Streaming Quarterbacks: Week 7 Targets

Oct 18, 2016

Where have the touchdowns gone? Two of our three QBs were held scoreless in Week 6, and it meant dreadful results for our streaming choices. Brian Hoyer threw for more than 300 yards for the fourth straight game, but he didn’t get in the end zone. Alex Smith, in an optimal matchup, saw his team win big with three rushing touchdowns, but like Hoyer, he did not score himself.

On the flip side, Marcus Mariota had a massive week, scoring 33.8 fantasy points. He torched a dreadful Cleveland Browns offense, and he benefited from the return of Kendall Wright to the offense. With some good and some bad, we still have good results for the season. Remember, we're getting these QBs for free, and we're still putting up borderline QB1/QB2 numbers.

On the season, our optimal streaming QB is scoring 22.32 points, good enough for QB10 overall. Our streaming choices have scored 19.64 points on average through six weeks. That works out to QB14.

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).

Week 7 QB Streaming Targets

Alex Smith (KC) vs. NO

Alex Smith burned us last week, but the team around him looked good. Now, he faces a fabulous matchup, hosting the New Orleans Saints. Smith is averaging 16.28 fantasy points per game, but I expect he’ll be a very safe option this week in a plus matchup. The Saints are giving up 16.8 aFPA to opposing quarterbacks, and Vegas right now gives the Chiefs a crazy-high 28.25 implied team total. Look for Smith to bounce back.

Smith is available in 63.9% of ESPN public leagues, and he is my optimal QB streamer of the week.