I just can’t believe we’re already in Week 16. Time has flown. We’ve reached the fantasy semifinals (in most leagues), and I hope your fantasy team is still alive and fighting for a championship. Now it’s time to keep your foot on the gas and stay focused on winning your next matchup to keep advancing toward the ultimate goal. And a great way to do this is by relying on the art of streaming. Sometimes, starting a player with a better matchup over your usual starter can make the difference between winning and losing a week.
That’s why, just like every week, you will find some streaming suggestions for the QB, K, DST, and TE positions in this article. But as I always say: don’t forget to check Andy, Mike, and Jason’s weekly rankings and all the great tools available on the Fantasy Footballers website to ensure you are starting the best possible lineup.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at the streamers for this fantasy semifinals week.
Quarterbacks
Bryce Young – Carolina Panthers (21% rostered)
What a wild season it has been for the Carolina Panthers and Bryce Young. They have had some disastrous games and some unexpected wins against Super Bowl-contending teams. Despite losing against the Saints last week, they still have hopes of reaching the playoffs. That game wasn’t an easy matchup for QBs, but Bryce Young still managed to throw for 163 yards and a TD with no INTs. This week, he gets an extremely favorable matchup in a must-win scenario against the divisional rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have allowed 20.4 fantasy points per game to QBs. Bryce Young should be a fine streamer.
Tua Tagovailoa – Miami Dolphins (19% rostered)
This hasn’t been Tua Tagovailoa’s season. Even during the Dolphins’ recent winning streak, the strategy has leaned heavily on the run game, leading to underwhelming fantasy results for Tua. But this week, the script could flip. The Bengals have a strong offense and a bottom-tier pass defense, allowing almost 22 fantasy points per game to QBs. They have also struggled to cover TEs all year. Tua should be able to exploit this with a healthy Darren Waller and post a solid performance if you need a streaming QB.
J.J. McCarthy – Minnesota Vikings (25% rostered)
They say “third time’s a charm,” right? Well, this is the third straight week J.J. McCarthy appears in this weekly streamers article. He’s faced some tough matchups since returning from injury, but over the past two games, he has taken advantage of defensive lapses from Washington and Dallas. Last week against the Cowboys, he threw for 250 yards and two TDs, and added a third TD on the ground. This week, he draws another excellent matchup against the New York Giants, who have allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to QBs this season.
Kickers
Chase McLaughlin – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (77% rostered)
His rostered percentage should be higher, but it has somehow dipped over the past few weeks. Chase McLaughlin is one of the best fantasy kickers, especially now that the Bucs have recovered most of their offensive weapons. This week, they face the Carolina Panthers in a divisional matchup that could see a lot of points from both teams. Tampa’s shaky defense often keeps them in close, high-scoring contests, which is always good news for kickers.
Evan McPherson – Cincinnati Bengals (44% rostered)
The Bengals’ offense was completely shut down by the Ravens last week, which resulted in a brutal donut for McPherson. This week, however, he should bounce back against a Dolphins defense that, while improving, is still suspect against the pass. Joe Burrow should be able to move the ball and create several scoring opportunities for McPherson.
Cairo Santos – Chicago Bears (35% rostered)
Two weeks ago, the Bears lost against the Packers in an exciting, high-scoring game. Cario Santos was perfect, converting two field-goal attempts and an extra point. After destroying the Browns last week 31 to 3, they face the Packers again this week in a rematch game that could have serious playoff implications. Expect another back-and-forth game with multiple kicking opportunities for Santos.
Defense & Special Teams
Kansas City Chiefs (48% rostered)
The Chiefs’ DST surprised many with a strong showing against the Chargers’ high-powered offense last week. Despite losing the game, their QB, and their playoff hopes, the defense held L.A. to just 16 points. This week, they get one of the best possible matchups: the Tennessee Titans. Tennessee has allowed 10.3 fantasy points per game to DSTs. Fire up the Chiefs.
Buffalo Bills (54% rostered)
After surviving a tight battle with the Patriots, the Bills now get a softer matchup against the Browns. Shedeur Sanders was humbled last week by the Bears, taking five sacks and tossing three picks. This week’s game in cold Cleveland could again favor the defense. Expect Buffalo to create turnovers and finish with a strong fantasy total.
New Orleans Saints (19% rostered)
The Saints’ defense hasn’t been elite this year, but they’ve capitalized in favorable matchups. This week they play the New York Jets, who are already looking ahead to next season. With Tyrod Taylor out, rookie third-stringer Brady Cook is under center. Last week, Jacksonville’s defense racked up three sacks and three picks against this shaky offense. The Saints could easily have a double-digit fantasy finish this week.
BONUS: Tight End
Darren Waller – Miami Dolphins (37% rostered)
As mentioned earlier, the Bengals cannot cover TEs. Virtually every TE who has faced them has had success, even those off the fantasy radar. Cincinnati has allowed over 20 fantasy points per game to the position, almost double what the second-worst team allows. At this point, it’s common knowledge: you start TEs against the Bengals. Tua knows it. Mike McDaniel knows it. And we should all know it by now. Start Darren Waller.