For the most part, you can stream fantasy quarterbacks, tight ends, DSTs, and kickers. Are there any exceptions? Matthew J. Jillson (@eatcookcryptos) with his take.
Where there are stars, there are the role players. Hopefully, you’ve made wise decisions and they are the guys who show up on Thursdays, Sundays, and Mondays; punching the clock and putting up the cheddar you expect. Everybody needs a short stack of Norm and Cliff on their roster. Saying yes to Scotty Pippen isn’t even a question, right?
Some call these the streamer slots: defenses, kickers, tight ends and the sly minx of them all: quarterbacks. These are positions you can “easily” fill off the waiver wire. This point of view on these positions, for the most part, is correct. However, if you drafted a couple of these slots early and snagged a top performer, you should view quarterbacks and tight ends as team capital as the season progresses.
Drafted players become valuable trading cards if you play the waiver correctly. Maybe you over-committed early to the quarterback position at the expense of a fairly solid running back or rising star wide receiver. That’s fine; let that top stud start juicing the scoreboard while you look for a replacement – and you will be able to find one.
This lull buys you a few weeks to let the running back or tight end landscape, for example, play itself out, have some of the less healthy guys drop off the map or offensive systems that aren’t clicking to reveal themselves. This just gives you a better vantage point to make a favorable trade for yourself.
Sometimes trading might not be possible. Let’s face it, chances are high we are both in leagues where the haters and fuccbois are out in full force and you’ve got a weak commissioner that has left trades to a league vote. It happens; this is the reality that we live in – trades are out the window. What do we do now?
Early-Round Dilemma: Stud TE or Really Good WR?
Of these four positions – QB, K, DEF and TE – tight end is by far the thinnest in quality, and that’s before the Curse descends and starts taking players out like its Hamburger Hill.
The disparity in scoring between the top 3 tight ends versus the rest of the field is shocking – well over one hundred points of production from Travis Kelce once you hit Austin Hooper at TE #6 (in terms of point total for last season). Kelce, George Kittle and Zach Ertz are beasts.
Taking what we discussed last week, you may want to consider plowing an early-round pick into a premium tight end over a great receiver who isn’t a top 3. Remember, outside those with legendary status (think Devante Adams), receivers who can reasonably and consistently produce will be found in later rounds or off waivers.
You’ll have to get very lucky if you apply this formula to tight ends, though. I would feel more comfortable with Kelce over a Tyreek Hill or JuJu Smith-Schuster over the long term – and I LOVE the production potential these guys bring to the table.
Late-Round “Dilemma:” Stud Kicker or Dart Throw?
What I’m not afraid to do is stream defenses and kickers all season long. Don’t get me wrong, if Justin Tucker is available in round 14, maybe backend of 13, I’m going to take a kicker early in this scenario. The guy will most likely win you the positional matchup most of the season but more importantly, Tucker historically heats up form Week 10 all the way through the fantasy playoffs. That’s a cashed check versus whatever darts you might be tossing around in the final three rounds.
Outside of this limited scenario, however, you would be better off loading up on running backs and hope something pays off.
As we get closer to being on the clock and the Fog of Draft descending, start processing the “what if” scenarios. Develop a plan so you know how you will react, once emotion and the cocktails start kicking in while you are making picks. There is nothing worse than the feeling you pressured yourself into making a dumb choice while the draft board is slowly snaking back your way.
Understanding how the role players are going to fit into your lineup and what you are willing to pay for them will save you valuable processing power as the clock ticks down — processing power than can be better used focusing on acquiring steals at the running back position. Don’t forget, The Curse is poised to strike your lineup and lay low the awesome power you’ve assembled. Be ready.
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