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RotoBallers,
In recent years, the concept of streaming has become a popular one within fantasy football circles. Particularly with quarterbacks and defense/special teams, the idea of swapping players out every week based on attractive matchups has led numerous owners to victory (or to the basement, if such owners didn’t stream correctly). It’s not a bad idea – why invest a high draft pick on a player you may not want to use every week when you can use the upcoming week’s tilts to your advantage and play the projections?
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Strategy for Streaming Quarterbacks
The problem, as mentioned above, is that if you’re going to go this route then you need to stream right - or you’re going to find yourself in a lot of trouble. Fortunately, the purpose of this weekly article will help you do exactly that with the quarterback position. Every week, we’ll take a look at six streaming QB options: three for one-quarterback leagues, and three for two-quarterback leagues. The focus will be on streaming for the upcoming week, but if that particular player has a positive outlook beyond that point it will be noted for your benefit.
Options for one-quarterback leagues could be just about anyone – if a decent QB really has that tasty of a matchup, then who are we not to take advantage of that? Of course, the obvious names aren’t “streamers” – your Newtons, Rodgers, and Wilsons of the world are plugged into the starting QB spot for their owners week in and week out. Other than the head honchos at the position though, anyone is eligible. Two-quarterback leagues, however, work a little differently. In these leagues, most of, if not all quarterbacks are already owned. Thus, to be a streamer option in a two-quarterback league, the QB needs to be close to the bottom of the barrel. For example, you aren’t streaming Eli Manning in a two-quarterback league because under that setting, Eli should be starting every week anyway.
RotoBallers, stream away to your heart’s desire. If you have any questions or comments feel free to send me an email ([email protected]), tweet (@Andrew_Bua), or reach out on Reddit (/u/CitiStrikeouts).
One-QB Leagues - Week One Streaming Options
Kirk Cousins, WAS
Coming off of a breakout season that absolutely no one expected, Kirk Cousins has been drafted as the 13th QB off the board this summer. If he puts up the same numbers he did in 2015, he’ll likely finish even higher; the top ten is certainly in reach. In one-quarterback leagues, Cousins is an excellent option as a QB-streamer for the first four weeks of the year.
According to Rotoballer’s defense rankings, the Redskins are the lucky recipients of the NFL’s fourth-easiest schedule over that span. Within those four weeks, the ‘Skins take on three of 2015’s worst pass defenses: the Giants (32nd), Steelers (30th), and Browns (22nd). They also face the Cowboys at home in Week 2, and Big D’s defense is likely to be significantly worse than 2015’s fifth-ranked unit. After a season that saw him complete 69.8% of his passes for 4,166 yards and 29 touchdowns, Cousins is primed to start off 2016 in a big way.
Eli Manning, NYG
Eli Manning is annually one of the more polarizing quarterbacks in fantasy football. He’s always likely to finish with a high fantasy point total, but is also likely to mix in a few ultimate duds with his various 30-point efforts. Regardless of your opinion, there’s no denying that he could be an excellent streaming option over the first three weeks of the season.
The obvious reason to favor Manning is that the Giants offense looks to be much-improved over 2015. Rookie Sterling Shepard could be a legitimate receiving option on the other side of Odell Beckham, Jr., meaning either OBJ will see less coverage at times (unlikely) and/or Shepard could be best number two receiver the Giants have had with Beckham garnering all the attention (far more likely). The Giants also have a very favorable schedule in Weeks 1 through 3: @ Dallas, vs. New Orleans (do you not remember Eli’s six-touchdown game in New Orleans last year?), and vs. Washington. The younger Manning brother should be started in all leagues, at least for the first few weeks of the season.
Derek Carr, OAK
If you were going to name one QB popping up on everyone’s “breakout” list for 2016, Derek Carr might be the one you see the most (along with Blake Bortles). On top of that, Carr is also a popular answer to the “which QB should I start while Brady is suspended?” question. There are very good reasons for the sophomore quarterback’s name to come up in both scenarios.
After a 2015 season that saw Carr throw for 3,987 yards and 32 touchdowns, one could certainly argue that the breakout has already happened and that a step up to the next tier is what 2016 really has in store. If such an improvement is to occur, you couldn’t ask for a better first three weeks schedule-wise. In a matchup that has “shootout” written all over it, Carr gets to take on the Saints in New Orleans in Week 1, followed by a home tilt with the Falcons’ mediocre pass defense in Week 2. They follow that up on the road in Tennessee, followed by their first true test in Baltimore in Week 4. We told you there was a reason Carr is a popular Brady fill-in. With an offense that should be taking a step forward in 2016, Carr is easily a top streaming matchup with a favorable schedule to start the year.
Two-QB Leagues - Week One Streaming Options
Robert Griffin III, CLE
RG3, fantasy relevant again? It could very well happen. While the Cleveland Browns haven’t exactly been a haven for solid quarterback play over the years, Griffin is the perfect player to take a chance on as a streamer in two-quarterback leagues for Week 1.
First, let’s take a look at the Browns offense, which surprisingly has…talent. Corey Coleman, Terrelle Pryor, and Gary Barnidge should be nice targets for RG3 until Josh Gordon returns in Week 5. A diverse running game featuring a solid one-two punch of Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson should also give Cleveland their best rushing attack in a while. While that’s nice, what about the Browns’ schedule? In Week 1, Cleveland goes on the road to take on Philadelphia – a bad pass defense in a hostile environment that RG3 knows very well from his days as a Redskin. While it remains to be seen if Griffin can capture some of his old magic, if you’re in a two-quarterback league and need someone with a decent shot at succeeding, the former star is a great choice. Cleveland does have a favorable schedule over the first month – but let’s take it one week at a time with RG3.
Dak Prescott, DAL
Of course Dak Prescott had to be on a streamer list, right? While at this point we have no idea if the preseason superstar can translate that success to when the games actually count, in two-quarterback leagues he’s an excellent signal caller to take a chance on early.
If the rookie QB is going to carry his triumph over into the Fall, he might do it with a bang; the Cowboys luckily face an absolute dumpster fire full of pass defenses over the league’s first four weeks (vs. NYG, @ WAS, vs. CHI, @ SF). Not only should those tasty matchups help you get above-average production out of your second quarterback spot, but if he really makes a statement then you should be able to trade him for a QB whose success might be a little more guaranteed for the rest of the season. It’s definitely looking like Cowboys fans may be calling for a passing of the torch at the game’s most important position...at least for the first month of the season.
Alex Smith, KC
Alex Smith is traditionally the perfect player to use in two-quarterback leagues. He’s not going to put up massive point totals (but actually does, on occasion), but is solid, dependable, and you know exactly what you are going to get. If you’re looking for an ideal streamer for just Week 1, Smith is near the top of the list of attractive candidates.
The Chiefs open up their season in the comfy confines of Arrowhead Stadium against the division rival San Diego Chargers. While the Chargers aren’t a bad team by any means, their pass-defense is projected to take a big step down from 2015. Given the recent news of Jamaal Charles’ injury continuing to linger, it sounds as if there are some questions in Kansas City’s backfield – meaning we could see Smith air it out more than usual. Even if he doesn’t throw the rock more than normal in this game, he’s an attractive streamer play in Week 1 simply on the basis that he’s already a super dependable two-QB league play against a vulnerable defense. He may not have the upside of the two quarterbacks listed above, but he’s also far less likely to lay an egg and crush your Week 1 fantasy hopes.
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