Fantasy football streaming pickups for Week 4: Kenny Pickett, big-play WRs lead the way
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Each week throughout the NFL regular season, we will discuss the top
fantasy football streaming options. These are deeper-league targets who have shown viable production or fit as a matchup-dependent play to give you a boost in the lineup this week.
Players listed below are rostered in fewer than 50% of ESPN leagues. Although you might notice some overlap with
Eric Moody's waiver wire column that publishes on Mondays, an important distinction is that the options mentioned in this column are focused solely on
this week's matchup and not on the players' values for the remainder of the season.
Below, you'll see a pair of quarterbacks with upside in superflex formats, as well as rookie receivers who are flashing explosive-play chops and multiple running backs who should see a bump in volume.
So, let's get into it. Here are my top streaming options for Week 4.
All references to fantasy points are for PPR leagues.
Quarterback
Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh Steelers (26.2% rostered; at Texans)
I still want to see more efficiency from Pickett as a thrower, especially when gets on the edges of the pocket. His tape is improving, however, and I think the matchup versus the zone-heavy Texans defense (73.4% of coverage snaps) creates positive opportunities for the Steelers' passing game. Pickett posted a season-high 18.5 fantasy points in the Week 3 win over the Raiders, throwing two touchdowns, one on a shot play over the top to wide receiver
Calvin Austin III. And given how defined the coverages are in Houston,
George Pickens should factor in here as a boundary target. You can start Pickett in 2-QB/superflex formats this weekend.
Jameis Winston, New Orleans Saints (0.1%; at Buccaneers)
If starter
Derek Carr (shoulder) is down for the Week 4 game in Tampa, then Winston has streaming value in deeper leagues. Winston, who completed 10 of 16 passes for 101 yards in relief of Carr during the Week 3 loss to Green Bay, will challenge defenses. We know that. He has a very aggressive mentality as a thrower. And while his decision-making can lead to turnovers, the Saints can scheme for Tampa's three-deep zone looks here, giving Winston opportunities to target coverage voids. Plus, the return of running back
Alvin Kamara from suspension is a boost to a talented group of Saints pass-catchers who can uncover -- at multiple levels -- for Winston.
C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans (11.3%; vs. Steelers)
You are weighing the upside of Stroud as a volume passer against a Steelers defensive front that can create chaos here. It's a tough matchup for a young quarterback playing behind a banged-up offensive line. Now, Stroud's tape looks really sharp, and he's produced at least 20 fantasy points in each of his past two starts. He's seeing it quickly from the pocket, too. But with
T.J. Watt rushing off the edge here, Stroud fits only as a deeper-league streaming option this week.
Running backs
Matt Breida, New York Giants (26.2%; vs. Seahawks)
With
Saquon Barkley (ankle) out last Thursday night, I expected much more volume for Breida against the 49ers. But negative game flow had an impact on his usage and the Giants' run game in the loss. Breida saw just four of the Giants' 11 rushing attempts, but he did score a second-half touchdown to finish with 10.8 fantasy points. With a positive matchup ahead against the Seahawks on Monday Night Football, look for the Breida's volume to increase, making him a deeper-league flex option if Barkley is still down.
Roschon Johnson, Chicago Bears (33.4%; vs. Broncos)
Johnson will continue to split carries in the Bears backfield with
Khalil Herbert, but the rookie has seen at least 10 touches in two of three games. And Chicago has a real opportunity in Week 4 to create run-game production versus a Denver defense that just surrendered 350 yards rushing to Miami. I expect Johnson to see enough volume this week to make an impact for deeper-league managers looking for a potential flex play.
Rico Dowdle, Dallas Cowboys (2.1%; vs. Patriots)
I play in a couple of leagues of 14-plus teams, and that's where you could potentially take a shot on Dowdle in Week 4. He's seen at least six touches in all three games as the No. 2 in Dallas behind
Tony Pollard. Plus, Dowdle just scored 13.6 points in the Week 3 loss to the Cardinals, rushing four times for 21 yards, while adding three catches for 25 yards and a touchdown. In my experience as a player in this league, you earn more reps with real production. Dowdle is starting to do that in the Cowboys' offense.
Wide receivers
Tank Dell, Houston Texans (23.3%; vs. Steelers)
Dell figures to get scooped up early this week on waivers after he dropped 25.5 fantasy points on the Jaguars in Week 3. It was the second straight week with a touchdown and 20-plus fantasy points for Dell, who has also caught 12 of 17 targets during that stretch. There's big-play juice to his game. A matchup versus the Steelers in Week 4 isn't an easy one, but this figures to be a game where
C.J. Stroud has to throw it often. Dell can be started as a flex.
Marvin Mims Jr., Denver Broncos (8.6%; at Bears)
Over the past two weeks, Mims has caught five of seven targets for 186 yards, with a TD catch and another as a kick returner. Until we see a jump in target volume for Mims, he's likely a better fit for non-PPR formats. However, we can't ignore his explosive-play traits. And this week, he has a really good matchup versus a struggling Bears defense in Week 4, an extremely zone-heavy unit that can't get to the quarterback. Mims has WR3 upside here.
Joshua Palmer, Los Angeles Chargers (0.7%; vs. Raiders)
With
Mike Williams out for the season due to a knee injury, Palmer elevates in the Chargers' route tree. Yes,
Keenan Allen will continue to see high-end volume and rookie
Quentin Johnston could step into Williams' role on vertical concepts. But don't forget about Palmer, a veteran receiver who can uncover and work the second level of the field. Palmer has caught seven of 12 targets the past two weeks, and he added a touchdown in Sunday's win over the Vikings.
Tight end
Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys (19.8%; vs. Patriots)
If you need a tight end who is seeing volume, then Ferguson fits here. He caught five of seven targets for 48 yards in the Week 3 loss to the Cardinals, good for 9.8 points. And in that Dallas offense, Ferguson has some scoring upside on boot and play-action when the Cowboys get into the red zone. Yes, Ferguson has a tough Week 4 matchup against the Patriots, but this recommendation is about the volume, as he's received seven targets in two of three games.
D/ST
Indianapolis Colts (3.5%; vs. Rams)
The Colts have produced 10 sacks over the past two weeks, and they've forced at least one turnover in every game. I like the matchup here for Indianapolis' defensive front, and Gus Bradley's secondary will have opportunities to make plays on the ball given Matthew Stafford's aggressive mentality.
