Fantasy Football: Quarterback Streaming and Draft Guide
By Perry Lowe
Fantasy Football: Drafting Quarterbacks Late and “Streaming”
Streaming quarterbacks is one of my most effective fantasy football strategies. This strategy is particularly effective in larger leagues. The strategy of quarterback streaming has taken plenty of my fantasy teams deep into the playoffs and in many cases all the way to the championship. There are a few steps that must be followed to effectively stream quarterbacks throughout the season. The steps below will assist you in making better weekly starts and help you win your fantasy league.
Quarterback Streaming simplified
The basic concept of streaming a position is to make a new waiver addition each week based upon availability and match-up. When picked correctly a quarterback who is streamed can be nearly as effective or more effective than your opponents starter. The reason why streaming is effective is quite simple. While drafting players are often forced to choose one of two paths.
The first option is to draft a lower tier quarterback in the late rounds of their draft. If the player opts to select a quarterback early they must sacrifice value elsewhere. Streaming solves both of these problems because you will not select a quarterback until later in the draft. When drafting it is best to choose a quarterback for streaming based upon their week one match-up. Taking a quarterback later will give your team stronger players at other positions and more overall value.
Next: Can you wait to draft a QB?
Do not Overdraft
No matter what type of league you play in streaming at the quarterback position is one of the most effective strategies. While drafting it is best to wait until later to draft a quarterback. To put this in perspective the difference between a quarterback in the first six rounds and the last six rounds is not very large. Last season the difference between quarterbacks six and eleven is only 22 points. Over the course of a season that equates out to less than two points a game. Taking a much more viable running back or wide receiver is much more strategic than overspending on a quarterback early in your draft.
When Not to draft a Quarterback
As previously explained the concept of taking a quarterback early comes at the price of another valuable position player. Although quarterbacks such as Russell Wilson and Andrew Luck appear to be valuable when being taken in the third or fourth round, the players around them are still far more valuable at their positions. Wilson is currently being drafted before valuable wide receivers such as Keenan Allen, Demaryius Thomas, and Julian Edelman. Based upon previous picks a running back may make more sense in the fourth round, taking Matt Forte, Carlos Hyde, or CJ Anderson will certainly make your team better than selecting Wilson or Luck this early in a draft.
Later in drafts viable options at the quarterback position such as Philip Rivers, Eli Manning, and Blake Bortles can be selected when the positional values have lowered significantly. In the eighth round of a ten team draft Bortles, Manning, and Rivers are regularly selected. Rivers and Manning have both been consistent throughout their many years of playing. Bortles had a breakout year last season but is still being drafted extremely late in drafts. All three of these quarterbacks are viable options and will likely finish inside the top ten. Although these names may not sound as great as some of the other top tier quarterbacks, the draft selections taken in the earlier rounds will make the difference throughout the season.
General Strategy
Last season the New Orleans Saints and New York Giants gave up the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Generally quarterbacks playing against New Orleans or New York are options to start however the value of taking a quarterback later is the ability to have a different starter every week. Quarterbacks battling the Browns or Titans are also options to start on a weekly basis.
Next: Week 1 Options
Week 1 Streamer (Value Pick in Drafts)
Jameis Winston is currently owned in only 46% of ESPN fantasy leagues and is a steal in the late rounds.
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Winston may not be a great option to start throughout the season due to the strength of schedule but going into week 1 I would not hesitate to draft Winston late and make the spot start. Last season Winston finished his games against Atlanta with 19 and 18 points respectively. If you have not drafted you can currently draft Winston in the 12th or 13th round. If you have already had your draft and your starter is matched up with a difficult defense Winston can certainly fill the gap in week 1. Some other options are
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Week 1 Streaming Options
- Jameis Winston vs Atlanta
- Teddy Bridgewater vs Tennessee
- Sam Bradford vs Cleveland
- Matt Ryan vs Tampa Bay
I highly encourage any readers to start any of those four players listed above. Please note I have ranked these players in order based on who I believe will score the most points. Although all can be used Winston and Bridgewater are the better options of the four. Last season I found this strategy to be highly effective and it ultimately led me to two championships in three leagues. Streaming at the quarterback position has become one of my most effective fantasy strategies.
Next: Top Fantasy Football Sleepers
I highly encourage all readers to utilize the simple strategy. Be sure to check back throughout the season for weekly starters!