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 entering this week's waiver period. Although you might notice 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 matchups and not on the players' values for the remainder of the season.
Looking at the Week 13 slate of games, we'll start at wide receiver, led by two slot targets who should be in your lineups this Sunday. Plus, with multiple starting-caliber quarterbacks on byes -- Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Joshua Dobbs, Justin Fields -- there's an available signal-caller in here that you can stream as a starter this week.
All references to fantasy points are for PPR leagues. Roster percentages are updated as of Friday morning.
Wide receivers
Curtis Samuel, Washington Commanders (42.9%; vs. Dolphins)
Samuel posted his best numbers of the season in the Thanksgiving game against the Cowboys, catching nine of 12 targets for 100 yards. That was good for 19 fantasy points, with Samuel working the underneath levels from slot alignments and also logging targets when flexed out wide. With a Week 13 matchup against Miami, which figures to be another pass-heavy script for Washington, you can play Samuel as a WR3.
Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers (42.2% rostered; vs. Chiefs)
The only thing keeping Reed below the 50% rostered threshold is his chest injury. He has appeared in this column for close to a month now, and while he's worth picking up for the stretch run, you'll have to watch the injury report to see if he can go on Sunday. Reed has scored a touchdown in four straight games, with double-digit fantasy production in his past three. He's a multilevel target in the Packers' route tree with the vision and open-field ability to see the ball on schemed touches. If he plays, he'll be in the WR3 range for me this week against the Chiefs.
Noah Brown, Houston Texans (34.6%; vs. Broncos)
Brown has missed the past two games with a knee injury, so let's keep an eye on his status throughout the week. If he's up for the game versus the Broncos, however, Brown fits as a deeper-league WR3 because of his explosive-play ability. Even in a crowded Texans wide receiver room, Brown has the vertical traits and the catch-and-run ability to produce. Remember, Brown posted back-to-back games with 24 or more fantasy points in Weeks 9 and 10.
A.T. Perry, New Orleans Saints (1.3%; vs. Lions)
The door could be open for Perry to play a much larger role in the New Orleans passing game this week versus the Lions, depending on the injury status of Chris Olave (concussion) and Rashid Shaheed (thigh). Perry has caught three of six targets for 45 yards and a score over the past two games, and he has the speed, plus the long frame, to make plays at the second and third levels. Let's keep Perry on the radar, as he might be a potential last-minute pickup this weekend.
Quarterbacks
Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers (59.5%; vs. Chiefs)
With multiple quarterbacks on byes this week, Love can be picked up as a top streaming option for the Sunday night game versus the Chiefs. Yes, that's a tough matchup given Kansas City's ability to bring pressure and spin late in the secondary. However, Love has produced back-to-back games with 20 or more fantasy points, and his Week 12 tape against the Lions was really good. Love made smart decisions from the pocket, and we saw his first-round traits (arm talent, mobility). As a popular pickup this week, he has pushed past the 50% rostered mark, but he could be available in shallower leagues as a Week 13 starter.
Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints (30.7%; vs. Lions)
The Saints are banged-up at wide receiver, so we have to monitor the status of Olave and Shaheed throughout the week. However, if they can go, then Carr fits as a QB2 option in superflex formats. While Carr has tossed multiple touchdown passes in just three games this season, you can play the matchup this week versus a Lions defense that ranks in the bottom 10 versus opposing quarterbacks. There should be vertical opportunities in this one for Carr to challenge the top of the secondary.
Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh Steelers (19.3%; vs. Cardinals)
In deeper leagues, I might take a shot on Pickett after watching the Steelers' Week 12 tape under new offensive coordinator Eddie Faulkner. Pickett threw for a season-high 278 yards versus the Bengals, and the route deployment of tight end Pat Freiermuth created middle-of-the-field matchups and throwing windows. The lack of touchdown production with Pickett remains a major concern, and the Steelers still need to score points. But the offense did show much more upside last week, heading into a positive matchup this Sunday versus the Cards. Like Carr, Pickett is a superflex/QB2 option.
Running backs
Royce Freeman, Los Angeles Rams (19.4%; vs. Browns)
We know Kyren Williams is back in the lead role for the Rams, but Freeman still totaled a season-high 13.7 points in the Week 12 win over the Cardinals, rushing for 77 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. Freeman's total lack of pass-game usage makes him a better fit for non-PPR formats, and the matchup against the Browns in Week 13 is pretty rough. However, if you need some run-game volume in your lineup, Freeman does work as a deeper-league flex play.
Samaje Perine, Denver Broncos (36.6%; at Texans)
Perine gives you some receiving upside, as he caught seven passes in Week 11 versus the Vikings, checkdowns and unders on third downs and in two-minute situations. Plus, Perine did have 55 yards rushing and a score in Denver's Week 12 win over Cleveland. He'll be a deeper-league flex for this Sunday's matchup in Houston.
Tight ends
Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers (73.6%; vs. Cardinals)
Freiermuth has blown right past the 50% roster mark after his Week 12 production versus the Bengals, but we'll keep him in the column as we enter the weekend in case he's still available in your league. Freiermuth scored 21 fantasy points, catching nine of 11 targets for 120 yards. Middle-of-the-field concepts here, plus the third-level throws. Stretch the seams. Catch and run underneath.
Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (31.1%; vs. Panthers)
At such a shallow position, I'd take a look at Otton this week versus Carolina. He's caught four passes in each of his past two games, with a total of 21 targets over the past four weeks. Plus, let's remember that Otton caught two touchdowns, and finished with 23 points, back in Week 9 against the Texans.
D/ST
Atlanta Falcons (75.7%; at Jets)
The Falcons D/ST has been the most-added option on the wire this week, even more than Freiermuth, so it's likely they are no longer available in your league. Atlanta has recorded at least one takeaway in each of its past five games. The Falcons are taking the ball away, and I would expect them to heat up the pocket versus a subpar Jets offense that just surrendered seven sacks in the Week 12 loss to Miami. Go with the matchup here.