Round 1 Playoffs Streaming Options WR, Flex

Anyways, it's a 0.5 PPR and there are a lot of streaming options for the WR3 and Flex positions to consider. I prefer upside, but wouldn't want to risk getting a complete dud like a Moncrief.

Robert Woods @ Denver. I'm assuming Buffalo will be playing from behind. I will also assume that Talib will be on Watkins for most of the game. 

Jonathan Stewart @ New Orleans. Pretty good matchup, but as experienced fantasy players know, Carolina's RBs are unrosterable usually because of the committees, running QB, and general ineffectiveness. He gets the start and no Deangelo this week. Could get goal line touches poached by Cam or Tolbert. Carolina offense is a mess right now too. If they get behind, they may have to abandon the run. 

Latavius Murray vs. San Fran. We all saw the big Thursday night on just 4 carries. Sparano said he won't be a workhorse back, which doesn't mean he's telling the truth. Prob mix in DMC and MJD, but maybe if he gets hot he will just run with it. Bad Matchup though. 

Marion Grice vs. KC. Named the starter if Ellington doesn't play  (he won't). Prob get a chance to catch 4-5 balls. The worry is they mix it up a lot and evenly split the touches with Taylor or Bush (just got signed).

Matt Asiata vs. NYJ. This is assuming Mckinnon doesn't play. Didn't practice today. Could possibly share load with Tate or Banyard, but played big majority of snaps last week in same scenario. Minny should have a good chance of winning this game as long as they don't turn the ball over, but it is a tough matchup vs. Jets run DEF. In my league, every game Asiata has started and received 10+ touches he has scored DD fantasy points. Also known for hitting paydirt on a regular basis.

Pierre Thomas vs. Carolina. I've watched this guy for years and he always makes the most of his touches. For a backup he's got incredible upside. Usually gets 7 carries and 3-4 catches per game regardless of the matchup. Could take some pressure off brees as a dumpoff option now that Cooks is out. If New Orleans goes up big, could have opportunity for garbage time points. 

Charles Sims @ Detroit. Bad matchup, and backing up Martin. But Martin hasn't been anything special. Does more with his touches and much better pass catcher if they get behind. I wouldn't really start him, but it's an option. 

I must pick one WR and one Flex option. My WR2 is Edelman and he's banged up and only playing a portion of the snaps, so I could replace him too if I wanted. 

Moncrief, Stedman Bailey, and Davante Adams were scooped yesterday. 

P.S. Do I even think about benching Andrew Luck this week? He's been getting sacked and fumbling without Bradshaw as a blocker. Terrible matchup at Cleveland with Hoyer having something to prove. The majority of teams have scored between 18-22 points vs. them. 22 being the max. Not many options though. Just Shaun Hill vs. Wash, Orton playing from behind vs. Denver, Mettenberger, and Bridgewater. 

Now that I think about it, that would be dumb. If I had a decent option I might have entertained it though. Luck's absolute max this week is prob 25 if I get lucky. I assume they'd want to run the ball vs. Cleveland, and give Richardson a chance to score a TD vs. his old team. 

Robert Woods could put up a dud as he's done for most of the season. Watkins has been horrible lately, but vs. a good pass defense sometimes you just throw it up to your best players. I'm assuming they'll have to play from behind, and Denver's run defense won't give the backs much space. Fred Jackson is very active in the passing game. Also that Hogan guy started to click with Orton a couple of weeks back. Could be a Davante Adams situation where they attack the #3 CB because he's got the best matchup.

Harry Douglass is a very dangerous play. He's almost a no-brainer if Roddy White is out because of the volume, but Roddy sat out last week's game too and thinks he can go on Monday. Hasn't practiced yet today. GB likely double team Julio all night. Rumors are it might snow in GB Monday. 

Cecil Shorts and Marqise Lee have even better matchups because the starting corners are both banged up. Marqise Lee will likely get the weaker CB of the 2. 

Roddy White looking like he will at least play. Harry Douglas is off the radar then. Still worth a look in deeper leagues, but my league isn't deep enough.

Kendall Wright is very likely not going to play. This makes Nate Washington the #1 receiver in a decent matchup. 

Ellington is out, but apparently Grice will not get the start as expected. Stephan Taylor will get the start in a likely RBBC. Taylor isn't bad in a deeper league, but not one of my better options. 

Jerrick McKinnon is out. Matt Asiata gets the start with threats from Banyard and Ben Tate, and his future value is hindered by AP's impending return. 

As of right now I'm deciding between Robert Woods and Nate Washington for my WR3, and Jonathan Stewart or Matt Asiata for my Flex play.

Robert Woods is the higher upside guy, but Nate Washington is the safer play IMO. Stewart really is the better option overall compared to Asiata, but Asiata has really surprised when given the opportunity in the past.

I'd really like more upside players because my opponent is pretty dangerous. I got a nice start from Demarco Murray on TNF, but he got garbage points from Alshon, which only leaves me about 10 pts ahead in projections. 

My opponent has Peyton Manning, Damaryius Thomas, and CJ Anderson. If any of them puts up a monster game I'll likely lose. 

Guess I'm going with Jonathan Stewart and Nate Washington.

Why?

Because Stewart is going to get the touches. I've had bad luck flexxing mediocre wide receiver this season.

I chose Nate Washington over woods because I have this feeling for some reason that the Buffalo Denver game is going to be really low. Also, Woods floor is just scaring me. I feel like if it gets to a runaway game, Orton will look more for Fjax on the dumpoffs, Chandler for the TE checkdowns, or Hogan as the 3rd WR in the red zone. Desperation, he would turn to Watkins on the deep passes.

I really like the matchup with Cecil Shorts vs. Houston. They've allowed almost all the opposing WRs to get DD fantasy points. But it's just too risky for me with Hurns being the deep threat and Lee coming on strong. Lee was actually picked up recently in my league.

If you need a RB, look for Asiata. Despite the bad matchups, he's going to start going forward with Mckinnon on IR.