Quarterback streaming isn't for everyone, but if you're in a standard league -- like a 10- or 12-team league that features just one starting signal caller -- grabbing productive quarterbacks who have good matchups off the waiver wire is often doable.
Sure, you won't have the luxury of setting it and forgetting it with Drew Brees as your quarterback, but when the top-end signal callers draw a tough matchup, their upside can be matched by a waiver-wire option in a more favorable situation.
If you're looking for some options from the waiver wire -- regardless of league size -- then we have you covered.
Last week, we tabbed Colin Kaepernick as our top streamer, and he delivered with 22.22 points, finishing as QB8 for the week. Considering he threw for 398 yards, he was probably a little unlucky not to post better fantasy numbers, but we'll take it. For the year, our top streamer has turned in a top-10 weekly finish in five of nine weeks, and our weekly average of 19.35 points ranks eighth among all passers.
Sam Bradford, one of our other recommendations last week, was QB14, while Ryan Tannehill struggled to a QB25 finish despite a great matchup.
This week, it's a streamer's delight as there are a trio of delectable options. With that said, let's dig into the top choices for Week 10 among quarterbacks owned in less than 30% of ESPN leagues.
Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens
ESPN Ownership: 26.3%
It's very difficult to choose between Jay Cutler and Joe Flacco for the top spot. Both have superb matchups, but I'll lean toward Flacco for his home game against the Cleveland Browns, who are allowing the third-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.
The Baltimore Ravens are huge 10-point favorites with an implied total of 27.5 points. That alone makes Flacco extremely attractive, but throughout his career, Flacco has proven he is much more likely to produce a good fantasy day in a win.
| Completion Percentage | Adjusted Yards/Att | TD | INT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wins | 63.01% | 7.62 | 107 | 39 |
| Losses | 58.38% | 6.01 | 61 | 70 |
The numbers are screaming at us to start Flacco -- who our projections have as this week's 11th-ranked quarterback -- when he's a big favorite, and we should oblige.
One last thing: as our own JJ Zachariason pointed out earlier today, Flacco is due for some positive touchdown regression. Flacco's fantasy numbers have been bogged down by some bad touchdown luck. He's on pace to throw for 4,000 yards and a meager 12 scores. Every signal caller in NFL history to throw for 4,000 yards in a season has also tossed at least 17 scores that year.
Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears
ESPN Ownership: 3.6%
Cutler is also in a very enticing spot, getting a road game at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and there is probably an argument to be made that he has a higher ceiling than Flacco does.
What does Matt Ryan's big Week 9 output have in common with Derek Carr's Week 8 explosion? Well, other than each outing ranking as the top-scoring quarterback performance of their respective weeks, both explosions came against the Bucs.
No, Cutler isn't as good as Carr or Ryan are, but he can put up great numbers in this spot -- and that's all we care about in the stream life.
Cutler is coming off an outstanding showing against the Minnesota Vikings. He lit up one of the league's top defenses for 0.40 Passing Net Expected Points (NEP) per drop back in his last game -- he was basically Tom Brady for one game -- and Tampa Bay has allowed the seventh-most points to fantasy signal callers.
As an added bonus, Cutler was better on the road last season. Away from home in 2015, he threw for 7.76 adjusted yards per attempt with 12 scores and 3 picks, compared to 7.08 adjusted yards per attempt, 9 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions at Soldier Field.
Alex Smith, Kansas City Chiefs
ESPN Ownership: 25.5%
Alex Smith missed out on a juicy home matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars last week, but he's expected to return this week. Awaiting him is an almost-as-good spot as the Kansas City Chiefs travel to the Carolina Panthers.
Carolina is clearly not the same pass defense they were during their run to the Super Bowl a season ago. In 2015, Carolina's pass defense ranked second, according to our schedule-adjusted metrics. This year, they rank 19th, and they've surrendered the 6th-most fantasy points to quarterbacks.
The Chiefs' implied total is 20.5 points, and they are 3-point underdogs. Per usual, Smith's ceiling is as boring as his floor is safe, but he's a fine option if you're in a pinch, especially in two-quarterback formats.