Each week of the NFL season, we will identify fantasy football waiver-wire pickups specifically for those of you looking for streaming options in deeper formats (including IDP leagues). These are players available in a majority of ESPN fantasy leagues (or close) who have enticing matchups in the week ahead that make them worthy of consideration for your lineups.
While you might notice some overlap with Field Yates' pickup column that publishes on Mondays, an important distinction is the options mentioned in this column are focused solely on this week's matchup and not the players' values for the remainder of the season.
Editor's note: Roster percentages are updated on Fridays and players from the Thursday night game are taken out.
Quarterback
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins vs. Jets (51.6% rostered)
With offensive playmakers like DeVante Parker and Mike Gesicki -- and even without Jaylen Waddle -- Tagovailoa has QB1 upside against the Jets. During his last seven games, he has averaged 20 fantasy points per game and completed 73% of his passes. While the Jets' defense has allowed opposing quarterbacks, including Tua, to average 21.4 points per game over the last five games.
Justin Fields, Chicago Bears vs. Vikings (21.4%)
In his first multi-touchdown passing game of the season last week, Fields showed improvement with each start. He's a streaming option due to his rushing ability. In his last four games, Fields has averaged 19.2 points per game and he'll face a Vikings defense that's allowed the fourth-most points per game to quarterbacks (19.0).
Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons at 49ers (29.0%)
Over his past five starts, Ryan has struggled mightily. He has averaged 9.3 points per game, thrown three touchdowns and averaged 6.4 yards per attempt. The big plays haven't come his way. That could change this week against the 49ers, who have allowed the ninth-most points per game to quarterbacks (18.4) this season and the third-most yards per attempt (7.2) over the last three games.
Running back
Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots vs. Colts (43.9%)
Over the last six games, Stevenson has averaged 15.7 opportunities (rushing attempts and targets) and 11.0 PPG, displaying his athleticism and physical style that fantasy managers have embraced. When Damien Harris is active, Stevenson is a flex option. If Harris is inactive, Stevenson can be considered an RB1 against a Colts defense that allowed Leonard Fournette to score 44 points against them.
D'Ernest Johnson, Cleveland Browns vs. Raiders (25.6%)
While nearly two dozen Browns are likely to be unavailable on Saturday after testing positive for COVID, Kareem Hunt is out against the Raiders due to an ankle injury. That puts Johnson on the flex radar, as he'll form a running back by committee with Nick Chubb in a Browns offense that averages 32 opportunities and 29 points from the running back position. This season, the Raiders defense has allowed the third-most points per game to running backs (28.5). The negative, of course, are the COVID concerns, particularly along the Browns' offensive line, which could make the sledding tougher.
Wide receiver
Donovan Peoples-Jones, Cleveland Browns vs. Raiders (15.1%)
In four of his past six games (which dates back to Week 5), Peoples-Jones has accumulated 70 or more yards. Last week against the Ravens, he posted season highs in receptions and targets and he could very well see double-digit targets now that Jarvis Landry and Austin Hooper are among those likely sidelined due to COVID. There is risk, since he'll be catching passes from third-stringer Nick Mullens, but against the Raiders, DPJ is a potential flex streamer with upside.
Sterling Shepard, New York Giants vs. Cowboys (41.4%)
Shepard has played in only six games this season, but has averaged eight targets per game when he does play. Against the Cowboys, Shepard is on the flex radar. Cam Sims, Deonte Harris, Hunter Renfrow, Tyreek Hill and Olamide Zaccheaus averaged 8.0 targets, 5.2 receptions, 79.6 receiving yards and 16.3 points against Dallas over the last five games.
Jamison Crowder, New York Jets at Dolphins (30.5%)
With Corey Davis and Elijah Moore out, Crowder disappointed fantasy managers last week. He did, however, lead the Jets with 46 routes run and he has a good matchup against a Dolphins defense that has given up the fourth-most PPG (38.6) to wide receivers this season. In Week 11, Crowder had 44 yards and a touchdown against Miami.
Gabriel Davis, Buffalo Bills vs. Panthers (11.2%)
Emmanuel Sanders is likely to miss Week 15 due to a knee injury, which opens the door for Davis, who ran a pass route on 80.6% of Josh Allen's dropbacks last week. Davis is averaging 16 yards per reception this season and is a legitimate flex option against the Panthers, regardless of whether Allen or Mitchell Trubisky is at the helm.
Tight end
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots vs. Colts (46.9%)
Fantasy managers may be hesitant to start pass-catchers from the Patriots since New England averages the fifth-fewest pass attempts per game (30.3) this season. Over the past five games, Pharaoh Brown, Rob Gronkowski, Dawson Knox, Dan Arnold and Ryan Griffin have averaged 13.2 points per game against the Colts' defense. The Patriots could lean more on their passing game in this matchup.
Defense/special teams
Cleveland Browns vs. Raiders (43.0%)
The Browns are eighth in the league in sacks and have forced eight turnovers over the last three games. Their defense has averaged 10.0 points per game over the last six games, so against a Las Vegas offense that has scored nine touchdowns over its past six games, Cleveland is on the streaming radar, although nearly as strong a play with many key players likely out on Saturday.
Miami Dolphins at Jets (78.0%)
As a team, the Jets average 17.4 points per game. Despite playing only nine games, rookie Zach Wilson has thrown 11 interceptions. A matchup against a Dolphins defense that has logged 31 sacks and 20 takeaways this season after a slow start does not look good. Many managers have already hit the wire to grab the Dolphins, but it's worth checking to see if they are still there in your league.
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington (30.4%)
This season, the Eagles face a struggling Washington team that averages just 20.5 points per game and has been depleted by more than two dozen players testing positive for COVID. Washington has allowed the seventh-most points per game to fantasy defenses, an encouraging sign for an Eagles defense that has improved over the last four games.
Kicker
Greg Zuerlein, Dallas Cowboys at Giants (41.4%)
Over the past four games, Zuerlein has made multiple field goals, averaging 10 points per game. This week, Zuerlein faces the Giants, who have allowed the 10th-most points per game to kickers. He should have plenty of kicking opportunities as part of a Cowboys offense that averages the second-most total yards per game (409.0).
Jason Sanders, Miami Dolphins vs. Jets (30.8%)
Sanders has attempted at least two field goals in four consecutive games. It's a good matchup for him against a Jets defense that allows the second-most fantasy points per game to the position (10.0).
Individual Defensive Players (IDP)
Defensive Line
Rashan Gary, Green Bay Packers at Ravens (6.5%)
In his last four games, Gary has accumulated three sacks. This is a great opportunity for him to excel against a Ravens offensive line that has trouble protecting the injured Lamar Jackson or Tyler Huntley.
Linebacker
Ja'Whaun Bentley, New England Patriots at Colts (6.4%)
Bentley has recorded seven or more tackles in each of his last four games. Against a Colts offense that averages the fifth-most rushing attempts per game (29.5), this trend should continue.
Defensive Back
Bryce Hall, New York Jets at Dolphins (1.6%)
Hall has played nearly all of the Jets' defensive snaps this season, which is ideal for IDP production. He will have to deal with Jaylen Waddle and DeVante Parker in a matchup in which the Dolphins should rely heavily on their passing game.