Week 5 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 5 Streaming QBs
Joe Burrow (CIN) vs Green Bay Packers
Streaming quarterbacks in Week 5 could prove to be difficult as it is slim pickings this week. While Joe Burrow has not been elite, he’s been consistent and has protected the football which makes him a streamer to target.
His opposition, the Green Bay defense, has not been scorched via the pass but they have surrendered fantasy points to the quarterback position. Currently, the Packers are tied for the second-most passing touchdowns allowed this season with 10.
While this play comes with risks, Burrow has a chance to either play keep-up or catch-up this week and both can correlate to big fantasy finishes for quarterbacks.
Green Bay has also been stout with their run defense, and that could cause the Bengals to rely even further on Burrow. Especially since running back Joe Mixon has been diagnosed with a low-grade ankle sprain and could miss Week 5, something that may cause the Bengals to become one-dimensional quickly.
If Mixon misses, you should love the floor and ceiling combination for Burrow. If Mixon plays then you should consider Burrow the safest streamer on this list, but least likely to achieve a ceiling-game.
Burrow is less available than most quarterbacks featured on this article but heading into Week 5 he is on waivers in 34 percent of ESPN leagues.
Daniel Jones (NYG) @ Dallas Cowboys
While Dallas is a defense you can stream in Week 5, on the other side of the ball is Daniel Jones who also can be streamed.
Jones will be going up against a surprising Cowboys’ defense who have forced turnovers and can get to the quarterback. While Dallas can do these things, they are susceptible to surrendering fantasy points and passing yards. No other team has allowed more passing yards than the Dallas Cowboys.
Jones is coming into the week ranked as a QB1 on the season and there is good reason for that. Outside of the 250-plus passing yards he normally achieves, he also adds fantasy points with his legs. This season Jones has averaged 47 rushing yards and 0.5 touchdowns on the ground. This bodes well especially since Dallas is coming off a Week 4 matchup where they surrendered two rushing touchdowns to quarterback Sam Darnold.
Jones will likely be trailing in this game and that can often lead to more fantasy points at the quarterback position. If you play Jones you really hope that the game stays close so that he is not forced into obvious passing situations.
Jones is available in over 75 percent of ESPN leagues as he heads into his matchup against Dallas.
Trey Lance (SF) @ Arizona Cardinals
This play comes with high risks but potentially high rewards. Rookie quarterbacks that make their first start on the road are generally treated to a rude awakening. With that said, Lance has one of the highest ceilings from the streaming quarterback tier in Week 5.
Much like Daniel Jones’ opposing defense, Lance’s opposition can be streamed this week too, but that does not mean that Lance can’t put up 20-plus fantasy points. Arizona, while a respectable defense, can allow fantasy points to be accumulated.
Lance is a dynamic quarterback with an elite rushing ability. When he stepped into the game to replace an injured Jimmy Garappolo in Week 4, Lance completed 50-percent of his passes for 157 passing yards and two touchdowns, while also adding 41 rushing yards in seven attempts.
The 49ers’ head coach Kyle Shanahan is one of the best offensive minds in the game and there should be confidence in his scheme going into Arizona. Whether Lance executes the offense is the bigger question, but for fantasy purposes, there should be plenty of meat on the bone due to Lance’s rushing upside in this scheme.
Another big reason you can stream Lance this week is that starter Jimmy Garappolo speculated his injury would be a multi-week recovery. As a result, Lance will likely be a player you can stream week-to-week simply because of his rushing ability. In addition, there is a decent chance that Lance never relinquishes this role back to Garappolo.
Lance is available in over 80 percent of ESPN leagues.
Week 5 Streaming QBs — Honorable Mentions
- Derek Carr (LV) vs Chicago Bears
- Jared Goff (DET) @ Minnesota Vikings
- Mac Jones (NE) @ Houston Texans
Week 5 Streaming DSTs
Dallas Cowboys vs New York Giants
Dallas seems to be a defense with a brand new identity in 2021. What has normally been a soft defense that allowed opponents to score at will has seemingly become a turnover-producing defense with the ability to get after the quarterback.
With the New York Giants coming into town, you know that Daniel Jones has a tendency to turn the ball over. So far in 2021 Jones has limited turnovers but Dallas is coming into Week 5 with the second-most takeaways, trailing only the Buffalo Bills.
Despite Jones’ trend of protecting the football in 2021, this game will provide a unique challenge compared to the four previous teams Jones has faced. Denver, Washington, Atlanta, and New Orleans have very little firepower on the offensive side of the ball, whereas Dallas will certainly be able to score points – possibly at will. As a result, Jones will likely be dropping back more than preferred which could put him into a position where he tries to force passes.
Dallas’ ability to pressure the quarterback while also logging turnovers puts them firmly into play for Week 5 streamers. The biggest thing to watch for is the health of Trevon Diggs. Diggs will likely play against the Giants but he was removed from the game and limping around on the sideline towards the end of Dallas’ Week 4 contest. Diggs is responsible for five of Dallas’ eight interceptions.
The Cowboys’ D/ST is available in 80 percent of ESPN leagues heading into Week 5.
Arizona Cardinals vs San Francisco 49ers
After Jimmy Garoppolo injured his calf against the Seahawks in Week 4, the Arizona Cardinals have been presented with a high-ceiling matchup against a rookie quarterback who has never started an NFL game and has never played on the road.
The Cardinals have been an up and down defense but their ability to get after the quarterback and secure takeaways is certainly clear. So far in 2021, they have garnered nine takeaways, which is third-most, while also being top-10 in sacks.
Any time you get a rookie quarterback starting in his first road game, you can always play the defense – it does not matter who that defense is. While Trey Lance will likely have a decent day for fantasy managers streaming him (see his rushing ability), it does not mean he will play turnover-free and take care of the football; both scenarios can come to fruition which is why the Cardinals’ D/ST can be utilized by managers.
We have already seen how bad rookie quarterbacks have been at protecting the football this year and in Week 5, we may see Trey Lance add fuel to that narrative.
The Cardinals are available in 92 percent of rosters.
Atlanta Falcons @ New York Jets – London Game (9:30/8:30 AM EST/CST)
In fantasy, defenses mostly generate points via sacks and turnovers. In Week 5 the Atlanta Falcons’ defense may be able to manufacture both aforementioned statistics against the New York Jets.
The Jets are clearly in a rebuild while also trying to develop their young quarterback, Zach Wilson. In the fantasy community, Wilson has quickly been identified as a player to target for fantasy defenses.
In his previous matchup against the Titans, Wilson continued to force the ball and wound up throwing one interception. Wilson has the second-most giveaways in 2021, all eight of his turnovers being interceptions. Additionally, the Jets have had severe issues protecting their quarterback and have allowed the third-most sacks with 16.
While Atlanta is nothing to write home about under normal circumstances, they certainly can be a great stream for fantasy managers in Week 5. They normally get a sack-or-two on a weekly basis and their chance at a turnover could be the highest in the NFL this week.
The Falcons are available in 98 percent of ESPN leagues.
Likely rostered, but should be started if available:
- New England Patriots (@HOU)
- Denver Broncos (@PIT)
- Pittsburg Steelers (vs DEN)
- Tennessee Titans (@JAX)
Week 5 Streaming DSTs — Honorable Mentions:
- Las Vegas Raiders (vs CHI)
- Minnesota Vikings (vs DET)
- New York Jets (vs ATL) – London game
For more help with your Week 5 streaming QBs and D/STs, just ask!
