RADIO
Streaming the quarterback position is just as good of a strategy as anything else that works. If you've managed to string together enough usable QBs on your way to this week's championship round, kudos to you for playing the right matchups.
Now with a title on the line, there are some heavy lineup decisions weighing on us all. Hitching your hopes to the right QB is very much live or die in Week 16.
Traditionally the idea of "streaming" a position implies that you're adding and dropping as much as possible, playing the matchups based on the week. That isn't always the case. It could also mean knowing when to bench a big name for the sneaky play sitting on your bench. We're going to address both situations here so adjust your roster accordingly.
Editor's Note: Identify fantasy football draft busts, overvalued ADPs, and key players to avoid so you can draft with confidence this season.
QB Streamers for Week 16
Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys - Prescott is by far the best quarterback streamer of the week. If you're in a deeper, more competitive league then chances are he's not just sitting there on the waiver wire. Having said that, he's available in 30% of Yahoo leagues right now so there's a sliver of a chance he's out there. Prescott is in prime position to aid you to a championship victory. The Cowboys host the Buccaneers in a dream scenario. For starters, Prescott's home/road splits lean heavily towards playing in Dallas. He averages 22.3 fantasy points per game at home compared to just 13.7 on the road. It's a massive gap that should have played into whether or not you should be starting him in the first place. As an added bonus, the Buccaneers have managed to give up the third-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks all season. They've also given up 30 passing touchdowns over the year. Only the Raiders have given up more at 32. It doesn't get much easier than this. Prescott is a borderline top-five play this week. I'd start him over the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Philip Rivers, Jared Goff, and Matt Ryan.
Mitch Trubisky, Chicago Bears - Another player who isn't quite readily available as a pickup, Mitchell Trubisky is in a similar situation as Prescott. Trubisky faces the San Francisco 49ers team this week, an opponent who is marginally better than the Buccaneers. The 49ers have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing QBs. They have only held their opponents to under two passing touchdowns three times all year. They're basically giving away free passing stats. I wouldn't go quite as high on Trubisky as I would Dak, but he's still a back-end top-10 play. Consensus rankers have Rodgers sitting at QB9 for the week, and that's right about where I'd put Trubisky. I myself have to make that exact lineup decision, and I'll admit I'm still on the fence. I'm leaning towards going the safe route and playing Trubisky just in case Rodgers' injury woes catch up to him, limiting his upside. That says it all for how strongly you should consider rolling with Mitch.
Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns - Talk about trying to ride the hot hand...I cannot believe we are addressing Baker Mayfield as a potential championship-winning option but here we are. Mayfield had a strong stretch from Weeks 9-12, totaling at least 20 fantasy points over three games. (The Browns had a bye in Week 11.) Unfortunately, he hasn't hit that 20-point mark since. Still, a matchup against the lifeless Cincinnati Bengals makes him a decent option this week. May I interest you in a Bengals team that is dead last in stopping the pass? No one has given up more fantasy points to quarterbacks than Cincinnati. This is a cakewalk of a matchup for a rejuvenated Browns team leaning on their QB of the future. I wouldn't blame you if you've been fed up with the mediocrity that is Tom Brady and Kirk Cousins this year. Throw Baker out there instead.
Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills - Since coming out of Buffalo's bye in Week 11, Josh Allen is the number one quarterback in fantasy. I am going to repeat and rephrase that statistic in case you misunderstood me. Over the course of the last four games, Josh Allen (yes, that one, the one on the Bills) is the number one quarterback in fantasy. Facts are facts, and as jarring as that one is, we can't change reality. Available in 27% of leagues, Josh Allen is the easiest quarterback to acquire this week. Some might be looking at a road game in New England and get scared off, but the Patriots defense has been below average all season, especially against the pass. They are bottom 10 in every passing defense statistic. Believe it or not, Allen is in a great spot to keep things rolling through championship week.
