Welcome to Crossing the Streams (Week 5). This is where we highlight kickers and D/STs we are starting this week. For the starts, we will be avoiding the obvious starts, and will only be selecting players outside the top 10 who could conceivably be available to stream off the waiver wire. After each week we will show a report card with our Hit and Miss rate grade. A hit will be any player that scores more than 8.0 fantasy points which we will refer to as the magic number, with anything under that being a miss. For our full list of weekly rankings, head over to The FFU Weekly Rankings Page or try out our Sit/Start Tool Powered by Fantasy Pros.
Kickers
Chase McLaughlin, Buccaneers vs ATL (1)
McLaughlin has been hit-and-miss to start the season and finds himself ranked as QB11. He is 10 for 11 on extra points and 7 for 7 on field goals. McLaughlin has two field goals from beyond 30 yards and three from beyond 50 yards. This week he matches up against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who rank as the best matchup for kickers and are allowing 13.3 fantasy points per game to the position. McLaughlin is an easy start this week and will undoubtedly be a big hit this week.
Embed from Getty ImagesCairo Santos, Bears vs CAR (3)
Santos has played well this season and finds himself just inside the Top 12, at QB12 exactly. He is 6 for 6 on extra points and 7 for 8 on field goals. Santos has hit two field goals from beyond 40 yards and an insane four from beyond 50 yards. In Week 5 he will face the Carolina Panthers who sit as the third-best matchup for kickers and are allowing 11.8 fantasy points per game to the position. Santos is in a prime spot to put up a solid fantasy outing and is a must-start this week.
Embed from Getty ImagesHarrison Butker, Chiefs vs NO (8)
Butker has struggled a bit to start the season but has managed to climb his way to QB14 overall. He is 8 for 9 on extra points as well as 8 for 9 on field goals. Butker has hit three times from beyond 30 yards, once from beyond 40 yards, and twice from beyond 50 yards. This week he faces the New Orleans Saints who rank as the eighth-best matchup for kickers and are allowing 10.8 fantasy points per game ti the position. This game figures to be high-scoring and should present Butker with ample opportunity to produce a good result for fantasy.
D/ST
Seattle Seahawks DST vs NYG (7)
The Seahawks sit as DST11 on the season and have been a surprisingly solid unit. They’ve put up monster performances against the Broncos and Dolphins but were awful against the Lions and Patriots. They are a risky streaming option that has a weekly upside in the right matchup. This week, that matchup is against the New York Giants who ranks as the seventh-best for opposing DSTs. Seattle has totaled 14 sacks, five forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and two interceptions this season and in this matchup will make for an elite streaming option. The Seahawks are a high-end DST1 this week for fantasy.
Embed from Getty ImagesIndianapolis Colts DST vs JAC (10)
The Colts rank as DST 13 currently and have been a decent option so far this season. through four games they have backed up 12 sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and two interceptions and have been a steady producer for fantasy. This week, Indianapolis goes up against the Jacksonville Jaguars who have been awful on offense and who rank as the tenth-best matchup for opposing DSTs this season. This game figures to be an ugly, sloppy, low-scoring game and that should help to keep a solid statline in the range of outcomes for Indy.
Embed from Getty ImagesNew England Patriots DST vs MIA (3)
The Patriots are currently DST18 on the year and have been a major disappointment due in large part to their offense’s inability to score points and stay on the field. They have given up loads of points because they are on the field for most of the game. This season they have nine sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one interception. The Patriots as a whole are a solid defensive unit, but they simply give up too many points to be counted on in most matchups. Luckily for New England, they face the Miami Dolphins in Week 5 who are without starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and were abysmal on offense last week. There will be plenty of opportunities for turnovers this week and with the Dolphin’s inability to score, the Patriots have a safe floor this week.
Thank you for checking out this week’s Crossing the Streams. For our latest content, head over to our YouTube Channel for daily videos.
