Week 13 Streaming QBs and DSTs: Two of the biggest positions for streaming in fantasy are quarterback and defense. Here in this article, we will break down the best options at quarterback and defense. We hope to steer fantasy managers into decisions that create wins. This article will focus mostly on players less than 50-percent rostered.

Week 13 Streaming QBs

Taysom Hill (vs DAL)

Ian Rapoport is reporting that the Saints will be making a change at the quarterback position, meaning it is Taysom Hill time for fantasy managers. Hill has yet to make a start at quarterback in 2021, but in 2020 we had a four-game preview of what should come in Week 13 for the Saints, and beyond.

Digging up 2020’s stats we can see that in Weeks 11 – 14 (when Hill started for the Saints at quarterback), Hill averaged 21.55-FPPG which is largely attributed to his rushing volume. In this same time frame, Hill rushed the ball an average of nine times for 52 yards per game. Quarterbacks who consistently run the ball are a cheat code for fantasy football: think Kyler Murray, Lamar Jackson, and Jalen Hurts. Mobile quarterbacks give fantasy managers reliable floors and easily accessible ceilings, something you cannot say for 99-percent of fantasy players.

Going up against Dallas should not be something fantasy managers should be fearful of. While the Dallas defense does have ball-hawks, they still give up fantasy points to the quarterback position. Dallas allows an average of 18.3-FPPG to opposing quarterbacks and that is one point more than the league average.

Hill is a unique fantasy asset and one that you can count on in Week 13 — assuming his foot is well enough — and for the rest of the season. Get ready to burn what you have to in order to get this guy, he is a potential league winner for fantasy managers and is available in 98-percent of ESPN leagues heading into waivers.

Matt Ryan (vs TB)

Oh, Matty Ice: will he have ice in his veins against Tampa Bay, or will he be ice cold for your fantasy team? Both scenarios are certainly in play given the wide range of outcomes for Ryan. The big things in Week 13 are that Ryan is playing at home, indoors, and Cordarrelle Patterson is back in this offense and healthy, as he accounts for 40-percent of Atlanta’s touchdowns.

When this Tampa Bay defense is on the road they allow opposing quarterbacks 22.05-FPPG; that would finish as second-worst in the NFL when compared to overall FPPG allowed to opposing quarterbacks. In Week 12 this Buccaneers’ defense surrendered 300-yards passing and three touchdowns to Carson Wentz. Tampa’s secondary is struggling with injuries right now, making their defense a great place to attack in fantasy as a streaming manager.

Additionally, last time these teams faced in Week 2, Ryan was able to throw for 300 yards, three interceptions, two touchdowns, and finished with 18.3-fantasy points on the week. While there is more to be desired from that stat-line, 18-fantasy points are certainly enough to finish as a high-end QB2 and help your team from a streaming perspective. 

Ryan is available in 64-percent of ESPN leagues heading into Week 13.

Derek Carr (vs WSH)

Carr has been hit-or-miss since returning from the BYE, but Week 13 is not going to be kind to risk-averse fantasy managers trying to stream quarterbacks, making Carr firmly in play.

The Washington Football Team has maintained its status as being the worst defense against opposing quarterbacks. In 2021 they have surrendered an average of 23.4-FPPG to quarterbacks. Washington also allows the most passing touchdowns in the NFL and have only picked off opposing quarterbacks six times, both metrics point towards a boost in Carr’s fantasy floor. 

This game featuring Washington and Las Vegas also sticks out above most other games in Week 13. With a game total projecting around 49.5 and a tight -2.5 spread, this game could easily feature the most fantasy points scored. Games with higher totals and close spreads tend to go off for fantasy managers. However, a blow-up spot is certainly not a guarantee since both of these teams are performing inconsistently.

Carr always carries volatility but he can be streamed in Week 13. He is available for pickup in about 39-percent of ESPN leagues.

Week 13 Streaming DSTs

Philadelphia Eagles D/ST (@NYJ)

In Week 12 the Eagles’ D/ST logged 6-fantasy points in a losing effort to the New York Giants. While they did not do much towards forcing turnovers and sacking the quarterback, their Week 13 match-up against the Jets could prove to be more favorable.

The Jets lead the league in turnovers with 24 total giveaways. While their rookie quarterback, Zach Wilson, has missed some time due to injury, he left his starting role being the most turnover-prone player in the NFL. Wilson still has turned the ball over 10 times this season and even continued giving the ball away with one turnover against a bad Houston team in Week 12.

Streaming the Eagles is pretty straightforward for fantasy managers in Week 13. The Eagles are available in 65-percent of ESPN leagues as we head into waivers.

Indianapolis Colts D/ST (@HOU)

Another straightforward streaming option in Week 13 is none other than the Indianapolis Colts. Facing off against Houston, this Colts’ defense should be a safe play in all fantasy formats.

The Colts’ D/ST comes into Week 13 as the league’s leader in turnovers forced with 27. This should be considerably favorable to the Colts as Houston is the eighth-most turnover-prone team in the league.

Looking back to this match-up in Week 6, the Colts faced a David Mills-led Texans’ team at home and Indianapolis was able to finish with 11-fantasy points. Behind their 11-fantasy points were two interceptions, two sacks, one fumble recovery and only three points allowed.

The Colts are available in 48-percent of ESPN leagues.

Miami Dolphins D/ST (vs NYG)

While the Giants are not always the offense to target for streaming defenses, the Miami D/ST’s resurgence is not one to ignore.

Since Week 9 the Miami D/ST has averaged 16-FPPG. The four teams that the Dolphins faced in this timeframe respectively were: the Texans, Ravens, Jets, and Panthers. 

What really sticks out is how much Miami is getting to the quarterback as well. In the same aforementioned timeframe, the Miami defense has logged 16 sacks, four more sacks than weeks 1-8 combined. Since Week 9, Miami has also logged 10 takeaways, one blocked kick, one fumble returned for a touchdown, and one blocked punt returned for a touchdown. We saw how good the Miami defense was in 2020, could we be getting back to those trends? 

In the end, their opponent, the New York Giants, should not scare you. We have seen how turnover-prone Daniel Jones can be, plus this offense is still transitioning to new management under interim coordinator Freddie Kitchens. They have struggled to score points all season and the Giants will be running up against a hot Miami team.

Miami is pretty easy to find on waivers going into Week 13, currently, they are available in 56-percent of ESPN leagues heading into waivers.