This time of year takes on a different tone when it comes to fantasy football QB streamers. It’s unlikely that you’re canvasing the waiver wire to fill in a hole in your Super Bowl roster, but it’s not impossible.
With that in mind, here are QBs that I have ranked higher than normal in three different tiers.
- Likely rostered, not always started
- Likely available, legitimate Week 17 potential
- Deep-league Hail Mary
Top QB Streamers for Week 17
Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos (vs. Chargers)
We saw this matchup in Week 14, and Russell Wilson was only able to muster a QB18 finish (224 passing yards, two touchdowns, and one interception), but I liked what I saw from him as a passer in that spot.
He spread the ball around in that 24-7 win (10 different players saw a target and six of them saw at least three looks) and was effective in the short-pass game (5.1 aDOT). Wilson rarely is that conservative, especially against a bottom-five defense in terms of yards per pass, so I think it’s reasonable to assume that he is a little more aggressive in the second meeting.
Not only do Wilson’s trends point toward more aggression, but those of the Los Angeles Chargers do as well. They were victimized by the previously quiet Gabe Davis on Saturday night (four catches for 130 yards and a touchdown on a 28.6% target share), and with their low pressure rate, the deep ball opportunities are almost assuredly going to be there.
Does he connect? That is the difference between a good and great game, but the floor is enough to keep him on my radar in this must-win week.
Joe Flacco, Cleveland Browns (vs. Jets)
How weird has this season been? Playing a 38-year-old Joe Flacco against one of the best defenses in the league isn’t off the table!
The wily veteran has cleared 250 passing yards in all four of his starts, firing multiple touchdown passes in each of those games. This Cleveland Browns roster isn’t loaded with playmakers, but Joe Cool has a 40-yard completion in each of those games!
MORE: PFN Consensus Rankings
Is this matchup prohibitive? Of course, it is, but with the New York Jets rarely blitzing and the Browns determined to stretch the field, there’s an avenue to overcoming a difficult spot.
The YOLO stylings of Flacco are far from a stable source of fantasy goodness, but the path to — dare I say — “elite” potential is there; and if you’re streaming the position at this point in the season, that’s what you’re chasing.
Gardner Minshew II, Indianapolis Colts (vs. Raiders)
We’ve seen Gardner Minshew II produce a few ceiling performances this season, and this isn’t a bad spot against a bottom-five defense in terms of completion percentage. Given the path of Michael Pittman Jr.’s health status last week, it stands to reason that Minshew has his WR1 back for this game, and that paves to way to a reasonable floor/ceiling projection.
This Indianapolis Colts offense is built around the ground game, and with Jonathan Taylor active, the Las Vegas Raiders figure to approach this matchup like most: load up the box and take your chances. Taylor’s efficiency splits are very different when it comes to an extra defender in the box, and if Vegas elects to take away Indianapolis’ greatest strength, Minshew could very well replicate something similar to what he did against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans earlier this month (over 7.0 yards per pass with multiple TD passes).
Come back for our full Week 17 QB rankings as we sort through updated data and health news throughout the week!
1. Jalen Hurts | PHI (vs. ARI)
2. Josh Allen | BUF (vs. NE)
3. Dak Prescott | DAL (vs. DET)
4. Lamar Jackson | BAL (vs. MIA)
5. Patrick Mahomes | KC (vs. CIN)
6. Brock Purdy | SF (at WAS)
7. Justin Fields | CHI (vs. ATL)
8. Matthew Stafford | LAR (at NYG)
9. Tua Tagovailoa | MIA (at BAL)
10. Trevor Lawrence | JAX (vs. CAR)
11. C.J. Stroud | HOU (vs. TEN)
12. Jared Goff | DET (at DAL)
13. Russell Wilson | DEN (vs. LAC)
14. Kyler Murray | ARI (at PHI)
15. Derek Carr | NO (at TB)
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!