If you’ve made it this far as a QB streamer, tip of the cap to you! This strategy requires some creativity, but if you’re still fighting for a fantasy football title, the odds are that you’ve gotten good at it!
Here is a trio of quarterbacks to consider when looking ahead to your Week 16 starting lineup. There is risk involved across the board, though there are some positive trends to give you some confidence!
Top QB Streamers for Week 16
Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. Jaguars)
Mayfield gave QB streamers his best effort of the season against the Packers (22 of 28 for 381 yards and four touchdowns) last week, giving him consecutive 20-point games for the first time this season.
Was last week the exploitation of a good matchup or a sign of things to come? Probably more the former, but taking good form into a matchup against a strong offense is about as good of an outlook as you can hope for at this point.
A ceiling game like this is unlikely to be repeated in a more difficult matchup, but with multiple TD passes in six of his past eight games, the floor is stable by streaming standards.
With him unlocking Chris Godwin (10 catches for 155 yards), there’s plenty of potential to chase.
Nick Mullens, Minnesota Vikings (vs. Lions)
There were a pair of mistakes in the Saturday loss to the Rams, but by completing 26 of 33 passes for 303 yards and two touchdowns, the good certainly outweighs the bad.
The most encouraging part of his big Week 15 performance, for me, was how we got there. He didn’t rely on Justin Jefferson making massive plays after the catch or dump off 10 passes to T.J. Hockenson.
MORE: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
Sure, that dynamic duo resulted in half of his completions, but the bulk of fantasy numbers came on the six passes he directed toward Jordan Addison (111 yards and two touchdowns).
If he is that comfortable in his third option, there is upside left to access should one of his elite playmakers make a splash play or two. Mullens ranks outside of my top 15, but it’s not hard to envision this weatherproof game shooting out, and that puts Mullens in a nice spot to build on the success he had in his first start of the season.
Jake Browning, Cincinnati Bengals (at Steelers)
Browning has made four starts this season, and in those games, he’s completed 76% of his passes. Some will dismiss what he is doing due to the dink-and-dunk nature of it, but he has put his playmakers in a position to succeed when it matters most (just ask Tee Higgins managers), and that’s all we can ask for.
His first career start came against these Steelers, and he was fine (19 of 26 for 227 yards with a touchdown and an interception), but that was a game without Higgins and much support from the ground game.
Not only is Higgins back in the mix, but the Steelers gave up 157 rushing yards to a pair of backup Colt RBs last week after coughing up 20+ points to James Conner and Ezekiel Elliott in their two games prior.
This Steelers defense is trending in the wrong direction, and a highly efficient passer like Browning could well extend those struggles.
Week 16 QB Rankings
Come back for our full Week 16 QB rankings as we sort through various injuries down the board.
1. Josh Allen | BUF (at LAC)
2. Jalen Hurts | PHI (vs. NYG)
3. Dak Prescott | DAL (at MIA)
4. Patrick Mahomes | KC (vs. LV)
5. Lamar Jackson | BAL (at SF)
6. Brock Purdy | SF (vs. BAL)
7. Justin Fields | CHI (vs. ARI)
8. Trevor Lawrence | JAX (at TB)
9. Kyler Murray | ARI (at CHI)
10. Jared Goff | DET (at MIN)
11. Tua Tagovailoa | MIA (vs. DAL)
12. Matthew Stafford | LAR (vs. NO)
13. C.J. Stroud | HOU (vs. CLE)
14. Jordan Love | GB (at CAR)
15. Sam Howell | WAS (at NYJ)
Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!
