Streaming Sleepers: Week 1

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Here’s our the inaugural edition of our Wednesday Daily Dose entry, Streaming Sleepers:

Streaming Sleepers: Week 1

By :: Juan Carlos Blanco (@jcblanco22)

Each week, Streaming Sleepers will highlight at least five skill-position players that typically have projected start rates under 20% in season-long leagues but may be prudent options this week due to matchups and other circumstances, particularly in deeper formats. Additionally, the plays suggested here could be viable DFS tournament options for the coming slate and are likely to carry modest ownership rates in that format as well.

Ollie Gordon II, MIA at IND- 1% start rate

Gordon is the last man standing in the Dolphins’ backfield when it comes to avoiding an injury designation. At 6’1”, 226, he has the dimensions to dominate in short-yardage and goal-line situations and is a De’Von Achane in-game calf strain away from manning a true lead role in his first NFL game. His pro debut comes against a Colts defense that surrendered 19.2 standard-scoring fantasy points per game to RBs, the 10th-highest red-zone touchdown success rate (60.7%) and 1.20 second-level yards per carry last season, metrics particularly relevant for a bruiser like Gordon that can excel in close quarters and break tackles.

Marvin Mims Jr., DEN vs. TEN - 3% start rate

Mims is slated to fill a No. 2 role that affords him the amount of snaps commensurate with that slotting in a Broncos offense expected to have more stable skill-position usage this season. Assuming he’s fully clear of his recent groin issue, he could hit for some plays against a Titans defense featuring a gimpy L’Jarius Sneed at one corner – the veteran is still limited by last year’s nagging quadriceps injury – and which could have some issues adjusting to the Denver altitude, especially against the caliber of speed Mims possesses. 

Christian Kirk, HOU at LAR - 3% start rate 

Kirk’s fully healed from his 2024 season-ending collarbone issue and ready to operate as Houston’s No. 2 receiver with Tank Dell (leg) nowhere near ready to return. He’s likely to mostly operate in the slot and faces a challenge in the form of Cobie Durant, but Los Angeles allowed 13.6 yards per catch to wide receivers in 2024 and ranked in the bottom half of the league with 22.3 standard-scoring fantasy points per game surrendered to the position. With Joe Mixon (NFI-foot/ankle) unavailable and fill-in Nick Chubb nowhere near the same caliber of receiver out of the backfield, the Texans’ short passing game could feature plenty of Kirk.

Romeo Doubs, GB vs. DET- 1% start rate 

The Packers’ presumptive No. 1 receiver in Green Bay’s notoriously egalitarian air attack, Jayden Reed, is dealing with a Jones fracture in his left foot, missed Wednesday’s practice, and has already made the rare admission he can’t run routes without pain at the moment. That could well result in rookie first-round pick Matthew Golden and Doubs serving as Jordan Love’s top two receivers, and Doubs’ chemistry with Love could pay off against a Lions defense that gave up the second-most receptions (4.7) and receiving yards (61.8) per game to WR2s a season ago. 

Cedric Tillman, CLE vs. CIN - 2% start rate

Tillman was a popular waiver add in the first half of last season thanks to his 21-255-3 line on 32 targets in an expanded role in Weeks 7-9, a sample that included an 8-81 showing against the same Bengals he’ll face in Week 1. Cincinnati is running it back with DJ Turner and Cam Taylor-Britt as its starting corner tandem to open 2025, a duo that had a hand in the Bengals allowing 17 TD grabs to wide receivers last season and 10.2 yards per completion overall. The savvy and seemingly ageless Joe Flacco is back under center in Cleveland, and in a game where the Browns will have to remain aggressive, Tillman could be a beneficiary.

ALSO CONSIDER:

Xavier Legette, CAR at JAX- 1% start rate

Jags allowed third-most standard-scoring fantasy points per game (24.0) to WRs last season and fourth-most receiving yards per game to WR2s (59.5).

Darren Waller, MIA at IND- 1% start rate

Ramping up practice participation daily and faces a Colts team that allowed a 101-987-9 receiving line to tight ends a year ago.

Brenton Strange, JAX vs. CAR - 3% start rate

Takes over Evan Engram’s old role, averaged a solid 1.6 yards per route run in ‘24 and is up against a Panthers team that allowed NFL-high 11 touchdown catches and NFC-high 10.0 standard-scoring fantasy points per game to TEs last season.