We’re 2 weeks through the NFL season, get ready for some Week 3 streaming options. We’re gaining more information on how offenses are operating and which players are receiving opportunities. Here are some streaming options for those of you suffering from the myriad of injuries across the NFL so far this season:
All of these players make the list because they’re at least <50% owned on one of the 3 major fantasy sites. These players are in the order in which I would play them, and I’ll add “honorable mentions” for players who are likely unavailable in your leagues (but if they’re available, they’re better options than *almost* anyone on this list).
Week 3 QB Streaming Options
Russell Wilson (DEN) @MIA
Owned %: ESPN 61%, Yahoo 53%, Sleeper 48%
The new-look Broncos offense has been surprisingly efficient despite Denver’s 0-2 record so far in 2023. Russell Wilson is the QB5 through 2 weeks and the Broncos are 10th in the league in points per play. Denver’s defense has been a surprising weakness through 2 games, and that should project for a positive fantasy game script in Week 3 versus Miami. Wilson ran 6 times for 56 yards in Week 2, providing hope for a safer fantasy floor than we’ve been used to with Russ in the past. Wilson is a solid streaming option this week and can be reliably started as we look ahead to Week 4 against Chicago.
Matthew Stafford (LAR) @CIN
ESPN 29%, Yahoo 42%, Sleeper 32%
Stafford and this Rams offense have been arguably the most pleasant surprise for fantasy so far in 2023. Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell have become reliable receiving options for Stafford, who looks to be fully healthy and playing at an MVP level. Stafford may not provide a rushing floor, but the 16 points he put up against a fearsome 49ers defense should instill confidence in fantasy managers moving forward.
Sam Howell (WAS) v BUF
ESPN 9%, Yahoo 21%, Sleeper 22%
Howell put up 21.3 points in Week 2 and continued to show off a strong arm while looking more and more comfortable as the game progressed. Howell has also looked good when using his legs and has shown an ability to improvise despite only having 4 rushes through 2 weeks. It will be a difficult matchup against Buffalo this week, but if Howell can keep improving each week he could remain a viable fantasy start.
Honorable mentions: Kirk Cousins vs. LAC, Jared Goff vs. ATL, Geno Smith vs. CAR (would start Russell Wilson instead)
Week 3 RB Streaming Options
Gus Edwards (BAL) v IND
ESPN 35%, Yahoo 68%, Sleeper 62%
Edwards is still available in alot of ESPN leagues despite all of the running back injuries across the league. Edwards’ backfield partner Justice Hill suffered a toe injury in Week 2, which should provide Edwards with an opportunity to see at least 60% of snaps for the Ravens this week. The 5th-year back averaged over 6 yards a carry last week and found the endzone. With Hill’s injury, look for Edwards to see more targets in the pass game as well. He’s a viable RB2 option against an Indianapolis defense that has bled fantasy points through 2 weeks.
Roschon Johnson (CHI) @KC
ESPN 30%, Yahoo 42%, Sleeper 50%
It’s hard to be very confident in a backup running back on an underwhelming offense, but Roschon Johnson provides very contextual value this week against Kansas City. Johnson has seen the vast majority of two-minute work, 3rd down work, and come-from-behind snaps in this Chicago offense. The Bears are 12.5-point underdogs this week, so Johnson should see plenty of snaps in a negative game-script for Chicago. This coaching staff has shown trust in Johnson, which is a great sign for a rookie running back only 2 weeks into his career. I expect him to take over the Chicago backfield sooner rather than later.
Craig Reynolds (DET) v ATL
ESPN 5%, Yahoo 2%, Sleeper 0%
Jahmyr Gibbs owners were expecting the electric rookie to have the backfield all to himself following David Montgomery’s injury early in the 4th quarter in Week 2, but Craig Reynolds ended up seeing more work than they would’ve preferred. Most importantly for Reynolds, he saw a carry inside the 10-yard line while Gibbs had no carries inside the redzone. The Lions coaching staff have a history of favoring their bigger backs near the goal-line, and Reynolds could be the benefactor in those situations while Montgomery misses time.
Tyjae Spears (TEN) @CLE
ESPN 15%, Yahoo 22%, Sleeper 26%
Spears has been efficient when given opportunities in this Tennessee backfield through 2 weeks, averaging 9 and 6.1 yards per carry in his first 2 career games. The rookie 3rd round pick has seen 54% and 37% of snaps and received praise from Tennessee’s coaching staff, who seem content with giving Derrick Henry more of a rest than in previous seasons. Spears’ workload could continue to increase as this season progresses.
Latavius Murray/Damien Harris (BUF) @WAS
ESPN 1%/18%, Yahoo 4%/37%, Sleeper 2%/42%
While James Cook owns the majority of the work in Buffalo’s backfield, Damien Harris and Latavius Murray can still provide fantasy value with their roles around the goal-line in a high-scoring offense. Both backs had multiple carries inside the 5-yard line and scored touchdowns in Week 2, and this week they’ll be 6.5-point road favorites in Washington. There is rain projected in the forecast in Washington as well, which should make it more likely that Buffalo tries to keep things conservative by running the ball near the goal-line on Sunday. Latavius Murray is the lesser-owned of these 2 backs in fantasy, but for what it’s worth he scored his touchdown much earlier in the game than Harris scored his. I’m not sure if that means Murray will be the main goal-line back all season, but it’s something to monitor. I would suggest playing Murray over Harris, but neither should be started unless you’re in a serious pinch to find a starter for Sunday.
Tony Jones Jr./Kendre Miller (NO) @GB
ESPN 6.8%/15.2%, Yahoo 15%/29%, Sleeper 2%/25%
In light of Jamaal Williams’ injury on Monday night, and with 1 game remaining in the suspension of Alvin Kamara, Jones and Miller should get an opportunity to provide fantasy value in Week 3. Jones was inefficient when filling in for Williams post-injury on Monday, but he did find his way into the endzone twice. He’s probably the safest bet to receive work in this backfield in Week 3. A higher upside, lower floor option here is rookie 3rd-round pick Kendre Miller making his NFL debut on Sunday. There’s no telling how much he’ll play or if he’ll see the field at all, but reports out of Saints camp about Miller were positive before he got injured over the summer. If you’re in a matchup where you’re a major underdog, Miller could fit in as a flex play that could have a great week if he plays the majority of snaps. Regardless, Jones and Miller are worrisome starts because of the propensity for Taysom Hill to steal goal-line touches.
Honorable mentions: Zack Moss (IND) vs BAL
Week 3 WR Streaming Options
TuTu Atwell (LAR) @CIN
ESPN 44%, Yahoo 42%, Sleeper 34%
Atwell has shined as an outside receiver with the absence of Cooper Kupp and should be owned in all leagues. He’s a deep threat that has been targeted 17 times through 2 weeks and played 94% of snaps in Week 2. He’s viable as a weekly flex option until Cooper Kupp returns, but is surprisingly still available in over 50% of leagues across the 3 major platforms.
Tank Dell (HOU) @JAX
ESPN 15%, Yahoo 21%, Sleeper 21%
Dell’s snap count increased from 48% to 79% in Week 2, as the 3rd round rookie flashed big-time potential in Week 2 against Indianapolis. Dell saw 10 targets and scored a touchdown in just his second career game, showing a good rapport with his fellow rookie QB. Despite weighing only 165 pounds, Dell has passed the eye test and could be a season-long play with the amount of volume Houston pass-catchers are receiving every week. The Texans defense has been a bottom-3 unit so far in 2023, and CJ Stroud has proven through 2 weeks that he is competent enough to support multiple fantasy receivers in come-from-behind situations.
Josh Reynolds (DET) v ATL
ESPN 26%, Yahoo 47%, Sleeper 24%
Reynolds is another receiver who’s thrived out of necessity for a high-scoring offense with Detroit. He’s received 13 targets through 2 weeks and found the endzone twice this past Sunday. With Amon-Ra St. Brown playing through a toe injury, the Lions may try to involve their other receivers even more this week against Atlanta.
Rashid Shaheed (NO) @GB
ESPN 25%, Yahoo 49%, Sleeper 46%
Through 2 weeks Shaheed has proven that his production in his rookie season as an undrafted free agent was no fluke. Shaheed may not see the same snap percentage compared to most receivers on this list, but he continues to be extremely efficient with his opportunities while playing behind Chris Olave and Michael Thomas. Shaheed has caught 40+ yard passes in back-to-back weeks so far and was the WR11 in Week 1. Shaheed is a solid flex option until further notice, and is another surprise for me as someone owned in less than 50% of leagues.
Jayden Reed (GB) v NO
ESPN 17%, Yahoo 16%, Sleeper 20%
Despite the likely return of Christian Watson this week, I don’t expect Jayden Reed’s snap count to decrease much in Week 3. He’s played primarily in the slot and won’t be giving up that role even with a fully healthy receiving corps for Green Bay. Reed has impressed so far in his rookie campaign, and Matt LaFleur had multiple plays drawn up specifically for Reed in Week 2 in which he scored two touchdowns. He’ll be seeing targets more and more as this season progresses and is another solid start if you’re looking for a flex option with high upside.
Marvin Mims (DEN) @MIA
ESPN 8%, Yahoo 25%, Sleeper 22%
Speaking of high upside rookies, Marvin Mims could provide big-play value in Week 3 against Miami. Mims hardly saw the field in Week 2, playing only 24% of snaps but still scored 19.3 fantasy points. The rookie 2nd round pick looked explosive on 2 deep targets, going for 113 yards and presumably gaining confidence from this coaching staff. I expect Mims to continue to get eased into this offense, and he could be a major boom-or-bust flex play this week against a Miami secondary that has struggled with the absence of Jalen Ramsey.
KJ Osborn (MIN) v LAC/ Joshua Palmer (LAC) @MIN
ESPN 27%/.7%, Yahoo 9%/2%, Sleeper 16%/5%
I’m trying to target every piece of this Chargers-Vikings game, which has the highest over/under of the week and features two of the most explosive offenses in the NFL going head-to-head. Osborn and Palmer are both 3rd in the pecking order in their respective receiving rooms, but are viable flex options in a pinch this week.
Week 3 TE Streaming Options
Jake Ferguson (DAL) v ARI
ESPN 15%, Yahoo 39%, Sleeper 29%
Over the past 2 years, the Arizona Cardinals have allowed the most fantasy points to tight ends by a wide margin. Ferguson has 11 targets through 2 weeks, including 8 targets within the red zone and 5 targets inside the 10-yard line. Dallas is projected to score about 29 points this week, so Ferguson feels like a solid option when searching for a touchdown at the tight end position.
Cade Otton (TB) v PHI
ESPN 1%, Yahoo 2%, Sleeper 5%
Cade Otton caught all 6 of his targets last week against Chicago for a Tampa Bay offense that has been surprisingly efficient so far in 2023. They’ll face a new test this week on Monday night against Philadelphia, but the Buccanneers should be playing in catch-up mode for the majority of the game. Add that to the fact that Philadelphia’s rush defense is one of the best in the league, and there’s a good case for Otton to see plenty of volume again in Week 3.
Kylen Granson (IND) @BAL
ESPN .6%, Yahoo 1%, Sleeper 2%
Granson, a 2nd year player out of Southern Methodist, has played in over 60% of snaps for Indianapolis through 2 weeks. He was the TE7 in Week 2 and has been targeted 10 times so far in 2023. With Gardner Minshew starting for Indianapolis in Baltimore this weekend, I expect the Colts’ passing volume to increase and for Granson to benefit from the strategic change.
Durham Smythe (MIA) v DEN
ESPN 1%, Yahoo 1%, Sleeper 3%
Smythe has played almost every snap and has seen 10 targets so far through 2 weeks for this high-flying Miami offense. There are worse options than starting a tight end on a team projected to score about 27 points this week against Denver, especially with Jaylen Waddle questionable to play on Sunday.
Cole Turner (WAS) v BUF
ESPN .1%, Yahoo 0%, Sleeper 2%
With Logan Thomas out this week against Buffalo, Cole Turner will start the first game of his career at tight end for Washington. Turner’s snap count jumped from 14% to 32% from Weeks 1 to 2, and Washington has targeted their tight ends on 32% of their pass plays (2nd most in the league). I expect Turner, a former wide receiver in college, to see around 5 targets and be a factor in the gameplan when Washington enters the redzone.
Honorable mentions: ARI Zach Ertz vs. Dallas Cowboys (would start Jake Ferguson over him)
*All ownership percentages are as of Thursday, September 21st
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Image Credit: Ron Chenoy – USA TODAY Sports
