RotoBallers,
Welcome back. As always this column will aim to highlight Week 10 waiver wire adds and streamers 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 10 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 (Andrew.bua@gmail.com), tweet (@Andrew_Bua), or reach out on Reddit (/u/CitiStrikeouts).
One-QB Leagues - Week 10 Waiver Wire Streamers
Caron Wentz, PHI (47% owned)
If you’re a frequent reader of this column, you’d probably realize that this is the third straight week Carson Wentz makes our QB streamer list for one-quarterback leagues. That recommendation didn’t work out so well in Week 8 against Dallas, but in Week 9 Wentz at least delivered from a yards perspective (364, despite two interceptions) at the Meadowlands against the Giants. Next week, Wentz gets his easiest matchup yet.
No, it’s not the Browns (but it might as well be). Wentz and the Eagles get to take on the Atlanta Falcons at home, who are surrendering a league-worst 289.6 passing yards-per-game. As if this wasn’t enough of a no-brainer, the Falcons are at the top of the list in QB fantasy points allowed with a weekly average of 22.24 in standard scoring leagues. To make matters worse, in each of the last two weeks alone the Falcons have allowed a minimum of three touchdown passes (Jameis Winston put up three last Thursday while Aaron Rodgers threw four in Week 8). Wentz is due for a big bounceback after a bit of a rookie wall-type stretch, and there’s little doubt that effort is coming this Sunday.
Joe Flacco, BAL (45% owned)
Much like Carson Wentz above, Joe Flacco has seen his name pop up on our QB streamer list quite a bit. His matchups have been very appealing, despite some lackluster results in some of those. He had a nice post-bye effort against Pittsburgh in Week 9, throwing for 241 yards and a score. Perhaps most importantly, his shoulder didn’t seem to be giving him any issues. In Week 10, Flacco should hit it big.
Scroll up two paragraphs where we said the attractive matchup for Wentz wasn’t the Browns. Well, now you have the Browns. The same Browns who are allowing 275.2 passing yards per game. The same Browns who surrendered 247 yards and three touchdown passes to Dak Prescott in Week 9. The same Browns who have allowed multiple touchdown passes in eight out of nine weeks (with the only outlier being, surprise surprise, Ryan Fitzpatrick – who still threw for one). The same Browns who have allowed three touchdown passes in five out of nine games. Yes, those Browns. Need we say more? Start Flacco with confidence.
Alex Smith, KC (52% owned)
Alex Smith may have missed Week 9 with a concussion-but-maybe-not-a-concussion-type injury, but as of now it looks as though he’ll be ready to go for Week 10 as he should be fully recovered from the concussion-but-maybe-not-a-concussion-type injury. Nick Foles filled in admirably against Jacksonville, but his very Alex Smith-ian 20-for-33 for 187 yards line probably means Smith will be back under center.
Assuming Smith does return to action this Sunday, he’ll have a nice gift waiting for him in the Carolina Panthers. A few months ago, the thought of streaming Alex Smith in Carolina would have meant I shouldn’t be writing this article. The times, they have a-changed (along with Josh Norman’s NFL team). The Panthers have allowed a minimum of 296 yards in each of the last three weeks (the 296 was to Case Keenum), and had allowed at least three touchdown passes in three out of four games prior to Week 9 (including four in two of them). They are a defense that is ripe for the picking, despite playing this one at home. With Alex Smith throwing a career-best 234 yards-per-game, he is a must start if you’re in need of a streamer in one-quarterback leagues for Week 10.
Two-QB Leagues - Week 10 Waiver Wire Streamers
Jay Cutler, CHI (25% owned)
Well, well, well, here’s a name we haven’t seen in awhile. Jay Cutler made an unexpected triumphant return to action in Week 8 against the (formerly?) stout Minnesota Vikings’ defense by throwing for 252 yards and a score in Chicago’s 20-10 victory. After a Week 9 bye, the Bears should be well-rested for a favorable matchup in Tampa Bay.
Anyone recall how Tampa Bay has fared against opposing quarterback lately? Anyone? How about 344 yards and four touchdowns to Matt Ryan in Week 9. Okay, isolated incident, right? Nope – Week 8 saw the Bucs allow an incredible 513 yards and four touchdowns to Derek Carr. Prior to that, they may have held Colin Kapernick in check (as if that’s an accomplishment), but surrendered 278 yards to Derek Anderson in Week 5. Against quarterbacks who aren’t at the bottom of the barrel, this defense has gotten wrecked. For all the flack Jay Cutler takes (deservedly so), we know he is a gunslinger who can put up yards and scores (…and turnovers). Normally he’d be in the QB1 streamer range, but given his low ownership rate you’re in an excellent position to nab a better player at the QB1 spot (if necessary) and have a major advantage at QB2 with Cutler.
Case Keenum, LA (13% owned)
If you were going to make a list of the quarterbacks who have been sneakily productive (from a fantasy perspective) in 2016, Case Keenum might just top the list. The overall stats aren’t amazing (244 yards per game, 8:10 TD/INT ratio), but he’s had his instances where he’s put up some numbers. Given what he’s demonstrated thus far, he’s a great QB2 streamer option in Week 10.
Case Keenum and the Rams have the benefit of taking on one of the NFL’s worst pass defense, the New York Jets, in Week 10. The Jets did a nice job against Ryan Tannehill in Week 9, but it was their first solid effort in awhile. Prior to that, they had allowed a minimum of 248 yards (including 300+) in four out of five games. Keenum himself has been on a bit of a role lately; he’s thrown for at least 266 yards in four straight games and just two games ago managed 321 yards and three touchdown passes. He may not be a sexy name at the position, but he’s one who should get the job done as a two-quarterback league streamer in Week 10.
Trevor Siemian, DEN (27% owned)
As of this writing, Trevor Siemian looks to be waking up a bit against the Oakland Raiders as he’s completed a few passes in a row and sits 8-for-16 with 107 yards and a 36-yard touchdown strike to Jordan Norwood. We know Siemian hasn’t been great, but QB2 streamers are QB2 streamers for a reason – they aren’t owned much and have a great matchup.
What is that matchup, you ask? The New Orleans Saints at the Superdome, a place where shootouts are the norm regardless of who the Saints’ opposition may be. The Saints’ Week 9 matchup may not have been in New Orleans, but don’t tell their defense that as they somehow allowed 398 yards and two touchdowns to Colin Kaepernick (along with another 23 yards on the ground). Incase you haven’t been paying attention much, if you’re streaming defenses, one of the first ones you should look at is whoever is playing Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers. Alas, not even that could save the Saints. Prior to Week 9, they allowed at least 253 passing yards in three out of four games (including 321+ in two of them). If Siemian collapses against Oakland, it’s entirely possible we see Paxton Lynch under center next week. Regardless of who Denver’s quarterback is, if you’re in need of a streamer in two-quarterback leagues, each will provide you a higher ceiling (but likely a lower floor) than most options for the spot.
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