3 Fantasy Football Quarterback Streaming Options for Week 9

I take no pleasure in reporting it's already Week 9. Please, just try to be brave.

Let's look at quarterback streaming options for your season-long 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. I'll recommend quarterbacks rostered in fewer than roughly 50% of Yahoo leagues who are in solid spots this week.

Week 8 Recap and Situations to Monitor

Week 8 was a mostly strong week for the streaming hashtag process. Top streaming recommendation Carson Wentz put up a top-12 fantasy performance, and Daniel Jones finished the week just behind as the QB13. Teddy Bridgewater was unable to take advantage of a good matchup, registering as the QB22 on the week.

There are several notable injury situations developing at quarterback. Sam Darnold, a frequent guest of this column, left late with a concussion, so his status is up in the air as of now. Dak Prescott (calf) seems to be trending in the right direction to play this Sunday, but it's possible the team doesn't -- pun intended -- rush him back after Cooper Rush acquitted himself well in Week 8.

Jameis Winston sadly tore his ACL and is done for the season. Taysom Hill has also been out with a concussion, hence why Trevor Siemian stepped in after Winston left the game, but Hill should be cleared this week and resume starter's duties.

Kyler Murray suffered a sprained ankle in Thursday's loss and is "day-to-day." He's probably the most important situation to monitor, and Murray managers should have a backup plan in place.

Speaking of "day-to-day," that's also the current designation for Tyrod Taylor. Considering the Houston Texans are on bye in Week 10, it likely makes the most sense to give Davis Mills one more start before Taylor returns after the bye.

We'll be missing Tom Brady, Taylor Heinicke, Jared Goff, and Geno Smith to byes this week as well.

Let's aim for more streaming goodness in Week 9!

Taysom Hill, Saints

Roster Percentage: 3%

For those of you playing in superflex (or two-quarterback) leagues, it's time to empty the FAAB wallets on Taysom Hill. Given his rushing ability and offensive scheme, he has potentially league-winning upside in that format.

Regardless of format, he's a great streaming candidate this week provided he's able to clear concussion protocol. As mentioned above, he's on track to do so.

Last year, Hill started for a four-game span while Drew Brees was injured. Over that span he averaged 21.6 fantasy points per game, throwing for two passing touchdowns in two of those starts and rushing for two touchdowns in the other two. He was the QB8 over that span.

It's that rushing value we care so much about. As a starter, his per-game averages were 9.8 carries, 52.3 rushing yards, and 1 rushing touchdown. Holy Konami code.

Now, Hill faces the Atlanta Falcons. In two starts against them last year, he scored 24.2 (QB4) and 23.6 (QB8) fantasy points. Even after a positive performance Sunday, Atlanta ranks 27th in schedule-adjusted defense, per numberFire’s metrics. They rank 30th against the pass, have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks, and have permitted the fourth-most rushing yards to quarterbacks this season.

Taysom is a confident streaming option and DFS cash game consideration if he's able to clear the concussion protocol this week.

Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins

Roster Percentage: 36%

It feels like Tua Tagovailoa is one of the more underrated quarterbacks in fantasy football right now. Tua has shown a stable floor, scoring at least 16.2 fantasy points in every start so far this year, and he's averaging 21.1 fantasy points per game. That average would rank him as the QB10 on a per-game basis this year, despite playing without a fully healthy pass-catching corps even once.

This week, Tua gets to face the Houston Texans and their 29th-ranked schedule-adjusted defense, per numberFire’s metrics. Matchups just don't get much better than this.

Tua has supplemented his fantasy value by averaging 3.8 carries per start, and he's used those carries to punch in two rushing touchdowns. Of note: Houston has allowed four rushing touchdowns to quarterbacks this year -- tied for the most in the league.

The Miami Dolphins have the eighth-highest implied team total this week, while Tua checks in with our 10th-best projection among quarterbacks. Stream Tua with confidence once again.

Daniel Jones, Giants

Roster Percentage: 49%

I just can't seem to quit Daniel Jones. Jones has cooled off from his torrid stretch to start the year, but as discussed last week, a string of tough matchups combined with numerous skill position injuries make for an easy explanation.

Jones has found his floor again, though. He's scored 17 fantasy points in consecutive weeks. This week he gets a Las Vegas Raiders defense that checks in as a serious run-funnel, grading 3rd-best against the run, but they are just 23rd against the pass according to numberFire's schedule-adjusted metrics.

The floor is admittedly a bit low here. Las Vegas rushes the passer well, and the Giants are missing several starters on the offensive line. It's too early in the week to know if Sterling Shepard, Kenny Golladay, or Saquon Barkley will play, and it's possible Evan Engram is traded this week. Having Kadarius Toney and Darius Slayton back helps offset those losses a bit.

It's notable, however, that Las Vegas has allowed the sixth-most rushing yards to quarterbacks despite already having a bye week. We have Jones projected as the 12th-best quarterback on the week. Despite the low floor, Jones' legs and the matchup give him a path to a ceiling game. If he can get more pass-catchers healthy, his floor will rise accordingly, too.