alex Smith at Quarterback. As mentioned above, the Bengals defense has been pretty horrendous against the passing game and has allowed a ton of points to opposing offenses this season. To go along with all that, the Bengals also give up the second-most points to fantasy TEs in the NFL. Thomas is only rostered in 24.5% of ESPN leagues.
Austin Hooper – CLE vs PHI
While Hooper put up quite the dud in his first game back from his appendix issues, it is important to look at the context of his Week 10 game. First of all, as our very own MinshewBroFist pointed out in his weekly weather report (Check it out on Sunday mornings), Cleveland vs Houston was one of the worst weather conditions of the week, with the game even being delayed due to rain.
2. TEXANS @ BROWNS
58f Rain and Windy25m SSW
Same thing…precipitation plus strong winds…atm calling for 28m winds by the 4th quarter…this could be the worst game.
Duke Johnson & co. week as well as Nick Chubb/Kareem Hunt pic.twitter.com/oaiwRRD6fS
— MinshewBroFist (@Masterjune70) November 15, 2020
With all this in mind, the Browns only attempted 20 passes during this dreary game. Hooper was targeted on two of these passes, but, more importantly, he played 85% of snaps. In my opinion, this shows that Hooper is ready to go, and he will get another opportunity in Week 11 against an Eagles defense that is allowing the 6th most fantasy points to opposing Tight Ends. Hooper is only rostered in 67.4% of ESPN leagues.
Defenses
Miami Dolphins D/ST – MIA @ DEN
The Dolphins have been one of the biggest surprises this season, and quite a few of their wins have been sparked by strong defensive outings. Currently, the Fins Defense is the seventh highest-scoring defense in all of fantasy. Meanwhile, their week 11 matchup against Denver affords them another opportunity to show out in fantasy. Denver currently allows the 2nd most points to opposing fantasy defenses, and Drew Lock is coming off of a dud game last week against Las Vegas. The Dolphins Defense is only rostered in 67.6% of ESPN leagues.
Los Angeles Chargers D/ST – LAC vs NYJ
The Chargers haven’t had the defensive prowess many expected them to have coming into the year, however, a huge plus-matchup in Week 11 vaults them into starting territory. The New York Jets, led by Adam Gase and Joe Flacco, are currently allowing the most fantasy points to opposing defenses in all of the NFL. While the Chargers have struggled, they have also shown that they can put together solid outings against poor opposition and this game offers the poorest opposition of them all. The Chargers are only rostered in 44% of ESPN leagues.
Other options: Washington Football Team D/ST – WAS vs CIN (40.6% rostered), Cleveland Browns D/ST – CLE vs PHi (45.9% rostered)
For more options for additions to your lineup, check out Mike Reedy’s Waiver Wire article for Week 11, and feel free to reach out to me with questions on Twitter, @KL_Fantasy.
