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 under 50% of ESPN leagues. Although you might notice some overlap with Eric Moody's waiver wire column that publishes 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.
With injuries piling up across the league and six teams on a bye this week, I went deeper at the running back and wide receiver positions here. Plus, there are tight ends who are producing on the tape. And while I don't love the matchups for all of the available quarterbacks, I'm looking at three who could generate numbers Sunday.
All references to fantasy points are for PPR leagues. Roster percentages were updated on Friday morning.
Running backs
Jordan Mason, San Francisco 49ers (18.5% rostered; at Vikings)
If Christian McCaffrey (oblique/rib) is out for the Monday night game in Minnesota, then Mason and teammate Elijah Mitchell (30.1% rostered) should both be in line for an increased workload. But I'm focused on Mason here, who seems to be ahead of Mitchell on the depth chart. In relief of McCaffrey during the Week 6 loss to the Browns, Mason had five carries for 27 yards and a touchdown. And he has now found the end zone in two straight games. Let's keep an eye on the CMC injury reports this weekend, as Mason could elevate into that lead role for Kyle Shanahan's run game.
Kareem Hunt, Cleveland Browns (46.8%; at Colts)
Jerome Ford paced the Browns' backfield with 17 carries for 84 yards in the Week 6 upset win over the 49ers, but Hunt saw his usage elevate, as he finished with 15 touches for 71 yards and a touchdown. This week against the Colts, Hunt has the PPR upside in deeper leagues as a screen/underneath target, while also playing a role in the run game.
Craig Reynolds, Detroit Lions (18.7%; at Ravens)
This is more of a wait-and-see, given the injuries to David Montgomery (ribs) and Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring). Reynolds, who scored 11.2 fantasy points in Week 5 against the Panthers, jumped in for Montgomery this past Sunday versus the Bucs. While the production wasn't there in the run game (10 carries, 15 yards), Reynolds did add 28 yards receiving on two catches. While it appears Montgomery could miss this one, let's monitor the injury reports this week in Detroit, as Reynolds could have starting value in your lineup versus the Ravens depending on the circumstances.
Ezekiel Elliott, New England Patriots (40.2%; vs. Bills)
In non-PPR leagues, I might take a swing on Elliott to see low red zone carries on Sunday. Elliott posted 49 total yards in the Week 6 loss to the Raiders, adding a touchdown run. I understand where the Patriots are offensively right now, and Rhamondre Stevenson is still the lead back in New England. But if you are absolutely in need a of flex play in a deeper league, Elliott is an option.
Justice Hill, Baltimore Ravens (30.2%; vs. Lions)
This is a rough matchup for Hill, and Gus Edwards continues to see more carries in the Ravens' backfield. However, with six teams on a bye and injuries at the position, you can still take a shot on Hill, who has posted two games of double-digit fantasy production this season, while also giving you some upside as a receiving target in the Baltimore pass game.
Zach Evans (61.0%) and Royce Freeman, Los Angeles Rams (6.1%; vs. Steelers)
With the Rams' top two backs, Kyren Williams (ankle) and Ronnie Rivers (knee), both out for Sunday's home game versus the Steelers, managers have jumped in on their replacements. Evans carried the ball four times for 10 yards in the Rams' Week 6 win over the Cards, and I really liked his college tape at Ole Miss. Evans plays with a downhill burst. He hits it quick and can press the perimeter and work through contact. I would expect Evans to get the first look at rushing attempts Sunday, with Freeman also seeing carries.
Keaontay Ingram, Arizona Cardinals (12.1%; at Seahawks)
With James Conner on IR, Ingram led the Cardinals' backfield in the Week 6 loss to the Rams, rushing 10 times for 40 yards, while adding two receptions for 11 yards. However, Damien Williams (eight carries) and Emari Demercado (two carries) saw action as well. This feels like a true committee approach with Conner out, and I don't love the matchup versus Seattle. Take Ingram only as a deeper-league option.
Wide receivers
Curtis Samuel, Washington Commanders (46.1%; at Giants)
With at least 14 fantasy points and four receptions in each of his past three games, plus a touchdown in back-to-back weeks, this is a good time to scoop up Samuel for this week's matchup. Samuel can work the underneath levels as a middle-of-the-field target for Sam Howell, plus Washington will deploy him as a motion/movement player on screens and fly sweeps. Easy money there for your fantasy lineup.
Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs (43.8%; vs. Chargers)
Rice has posted at least 10 fantasy points in three of his past four games, while catching 16 of 21 targets during that stretch. Middle-of-the-field concepts, RPOs, catch-and-run targets. Plus, Rice has seen seven red zone targets over the past four weeks. In a very positive Week 7 matchup versus the Chargers, I'd take Rice here as a solid streaming option.
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts (34.3%; vs. Browns)
Take the PPR upside with Downs as a slot target for quarterback Gardner Minshew. The rookie wide receiver caught a touchdown in the Week 6 loss to the Jags, and he has now posted back-to-back games with at least 13 fantasy points. Downs has seen a total of 14 targets during this stretch, and he fits as an underneath option for Minshew versus a Browns defense that can create chaos in the pocket. Get that ball out quickly.
Wan'Dale Robinson, New York Giants (10.0%; vs. Commanders)
Robinson posted a season-high 14.2 fantasy points in the Week 6 loss to the Bills, catching all eight of his targets for 62 yards. He has now had at least five receptions in each of his past three games, so this is a volume play for PPR managers. Robinson gets to work against the Commanders' high percentage of split safety coverages this week as an underneath/midlevel target, with the ability to produce the catch for Tyrod Taylor or Daniel Jones.
Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions (33.2%; at Ravens)
If you play in a deeper, non-PPR league and you want to take a shot on an explosive-play target, go with Williams. Since returning from suspension, Williams has seen only six targets in his two games played. However, he did catch a pair of balls for 53 yards in Week 6 against the Bucs, including a 45-yard touchdown. He has the vertical stretch ability, plus dynamic catch-and-run traits, to produce numbers in this Lions route tree.
Quarterbacks
Sam Howell, Washington Commanders (35.3% rostered; at Giants)
I think this is a tougher matchup for Howell, given the number of sacks he has taken this season (34) and the blitz tendencies of Wink Martindale's unit. However, we can't ignore the production. In the Week 6 win over Atlanta, Howell threw three touchdowns, and he has now posted three straight games with at least 18 fantasy points. If Howell can manage the pocket in this one and make some plays outside of structure, he could deliver enough as a streaming option.
Joshua Dobbs, Arizona Cardinals (22.5% rostered; at Seahawks)
Dobbs' production has declined in his past two starts, as he has committed multiple turnovers in both. However, Dobbs has rushed for more than 40 yards in four of six games played this season and has exceeded 23 fantasy points twice. I think Dobbs will have opportunities to target the middle of the field against the Seahawks, while using his legs to make plays outside of the pocket.
Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (26.2% rostered; vs. Falcons)
After posting at least 16 fantasy points in three of his first four games, Mayfield was a bust this past Sunday versus the Lions, scoring a season-low 6.8 points. Now, he gets the Falcons defense at home. Again, I don't love this matchup, but if you need a starter for the week, the Bucs can scheme for Mayfield to target single-high and two-deep man coverage, because he'll see that a lot from Atlanta on Sunday. Hit the second- and third-level windows.
Tight ends
Michael Mayer, Las Vegas Raiders (7.8%; at Bears)
Mayer scored 12.5 fantasy points in the Week 6 win over the Patriots, catching 5 of 6 targets for 75 yards, including four grabs on third down. The rookie has seen an uptick in usage over the past two games (nine targets), and he has the traits to produce as a three-level target in the Raiders' offense, given his route running and physical play style after the catch. With tight ends Dalton Schultz and Jake Ferguson on a bye this week, Mayer is a solid streaming choice in a positive matchup versus the Bears.
Jonnu Smith, Atlanta Falcons (41.7%; at Bucs)
With three straight games of double-digit fantasy production and a bump in target volume, you can roll with Smith as a streamer this week against the Bucs. A lot of quicks here for Smith in the Atlanta offense on flats, crossers and unders. Plus, the Falcons' play-action concepts can create midlevel opportunities for the tight end. Smith has caught 16 of 18 targets in his past three games.
D/ST
Washington Commanders (68.7%; at Giants)
I'm betting on the Washington pass rush this week. The Commanders have posted at least three sacks in five of six games this season, and I see matchup advantages for this defensive front on the interior and on the edges versus the Giants. Get home with four and play coverage versus a Giants team that has allowed 33 sacks this season, the second most in the NFL. This unit is among the most added off the wire, but it's worth it to see if the Commanders are available in your league.