Week 1 is in the books and whether you won or lost your fantasy football matchups, you have some roster valuations to do this week. There are definitely some players that gained or lost trust after their performances in Week 1. Depending on their matchups this week, you may be looking to pivot already or you may be forced to stream due to injury. Whether this was the plan all along or you are doing it out of necessity, let’s look at some of the top streaming options for Week 2.
Quarterbacks
Josh Allen – Buffalo Bills @ New York Giants
Josh Allen is coming off of a subpar fantasy performance in Week 1 that did not carry over the momentum from his finish in 2018. But, the Buffalo Bills get the New York Giants in Week 2 and that is a recipe for a rebound. The Giants have a very young football team and let up a lot of big plays last week. New York also struggled to rush the passer which should give Allen more time in the pocket and the ability to look for the big play. The Giants also have struggled to create turnovers and have allowed rushing quarterbacks to run amuck over the past 2 seasons. Look for Allen to be on your waiver wire this week and be a reliable start if needed.
Derek Carr – Oakland Raiders vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Everyone left Derek Carr for dead after the release of wide receiver Antonio Brown. Carr was extremely efficient, however, and looked very sharp against a good Denver Broncos defense, even without having Brown in the mix. Carr only had 1 touchdown as the Oakland Raiders played from ahead for the entire game, and therefore, the Raiders passed less as the game went on.
Oakland is more than likely going to be playing from behind, and Carr will have to pass more. He is a worthwhile option in a good matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. Last week, the Jacksonville Jaguars quarterbacks put up a combined 347 passing yards and 3 touchdowns against the Chiefs. Look for Carr to have much more fantasy football production in Week 2.
Ben Roethlisberger – Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Seattle Seahawks
One of the most important things to do following waivers is watching to see who is dropped. Ben Roethlisberger could have very well been dropped in your league and is a great streaming option this week coming off a poor performance.
Those who drafted Roethlisberger likely started him. That was poor planning knowing he was on the road against the New England Patriots. Ben has notoriously had issues on the road and against a very good Patriots’ defense only makes matters worse. The good news is that he is home this week and that his matchup gave up 400 yards passing and 3 touchdowns to Andy Dalton last week. Last year, Roethlisberger finished outside of the top 12 on five occasions. His finishes following those weeks were 1, 4, 5, 5, and 10, respectively. If you need a quarterback this week, look for Roethlisberger to be a top streamer this week.
Tight Ends
Vernon Davis – Washington Redskins vs. Dallas Cowboys
Vernon Davis had a big week of fantasy football production as he filled in for Jordan Reed. If Reed is out again, look for Davis to be a weekly fill in. Not only does the coaching staff have a history of funneling targets to the tight end position, but Case Keenum is known for targeting the portions of the field closer to the line of scrimmage.
As we saw in Week 1, Davis still has the ability to create after the catch. On a team that is lacking veteran pass catchers, Keenum will continue to look his way. I suggest you do the same if you are needing to stream the position for Week 2.
Maybe you are without Hunter Henry after the news of his knee fracture. Snagging Davis would be a great fill-in option.
Jack Doyle – Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans
Jack Doyle out-snapped Eric Ebron on Sunday and this should not be a surprise to anyone. Doyle has out-snapped Ebron when healthy every time they have been on the field together, going back to 2018. Doyle is not a sexy fantasy football option, but he is a target for PPR formats.
Doyle is a very reliable target for Jacoby Brissett, and he should continue to see targets on a team that values the tight end position. The team just lost wide receiver Devin Funchess due to injury, and there should be even more targets to go around.
T.J. Hockenson – Detroit Lions at Los Angeles Chargers
T.J. Hockenson is most likely going to be someone that you will have to prioritize on the waiver wire this week. It is very unlikely he continues at the pace he is at, and rookie tight ends rarely are able to sustain startable fantasy football production on a weekly basis. That being said, he still should put up startable performances on a weekly basis. He could very well be a guy that stays in your lineup.
The reason I would start Hockenson this week and most likely moving forward is pretty simple. Unlike most rookie tight ends, Hockenson comes in pro-ready due to his ability to run block. Hockenson’s ability to run block puts him on the field more often and not only for passing downs. To put this in perspective, Mark Andrews had a great rookie year, but he was only on the field for 34% of snaps in 2018.
There are times where the team will check out of running plays or run play action with him on the field. Last week, Hockenson was in on over 70% of the snaps and absolutely did the most with them. Hockenson benefits tremendously from the absence of the Los Angeles Chargers missing their safety Derwin James, and Hockenson should be able to put up another top 10 performance in Week 2.
Defenses
New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins
The New England Patriots are my number one fantasy football defense this week for obvious reasons. The Miami Dolphins and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has been known to turn over the football, are a dream matchup. Look for the Patriots, if available, to stream as your defense this week.
Indianapolis Colts vs Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans will still be without left tackle Taylor Lewan which limits their offense and should create opportunities for the Indianapolis Colts pass rushers. Marcus Mariota benefited last week from poor tackling and his receivers creating after the catch. Mariota was still very inconsistent though and is a quarterback that I am looking to start my defenses against. The Colts have some playmakers on defense that I think make them a good option if you are in a pinch for Week 2.
Buffalo Bills @ New York Giants
The Giants could be without Sterling Shepard on Sunday which makes their offense even worse than it already was. The Buffalo Bills have a great matchup and they are a great defense. The Bills may not be available in your leagues, but if they are, I would pick them up immediately. They are a top-five play this week for me.
Cleveland Browns @ New York Jets
The Cleveland Browns defense added a lot of great pieces this summer including new defensive coordinator Steve Wilkes. They struggled a bit against Tennessee and everyone, in general, is down on the entire team.
The defense, specifically the defensive line, is much improved and should be able to deliver some fantasy football production this week. With the news that Le’Veon Bell is getting an MRI and that Sam Darnold will not be playing is a reason to make the Browns our defensive stream of the week.
Kickers
Michael Badgley – Los Angeles Chargers @ Detroit Lions
If Michael Badgley is back and healthy, start him up in your fantasy football lineups. He should be on your radar and should be owned. Badgley not only benefits from a high-powered offense, but he also plays in a dome this week.
Matt Bryant – Atlanta Falcons vs. Philadelphia Eagles
The Atlanta Falcons offense struggled in Week 1 and so did Matt Bryant. Bryant and the Falcons should be much more productive in a high scoring game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Bryant also benefits from playing in a dome on a regular basis. As people drop him this week after the Falcons abysmal loss to the Minnesota Vikings, pick him up and put him in your lineups.
Brandon McManus – Denver Broncos vs. Chicago Bears
Brandon McManus had a nice Week 1 performance and should be someone that you can rely on each week. This offense is struggling and will need him to help put points on the board. The matchup against the stingy Chicago Bears makes him a good option in Week 2.
David Heilman is a writer and Fantasy Football co-director for Pro Football Network. You can follow him at @DynastyDorks on Twitter.