Quarterback and tight end matchups: the positions where people seem to take the most risk in fantasy football.
Sure, you have the studs that you roster with high draft capital. But what about injuries? Tough defenses against quarterbacks? Exploitable defenses for tight ends?
Thankfully, we are still early enough in the season that we don’t have to worry about bye weeks yet. Even though it’s just Week 3, the quarterback position took a hit last week, with a few spots likely up in the air until the weekend. Tight end? Those tiers, in terms of points per game, are so close that even if you’re rostering someone such as Colston Loveland, you have options.
But how confident are you in Drake Maye against the Jaguars? Bo Nix against a Rams defense that has Aaron Donald back? Jordan Love with a nearly back-up-riddled offensive line against Atlanta?
Suddenly, streaming a quarterback – or starting the guy you drafted to be your QB2 – begins to look intriguing.
So, who are our top fantasy football Week 2 QB & TE streamers? Let’s dive in.
Editor’s Note: The majority of point values are based on standard scoring leagues.
Kyler Murray, Minnesota @ Tampa Bay
Minnesota doesn’t lack receiving options, and this could be the breakout we hoped to see in Week 1 before Kyler Murray suffered a concussion.
Cleveland carved up Tampa Bay’s defense last week with rookie Denzel Boston (5-95-1). The Vikings have Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson, Jordan Addison and Jauan Jennings.
Furthermore, Browns’ quarterback Deshaun Watson missed only six passes on the day, despite having fewer passing options. He finished with 260 total yards, averaging just under 10 yards per pass, and finishing with nearly 24 fantasy points.
Minnesota will be without running back Jordan Mason (injured reserve) and has starter Aaron Jones (knee) and DeeJay Dallas (toe) questionable as of Friday.
Even if this game is close, as fantasy managers see Minnesota sitting at -1.5 as of Friday, I’m willing to bet all of the Vikings’ touchdowns will involve Murray, even if he uses his legs.
Kyler Murray is QB 23 on The Wolf’s Week 3 rankings.
Geno Smith, New York Jets @ Detroit
Geno Smith faces the league’s worst pass defense after three weeks, indoors.
Tyler Shough and Josh Allen combined for 658 passing yards and an 8-to-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio in those weeks.
I’d feel better if Adonai Mitchell (finger) didn’t pop up on the injury report on Thursday, but even in a scenario without him, Smith has Garrett Wilson, Isaiah Williams and Breece Hall to pass to.
Smith has hit the 200-yard passing mark in both games so far this season. I expect him to have his best completion percentage of the season on Sunday which could lead to his most passing yards, too.
Even if the Lions cover the 6.5-point spread, the Jets can also rack up fantasy points in garbage time. A bonus is how long they could be playing from behind.
Geno Smith is QB 27 on The Wolf’s Week 3 rankings.
Oronde Gadsden, Los Angeles Chargers @ Buffalo
Oronde Gadsden woke up on Monday and accidentally became the most important tight end for the Chargers without lifting a finger.
Both David Njoku (injured reserve, leg) and Charlie Kolar (injured reserve, forearm) are out for Week 3 in the team’s cross-country bout with the Bills.
I fully expect the Chargers to end up 0-3, but the idea and need to play catch-up bodes well for any receiving option.
Edge rushers Ed Oliver (hip) and T.J. Sanders (illness) are already out, leaving the short and mid-field fairly exposed. Corner Maxwell Hairston will likely see a lot of Ladd McConkey, and the coverage will be a toss-up on Gadsden and Quentin Johnston.
Oronde Gadsden is TE 15 on The Wolf’s Week 3 rankings.
Jake Ferguson, Dallas vs Baltimore in Brazil
Right off the bat, I want to emphasize that Jake Ferguson is likely a low-end starter.
However, you can expect double-digit fantasy points from him in PPR, even if he doesn’t find the end zone. Baltimore has already allowed this feat to both Juwan Johnson and Tyler Warren this season.
I’m not looking at Ferguson as a third option behind CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. He’s more of a Plan B that I’m banking on getting the broken coverage because the Ravens are so considered about the wideouts.
Take Week 2 for example: all the talk was around Lamb’s big outing, but Ferguson hauled in two touchdowns. Distract with Plan A, attack with Plan B.
Jake Ferguson is TE 12 on The Wolf’s Week 3 rankings.
