Quarterbacks
1 Week Plug & Play
Colin Kaepernick, 49ers
Kaepernick had a huge day against the Dolphins throwing for 296 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. He also ran for 113 yards on 10 carries. It was by far Kaepernick’s best fantasy performance of the season. Kaepernick has put up strong fantasy numbers for a month now. He’s scored multiple touchdowns and accounted for at least 238 total yards in four straight games. Over that span he has nine touchdowns and just two interceptions. Kaepernick has a favorable matchup this week against the Bears. He should continue to produce QB1 numbers this week for owners who need a quarterback.
Availability: Owned in ~ 20% of leagues.
FAAB: $$
Forecast: Kaepernick is a QB1 streaming option this week.
On the Radar: Ryan Fitzpatrick (8%), Ryan Tannehill (20%)
Running Backs
Rock Star Free Agent
Wendell Smallwood, Eagles
Ryan Mathews missed Monday night’s game against the Packers with a sprained MCL. This article was submitted before kickoff but Smallwood is expected to get the start and see a heavy workload in Mathews’ absence. Mathews could be looking at a multi-week injury, so Smallwood will be the lead back until he returns with Darren Sproles playing on passing downs. Philadelphia has one of the tougher backfields to figure out but Smallwood should be owned in a majority of leagues at this point.
Availability: Owned in ~ 40% of leagues.
FAAB: $$-$$$
Forecast: Smallwood is an RB2/Flex play with Mathews out.
Grab & Stash
Derrick Henry, Titans
Henry remains one of the top handcuffs heading into fantasy playoffs. He gave owners a glimpse of what he could do again on Sunday when he rushed for 60 yards and a touchdown on eight carries against the Bears. DeMarco Murray is still the clear lead back but he’s been dealing with a toe injury. Murray does get a bye in Week 13 to rest but should anything happen to him, Henry would be an elite play at the most important time of the fantasy season. He’s worth stashing just in case if you have the roster room.
Availability: Owned in ~ 40% of leagues.
FAAB: $
Forecast: Henry is a stash for fantasy playoffs.
On the Radar: Rex Burkhead (4%), Kenneth Dixon (25%), Akeem Hunt (1%), Denard Robinson (2%)
Wide Receivers
Rock Star Free Agent
Tyreek Hill, Chiefs
Hill scored three touchdowns (return, rushing and receiving) Sunday night. He finished with nine catches for 52 yards on 10 targets. Jeremy Maclin has missed three games with a hamstring injury and Hill has taken over as the Chiefs No. 1 receiver. Over that span, Hill has caught 23 passes for 194 yards and scored two touchdowns. He’s been targeted 28 times. Hill will remain heavily involved in the Chiefs offense even when Maclin returns and his schedule is favorable. Outside of the Broncos in Week 16, Hill gets the Falcons, Raiders and Titans coming up. He should be one of the top waiver wire targets this week.
Availability: Owned in ~ 25% of leagues.
FAAB: $$-$$$
Forecast: Hill is a WR3/Flex for the rest of the year.
Dontrelle Inman, Chargers
Inman is the epitome of the waiver wire. He has a big game now and then, gets picked up, disappears and then gets dropped. However, this time could be different. Inman caught six passes for 119 yards and a touchdown against the Texans. He’s seen at least seven targets in every game since Week 7. Tyrell Williams suffered a shoulder injury late in Sunday’s game but he’s expected to be fine. If Williams were to miss time, the Chargers will be down to Inman and Travis Benjamin. Benjamin is playing through a knee injury, so he’s not 100 percent. Inman faces the Buccaneers, Panthers, Raiders and Browns in his next four games. If Inman is ever going to deliver big for fantasy owners, the time is now.
Availability: Owned in ~ 5% of leagues.
FAAB: $$-$$$
Forecast: Inman is a WR2/3 depending on Williams’ health.
Tyler Boyd, Bengals
Boyd got the start with A.J. Green out and caught 5-of-9 targets for 62 yards. Those aren’t huge numbers but the Bengals offense struggled against the Ravens and Boyd’s nine targets ranked second to only Tyler Eifert. In the last two games since Green’s been injured, Boyd has 11 receptions for 116 yards and a touchdown on 17 targets. He’s not going to win you games by himself but Boyd should be a solid WR3 in PPR leagues during fantasy playoffs.
Availability: Owned in ~ 30% of leagues.
FAAB: $$-$$$
Forecast: Boyd is a WR3 in PPR formats.
1 Week Plug & Play/Grab & Stash
Malcolm Mitchell, Patriots
Mitchell had his second good game in a row against the Jets. He caught 5-of-7 targets for 42 yards and two touchdowns. Over his last two games, Mitchel has caught 9-of-12 targets for 140 yards and three touchdowns. The downside is Mitchell only played 47 percent of snaps, so he made the most of his limited opportunities but that number should start to go up moving forward. Rob Gronkowski injured his back Sunday. If he’s out this week, Mitchell will get more looks. Mitchell still isn’t an every week fantasy starter but he gets an enticing matchup against a struggling Rams secondary on Sunday. Mitchell has put himself on the radar in deeper leagues.
Availability: Owned in ~ 2% of leagues.
FAAB: $
Forecast: Mitchell is a WR4 this week vs. the Rams.
Marquess Wilson, Bears
Matt Barkley started for the Bears on Sunday and almost led Chicago to a comeback win. Every quarterback has his favorite receiver. On Sunday, Barkley’s favorite receiver was Wilson. He caught 8-of-11 targets for 125 yards and a touchdown. It could be a fluke but Wilson has a cake matchup this week against the 49ers. It’s hard to imagine Barkley ever throwing a pass to Josh Bellamy again, so Wilson is on the streaming radar in deeper leagues.
Availability: Owned in ~ 2% of leagues.
FAAB: $-$$
Forecast: Wilson will be the Bears leading receiver for the second week in a row.
On the Radar: Phillip Dorsett (10%), Quincy Enunwa (40%), Taylor Gabriel (2%), Marqise Lee (5%)
Tight Ends
Rock Star Free Agent
Cameron Brate, Buccaneers
A couple of weeks ago we mentioned picking up Brate for the stretch run but warned he had two tough matchups first. Brate played the Chiefs and Seahawks – two of the stingiest defenses against tight ends. Now that those games are behind him, Brate faces the Chargers, Cowboys and Saints twice going forward. Before his matchups versus the Chiefs and Seahawks, Brate had scored in three straight games. Brate will be a solid TE1 during fantasy playoffs.
Availability: Owned in ~ 40% of leagues.
FAAB: $-$$
Forecast: Brate is a low-end TE1 during fantasy playoffs.
Injury Replacement
Vernon Davis, Redskins
Jordan Reed separated the AC joint in his shoulder last Thursday. He’ll likely miss this week’s game against the Cardinals. The good news for Davis is he’ll get the start. The bad news is that start is against Arizona’s defense. The Cardinals allow the fewest fantasy points to tight ends. They haven’t given up a touchdown to opposing tight ends all season. Davis is worth starting only if you’re desperate.
Availability: Owned in ~ 20% of leagues.
FAAB: $
Forecast: Davis is no more than a TE2 in deeper leagues if Reed doesn’t play.
On the Radar: Jared Cook (20%), Ladarius Green (10%), Lance Kendricks (10%), Vance McDonald (5%)
Kickers
1 Week Plug & Play
Dustin Hopkins, Redskins
The Redskins offense is rolling right now. Hopkins has made at least two field goals in three of his last four games. This week Washington faces a Cardinals defense that’s starting to wear down. Kirk Cousins should have little trouble moving the football against them. Hopkins has scored double-digit fantasy points six times this year. He has a good shot to make it seven on Sunday.
Availability: Owned in ~ 40% of leagues.
FAAB: $
Forecast: Hopkins is a Top 12 play this week.
On the Radar: No one
Defense/Specials Teams
1 Week Plug & Play
San Diego Chargers
This isn’t a great week for streaming defenses is many leagues. One to consider if your waiver wire is thin is the Chargers. The Buccaneers aren’t turning the ball over as much as they did earlier in the year but San Diego’s defense is one of the best in the NFL at causing turnovers. The Chargers defense has 14 interceptions, recovered nine fumbles and scored four touchdowns on the year. They’re the only defense to force a turnover in every game. Expect that trend to continue this week against Jameis Winston and the Buccaneers.
Availability: Owned in ~ 20% of leagues.
FAAB: $
Forecast: The Chargers are a Top 15 defense this week.
On the Radar: Buccaneers (5%)
