Streaming Quarterbacks: Week 3 Targets

Sep 20, 2016

Welcome back to the wonderful world of streaming quarterbacks. Our primary goal is to avoid disastrous weeks at quarterback, because if we are streaming, we typically have strengths at every other position. While we would love to get 30-point games out of our quarterbacks, streamers know it is more realistic to focus on safe floors from those cheap options.

Brock Osweiler, the QB I called a “close call” in last week’s column, disappointed with only 12.4 points last week, but our others both surpassed 20 points. Jimmy Garoppolo put up 27.4 in less than two full quarters! He was about to become the top pickup of the week, had he not gone out with the shoulder injury.

On the season, our optimal streaming QB is scoring 26.1 points, good enough for QB8 overall. Our streaming choices have scored 20 points or more in 67% of their games through the first two weeks. Not too shabby for a bunch of players you could have gotten for almost free.

As before, I focus on QB points per game and the Vegas implied team totals to determine good QB streamers, then I add in their matchup for the week. For opposing defenses, we utilize Schedule-Adjusted Fantasy Points allowed (aFPA). Note: 4for4’s 2016 aFPA data will first come out after we get three full weeks in the system. For the first three weeks, we are using last year’s data.

To ensure that players are readily available, streaming candidates must be available on at least 40% of waivers in Yahoo leagues.

Week 3 QB Streaming Targets

Ryan Tannehill (MIA) vs. CLE

Here we are again. It’s another week of the 2016 NFL season, so it is another week where we are targeting the Cleveland Browns defense. They have given up nearly 300 yards and 2 TDs in both games so far, after giving up 20.1 aFPA last season. This will be one of the top defenses to target all year. Ryan Tannehill struggled for the first six quarters of 2016, but he and the Dolphins finally got things moving in the second half last week. Tannehill is averaging more than 20 points per game, and I like him in a home matchup where the Dolphins are strong favorites over a Cody Kessler-led Browns squad.

Ryan Tannehill is a clear favorite in my streaming metrics this week, and he’s easily my top pick for Week 3.

Tannehill is available in 71% of Yahoo public leagues, and he is my optimal streaming QB of the week.