3 Fantasy Football Quarterback Streaming Options for Week 5

Let's get right down to it and look at quarterback streaming options for your season-long and DFS lineups.

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 potentially productive quarterbacks in good matchups off the waiver wire is often doable. For some roster constructions, it can even be optimal.

Sure, you won't have the luxury of setting it and forgetting it with Patrick Mahomes as your quarterback, but when the top-end signal-callers draw a tough matchup, their upside can oftentimes be matched by a waiver-wire option in a more favorable situation.

Throughout the season, this column should, will, and must be your go-to resource for identifying quarterbacks to stream in a pinch. Here are three quarterbacks rostered in fewer than roughly 50% of Yahoo leagues who are in solid spots this week.

Week 4 was a smashing success for this column. Recommended stream Sam Darnold finished as the week's highest scorer! And if that doesn't get you fired up, Taylor Heinicke checked in with the fifth-best score. Jacoby Brissett was a flop, surprisingly carrying the ball just three times. Streaming Brissett was predicated on rushing volume, but let's hope you played Heinicke or Darnold instead.

There were two notable quarterback injuries to monitor in Week 4. Jimmy Garoppolo suffered a calf injury that could sideline him multiple weeks or for no time at all depending on which early reports you buy into. Come on down, Trey Lance (maybe)! Meanwhile, Teddy Bridgewater left his game with a concussion, keeping the light on for a Drew Lock appearance. Finally, Matt Nagy continues to say Andy Dalton will be the team's starter once healthy, which could be as soon as this week. Some things just aren't fair.

Let's aim for more streaming goodness in Week 5!

Sam Darnold, Panthers

Roster Percentage: 38%

Folks, Sam Darnold is the QB5 this season. The Carolina Panthers are the eighth-best passing offense, per our schedule-adjusted metrics. I say this every week -- the post-Gase effect is real, and Darnold appears here to stay.

Sure, we can't expect Darnold to run for two touchdowns again, but then again, I said the exact same thing last week and he proved me wrong. Regardless of how sustainable Darnold's rushing touchdown production is, we care more that he's boosting his floor and ceiling with his legs in general.

This week's matchup isn't scary, either. The Philadelphia Eagles rank middle of the pack both in terms of fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks and our metrics. With a clear established connection with star D.J. Moore, there's no reason to think Darnold can't stay hot this week as a 3.5-point home favorite.

We're really just at a point where Darnold's roster percentage doesn't come close to matching his production. Go grab him if you still can.

Trey Lance, 49ers

Roster Percentage: 31%

Cue the Michael Scott Oh-My-God-It's-Happening Gif. While we don't yet have confirmation Jimmy Garoppolo is ruled out, the initial report said it could be a multi-week injury for Jimmy G. But then Monday, Kyle Shanahan said Garoppolo may be back in time for this week. So we'll see.

Obviously, if Garoppolo manages to get the start, we can't comfortably fit Trey Lance in as a streamer. But he's an absolute must pickup for the tantalizing upside he presents if Garoppolo can't go.

Lance managed Week 4's QB14 performance in just a half of football in Garoppolo's stead. More importantly, he carried the rock seven times for 41 yards in his limited action. Shanahan has already shown a willigness to use him as a rusher around the goal line, evidenced by his rushing touchdown in Week 3.

While Lance has plenty of growing to do as a passer, there's no doubting his fantasy ceiling with elite rushing potential, quality weapons and one of the league's best playcallers. He's an auto QB1 stream if Garoppolo is ruled out this week for what should be a high-scoring game against the Arizona Cardinals.

Daniel Jones, Giants

Roster Percentage: 31%

Similar to Darnold above, it's simply time we treat Daniel Jones more like a QB1 and less like a streamer. After all, he's the QB6 so far this year, ahead of Josh Allen and Russell Wilson, among others.

Jones is third among quarterbacks in rushing attempts and yards, with a clear 59-yard gap between him and fourth-place Josh Allen. He's done all of this despite already facing the Denver Broncos, Washington Football Team and New Orleans Saints -- not an easy schedule by any means.

It's fair to question the matchup against the improved Dallas Cowboys defense, which ranks sixth in pass D by our numbers. The Cowboys, however, just permitted 35 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns to Sam Darnold last week, and they gave up another 35 rushing yards to Jalen Hurts the week before.

This matchup could bring fireworks, too. As it currently stands, this game has the third-highest over/under of the entire week. Jones' blah reputation is likely what is keeping him far below what his roster percentage should be based on his production.

If for some reason you can't get Darnold, Lance or Jones in your league this week, Zach Wilson is a fine streaming option for deeper leagues. He plays in a London game against the Atlanta Falcons and their, according to our numbers, 27th-ranked pass D.