November 1, 2016

Andrew Bua's top QB waiver wire pickups and fantasy football streamers for Week 9 of the NFL Season. Target these single-QB and two-QB streamers in your leagues.

RotoBallers,

Welcome back. As always this column will aim to highlight Week 9 waiver wire adds for quarterbacks, players that you should consider targeting on your league's waiver wire.

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?

Editor's Note: Once you're done here, be sure to read about even more Week 9 waiver wire recommendations, for all fantasy-relevant positions. Just click on any link: ALL - RB - WR - TE - QB - DEF - FAAB - CUTS

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 to not 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 9 Waiver Wire Streamers

Ryan Tannehill, MIA (51% owned)

As opposed to last week when legitimate streamer quarterback options were tough to choose from with six teams on bye, streaming options are plentiful despite having another six teams with a week of rest. The list is headed by Ryan Tannehill, who should be a very popular pickup this week with only a 51% ownership rate and a home date with the Jets.

The Jets secondary is essentially a dream matchup for any quarterback nowadays, but in Week 9 we could see the Ryan Tannehill that everyone was hoping to see this year. The Dolphins will be well-rested after a Week 8 bye, and that comes with the team riding major highs as the offense hit their stride against Pittsburgh and Baltimore in Weeks 6 and 7 (including Tannehill completing 24 of 32 passes for 252 years against the Steelers). Josh McCown predictably destroyed the Jets pass defense in Week 9, throwing for 341 yards and two scores – that also entailed victimizing Darrelle Revis all game long. Given that the Jets should keep Jay Ajayi in check (or at least, under 200 yards), Tannehill will likely be throwing the ball more often. In theory, that should translate to utilizing Kenny Stills big time against the Jets pathetic deep ball defense (looking at you, Revis). Given all of the above, Tannehill is an excellent fill-in option for those in need.

Dak Prescott, DAL (65% owned)

Dak Prescott has been an acceptable streamer option just about all year long, and as such has seen his ownership rate rise from 52% just four weeks ago to 65% today. Considering the majority of that ownership is likely in two-quarterback leagues, he should be a top streaming consideration in one-quarterback leagues when the Cowboys have the fortune of taking on the Browns.

Another week, another quarterback listed in this article who is taking on the Browns. Not that it's unwarranted, of course – they are the Browns for a reason. Owners of the NFL’s 29^th-ranked pass defense, Cleveland has been a doormat for just about every opposing offense they've faced. That includes the turnover-prone Ryan Fitzpatrick, who had a big second-half against the Browns in Week 8 despite a stat line that didn’t tell the full story (perhaps most telling is the fact that Browns didn’t goad him into any turnovers). Meanwhile (as if it makes a difference against Cleveland’s defense), Prescott should prove to be a duel threat nightmare that confuses the Browns moreso than they usually are. He’s picked up a rushing score in four out of his last six games, and has thrown for multiple scores in three of his last four. You won’t find many better QB1 streaming options for Week 9.

Joe Flacco, BAL (44% owned)

For better or worse, Joe Flacco pops up on this list for the fifth time this year. Unfortunately, that recommendation hasn’t worked out most of the time as Flacco continues to throw for an above-average amount of yards, yet has been lacking in touchdowns. There’s a good chance his shoulder injury has something to do with that, but after utilizing the Ravens’ Week 8 bye to heal up Flacco has an excellent chance to rebound in Week 9.

Flacco and the Ravens get the Steelers at home in Week 9, which is great for Ravens fans as Flacco generally steps up his game when facing their arch rivals. Even more fortunate, this time for both Ravens fans and fantasy owners alike streaming Flacco on Sunday, is how bad the Steelers have been against the pass. Pittsburgh has the NFL’s 28^th-ranked pass defense, and have surrendered at least 252 yards through the air in six out of seven games this year (including 300+ in three of them). That actually should be seven games out of seven - in Week 7 before their bye, the Steelers only allowed 222 yards to Tom Brady but the Pats got out to a huge lead early and shifted to a more run-focused gameplan as the game went along. That trend should continue on Sunday to Joe Flacco’s benefit.

Two-QB Leagues - Week 9 Waiver Wire Streamers

Carson Wentz, PHI (50% owned)

Before getting into Carson Wentz’s Week 9 matchup, it should be noted this is being written prior to the Eagles-Cowboys game on Sunday night. As such, keep that in mind when considering the following analysis.

Carson Wentz has struggled as of late, but given the Eagles’ upcoming soft schedule it looks as though those struggles will be coming to an end. He faced tough defenses in Weeks 6 and 7 (Washington and Minnesota) before getting the Cowboys very beatable squad in Week 8. He takes on another weak secondary in Week 9 when the Eagles head to the Meadowlands to take on the Giants.

Since Week 2, the Giants have allowed at least 262 yards in each game. Perhaps a more alarming sign, the G-Men have allowed 307 and 291 yards to Joe Flacco and Case Keenum, respectively, in their last two games. They may have tried to use the bye week to shore things up, but that doesn’t change the overall lack of talent the team is trotting out in the secondary. We’ve already seen that Wentz can put up some numbers when given the opportunity, and there is little doubt he will have the opportunity this Sunday. In two-quarterback leagues, you could do a lot worse than taking a shot on Wentz in Week 9.

Sam Bradford, MIN (34% owned)

Sam Bradford has surprisingly had a resurgent 2016, completing 67.5% of his passes for 1,214 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception. What's even more impressive is that he's done it against a few defenses ranking near the top of league, including Houston and Philadelphia. In Week 9, things finally start to ease up for Bradford when the Vikings draw the Lions in Minnesota.

While other teams have surrendered more yards through the air than Detroit, the Lions have the distinction of allowing the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks with an average of 23.74 points per-week. Brock Osweiler didn’t get the job done against them in Week 8, but Brock Osweiler has had a tough job getting it done against anyone. Prior to that gift, the Lions allowed Case Keenum and Kirk Cousins to toss 321 and 301 yards, respectively (with a rushing score to each of them as well). In a season that has seen Bradford operate with extreme efficiency, Detroit’s defense is one that is prime to be picked apart by the first overall pick from the 2010 NFL Draft.

Trevor Siemian, DEN (27% owned)

Although Trevor Siemian hasn’t exactly been putting up big numbers, his style of play has been exactly what Denver has needed with a strong run game and stout defense. In Week 9, however, the Broncos have the benefit of taking on the Raiders 32^nd-ranked pass defense, thus giving Siemian has a chance to be more than just a game manager.

If you need us to tell you Oakland’s defense is bad, then you probably shouldn’t be playing fantasy football to begin with. However, in a shocking twist of events they’ve actually been halfway decent their last three games – allowing 224, 246, and 180 yards to Alex Smith, Blake Bortles, and Jameis Winston, respectively. Regardless of the recent string of good luck, they aren’t fooling anyone. Aside from yards allowed, the Raiders have given up the third-most touchdown passes in the league with a whopping 17. Given the Raiders inability to keep passes out of the end zone, it won’t take much for Siemian to return value as a QB2 streamer in Week 9.