Bye Week Options: Streamers to Fill in For Week 4

Photo by Kyle Emery/Icon Sportswire

Do you experience any of the following symptoms: anxiety, depression, insomnia? Well, you my friend, may be experiencing the bye week blues. This is the condition fantasy owners get around this time every year. The time when you begin to wonder if your team is good enough to get it done without your optimal lineup. Well, never fear, I am here to put those worries at ease. Every week, throughout the season, I am going to give you two players at each position, to help you come out victorious. If you play in a league worth its salt; many players have already been snatched off the waiver wire at this point during the season. For this reason, I am going to give you a list of players who are below 50% owned according to Yahoo fantasy leagues. So, without further ado, let’s dive in!

Key players on bye: QB Cam Newton, QB Alex Smith, RB Christian McCaffrey, RB Adrian Peterson, RB Chris Thompson, WR Devin Funchess, TE Jordan Reed, WR Jamison Crowder, DEF Carolina Defense, and DEF Washington Defense

 

QB Replacements

Case Keenum, Denver Broncos (vs Kansas City Chiefs, 27% owned)- You are probably thinking to yourself, “Case Keenum? Why would I start him? He was terrible last week!” Hear me out on this one. Last week’s performance was against a great defense on the road. This week, Keenum gets an extra day to prepare, and a home matchup in primetime. He is also facing a Kansas City team, that is tied, for the most passing yards given up by a team. If Patrick Mahomes II continues his electric play, Keenum will be forced to match points. Look for Keenum to bounce back at home on Monday Night Football.

Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins (at New England Patriots, 9% owned)- Tannehill may be playing the best ball of his career. His spectacular play has led the Dolphins to a 3-0 start. They will look to keep it rolling when the team heads into Foxborough this week. Despite the lack of a star wideout, Tannehill has managed to move the ball effectively, and spread it around. He has also shown that he can be mobile, when he needs to. In the last two games, he has combined for 70 yards rushing. The Patriots rank in the bottom third of the league against fantasy QBs. This is also a game that I believe the Patriots offense gets back on track, leaving Tannehill to try and outduel Brady.

 

RB Replacements

Javorius “Buck” Allen, Baltimore Ravens (at Pittsburgh Steelers 28% owned)- Very quietly, Buck Allen has averaged a double-digit PPR performance, every week this season. He has scored a touchdown in each of the three games. Allen has also had, at least, four targets in each game. This gives him an incredibly safe floor, and his usage in the run game, is an added bonus. The Ravens lean on him in most passing situations and when they want to speed the tempo up. He and fellow RB Alex Collins are used almost evenly, but in a game where the Steelers should score a lot of points at home, I believe it is advantage Allen.

Chris Ivory, Buffalo Bills (at Green Bay Packers 8% owned)- This article is being written on Tuesday night, but initial reports are that RB LeSean McCoy is still day to day. Ivory racked up 126 all-purpose yards last week against a stout Vikings defense. If McCoy is forced to miss this week, Chris Ivory is a locked and loaded flex on volume alone. He has the ability to push for RB2 numbers, especially in ppr leagues. In a game where the Bills will look to keep the ball out of QB Aaron Rodgers hands, Ivory will get all the work he can handle. Monitor the situation closely this week, but if Ivory starts, cement him in your flex.

 

WR Replacements

Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at Chicago Bears 42% owned)- Yes the Bucs are on the road. Yes they are playing the daunting Bears defense. However, Godwin has seen a combined total of sixteen targets within his last two contests. On Monday night, Godwin turned five of them into 74 yards and a touchdown. He has recorded a touchdown in each week of the season. As long as QB Ryan Fitzpatrick is at the helm, I expect Godwin to be used as a safety blanket underneath. Fitzpatrick will be forced to get the ball out quick, and I believe, Godwin will be his target on many of those quick outlets.

Geronimo Allison, Green Bay Packers (vs Buffalo Bills 35% owned)- I was skeptical of Allison to begin the season. However, he has become a trusted weapon of QB Aaron Rodgers. In each of his three games, he has had at least 60 yards receiving. He has also scored in two of those three weeks. Allison is a large target and someone Rodgers looks for in the red zone. Despite last week’s fluky thrashing of the Vikings, the Bills do not exactly have a lockdown defense. I expect Allison to have plenty of chances to make some noise.

 

TE Replacements

Will Dissly, Seattle Seahawks (at Arizona Cardinals 49% owned)- Dissly started out the year hot. After week one, people fled to the waiver wire, to pick him up. Especially, those in dire need of help at the position. In the first two weeks, Dissly had three receptions, and a touchdown in each of his two games. In week three, he came crashing down to Earth. However, Seattle is lacking options in the passing game, and the Arizona Cardinals have not done the best job at covering TEs. Dissly is a big target and one that the Seahawks will utilize in the red zone. Dissly has been called a “Baller”, by QB Russell Wilson and I believe he has a good chance to ball out Sunday.

Austin Hooper, Atlanta Falcons (vs Cincinnati Bengals 29% owned)- Hooper has become a trusted safety net of QB Matt Ryan. In each of his three games, Hooper has had at least four targets. He has only found the end zone once this season, but with the Falcons’ willingness to spread the ball around, Hooper will get his. He has a good chance this week against the Bengals, who are in the bottom five against TEs in fantasy.

 

Defense Replacements

Green Bay Defense (vs Buffalo 31% owned)- Even though the Bills dominated the Minnesota Vikings last week, it felt like a huge fluke. This team is not very good, and their rookie QB Josh Allen is going to have a tough time on the road in Lambeau. The Packers should be able to force plenty of turnovers, as long as LB Clay Matthews, can keep from roughing the passer.

Seattle Defense (at Arizona 27% owned)- Seattle’s defense usually performs much better at home, but I like their chances on the road against rookie QB Josh Rosen. Arizona’s offense has been abysmal this season, and I do not expect Rosen to come in and change that in his first game.

 

Rader’s Radar: Super Deep Sleeper Pick

Jakeem Grant WR Miami Dolphins (at New England Patriots 4% owned)- As I mentioned earlier, the Miami Dolphins have spread the ball around to a ton of different receivers. Grant has been compared, by some, to WR Tyreek Hill. The Dolphins have found creative ways to use him, and when he has gotten on the field, he has been electric. Last week he finished with two receiving touchdowns. To top it off, he does punt and kick returns. He certainly falls in the boom or bust category, but he is someone who could reward you huge; if you are willing to take the gamble.