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 Two Waiver Wire Streamers

Joe Flacco, BAL

Heading into 2016, fantasy owners rightfully had questions about drafting Joe Flacco. After tearing both his ACL and MCL in Week 11 last season, reports had surfaced this summer that Flacco wouldn’t be 100% to start the year. Fortunately, not only did Flacco hold-up health wise in Week One against Buffalo, he looked great. The veteran QB threw for 258 yards on 34 attempts while completing a whopping 67.65% of his passes. Flacco is an excellent streaming option in Week Two, with some attractive matchups beyond as well.

Up next on the slate for the Ravens is a road matchup with the Cleveland Browns, who made rookie Carson Wentz look like a potential Pro Bowler in his first career game. It’s the Browns – are you that surprised? The Ravens much-improved passing attack should eat Cleveland alive this Sunday. Flacco looks to have immediate chemistry with new deep threat Mike Wallace, while this could also be a breakout game for Brashad Perriman. Flacco doesn’t need to be one-week add either. In Weeks Three through Six, the Ravens head to Jacksonville, take on the Raiders and Redskins at home, then head north to play the Giants. The schedule certainly looks juicy for the tenth-year QB.

Matthew Stafford, DET

Talk about making a statement in Week One. Everyone has heard about Stafford’s numbers since Jim Bob Cooter took over Detroit’s offense last year, but it was still great to see him carry it over into a new season. Of course, it was the Colts and their depleted defense, but we’ll take the stats however we can get them. If Stafford is sitting on your waiver wire, you should consider adding him this week as he has a few attractive matchups upcoming.

The Lions have their home-opener in Week Two against the Titans in front of what should be a raucous crowd. The Titans are coming off a game that saw them surrender 236 yards through the air to Shaun Hill and the Vikings, who by the way, couldn’t get the running game going all day long. It’s a matchup ripe for the picking. If you’re looking beyond next week, Week Three is a bit of a difficult tilt on the road in Green Bay, but Stafford should feast in Weeks Four (@ CHI) and Five (vs. PHI). He has a very realistic shot at jumping back into the every-week QB discussion given his improvements and Detroit’s schedule.

Matt Ryan, ATL

Is Matty Ice back? After Week One’s performance, he just might be. In a disappointing home loss to the Bucs, Ryan completed 27 of 39 passes for 334 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He was big letdown to fantasy owners last season, but that was mainly due to lack of touchdowns. In an offense with more options and plus matchups for the next two weeks, Ryan is a great streamer option.

In Week Two, the Falcons head to Oakland to take on the Raiders’ defense that surrendered 423 yards and four touchdowns to Drew Brees. The Saints are obviously no slouches, but Oakland’s defense is far from stellar themselves. Conversely, the Falcons have a Monday night showdown with Brees and the Saints in New Orleans in Week Three. Much like the Raiders defense, New Orleans’ unit is the opposite of dominant after they gave up 319 yards to a gun-slinging Derek Carr on Sunday. It won’t much for Ryan to be back on the every week QB1 fantasy radar.

Two-QB Leagues - Week Two Waiver Wire Streamers

Jay Cutler, CHI

Jay Cutler’s Week One was far from spectacular, but it wasn’t a total mess either on the road against an elite Houston defense. His 16-for-29 effort for 216 yards and one touchdown was likely far better than what fantasy owners were expecting, and we should be seeing even better results from Cutler over the next few weeks.

In Week Two, the Bears will spend their home opener taking on the Eagles and their less-than-renown defense. RG3 certainly wasn’t able to take advantage of it, but something tells me Cutler has a bit of a better chance. In Week Three, Chicago heads to Dallas and although the Cowboys defense likely isn’t as bad as some predicted, it’s still a plus matchup for a QB like Cutler. Finally, Weeks Four and Five see the Bears facing off with the Lions at home and the Colts on the road, respectively. Incase you’re wondering what kind of matchups those are, please do yourself a favor and check out a box score from the Colts-Lions game on Sunday. In 2-QB leagues, Cutler is a fantastic option, at least for the next few weeks.

Carson Wentz, PHI

Perhaps the most surprising QB performance of Week One was Carson Wentz, who dominated the Browns on a 22-for-37 line with 278 yards and two touchdowns. Oh wait…he was playing the Browns. Nevermind, not surprising. But, impressive nonetheless for a rookie quarterback making his first start not long after learning that he was in fact the starter once Sam Bradford was traded.

One great thing about Wentz’ start was how in sync he looked with Jordan Mathews. It’s important for any rookie quarterback to have a guy they can rely on, and Mathews seemed to be that player very early on for Wentz. Another reason to stream Wentz in Week Two is his favorable opponent – the Eagles are on the road in Chicago to face the weak Bears’ defense. The book will be out on Wentz soon enough and he’s not going to be a streamer option week in and week out, but for now he’s an excellent QB2 streamer option.

Marcus Mariota, TEN

By averaging only 6.6 yards per-attempt against the Vikings in Week One, Marcus Mariota did not look the part of a franchise NFL QB. Fortunately for fantasy owners, yards-per-attempt isn’t a statistic that matters from week to week. The stats that did matter on Sunday were Mariota’s 271 passing yards and two touchdowns, as well as the additional 19 yards he picked up on the ground. Who said you needed to be a great real life QB to be useful for fantasy purposes?

For the next two weeks, Mariota looks like a solid streamer option in two-quarterback leagues. In Week Two, the Titans head up to the Detroit in what could end up being a high-scoring affair. Following that, Tennessee heads home to take on the Raiders (their defense has been touched upon plenty in the paragraphs above). If you’re really looking ahead, the Titans have the misfortune of playing the Texans in Week Four and Miami in Week Five, but do get the Browns at home in Week Six. At least for the next two weeks, Mariota is as good a streamer option as any.