While 1QB fantasy football leagues have their flaws, they do offer one glimmer of upside, and that is strategy. In those leagues where only 10-16 quarterbacks are routinely rostered, there is usually an opportunity to play the matchups and stream the position for your benefit.
Let’s take a look at the top quarterback streaming options for Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season.
Week 1 Streamers: TE | K | DEF
Top QB Streaming Options for Week 1
Jared Goff, Detroit Lions (vs. Los Angeles Rams)
One of the best options for streaming quarterbacks is to look for the games that are projected to be the highest-scoring, as is the case with Jared Goff. The 51 points the sportsbooks are projecting for the Detroit Lions vs. Los Angeles Rams is the highest number of the week, and rightly so.
Last year in the playoffs, which are often more cagey than the regular season, this game finished 24-23. That is a good omen for what this game could look like, with two quarterbacks facing their former teams.
Goff was relatively quiet in that game, with 277 yards and a touchdown. However, the Rams’ defense is a little bit of an unknown this season without Aaron Donald, and it could be vulnerable. This is a nice streaming spot for Goff this week.
Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars (at Miami Dolphins)
The other potential shootout this week is shaping up to be the Florida battle between the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars. Both teams are capable of putting up plenty of points, as the projected total of 50 implies.
The Dolphins’ defense has been banged up through preseason, so it could be a little rusty in the opening exchanges of the game. Trevor Lawrence, with a new contract in his pocket, will be looking to start his fourth season with a bang. And in the heat of the Florida sunshine, there is likely to be plenty of opportunity for that to happen.
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams (at Detroit Lions)
The Rams’ passing game features two wide receivers regularly being drafted within the first four rounds of fantasy drafts, but it doesn’t see the quarterback selected within the first 15 at the position. That’s because Matthew Stafford is an older pocket passer.
Stafford will start the season against his former team (Lions), against whom he dropped 367 passing yards and two scores in L.A.’s 24-23 loss in last year’s postseason matchup.
Quite frankly, not much has changed with this roster outside of Tyler Higbee starting the year on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp are still one of the best receiver tandems in the league and should see plenty of success against this secondary that gave up an average of 32.4 fantasy points per game to opposing receivers — the fourth-highest mark in the league in 2023.
The Lions’ additions of Terrion Arnold and Carlton Davis III could help the secondary some, but I see this one turning into a high-scoring affair at Ford Field, which makes Stafford a quality streaming option for Week 1.
– Derek Tate, Fantasy Football Analyst
Quarterback Rankings for Week 1
The following rankings are from our consensus and, therefore, may not reflect the advice above.
1) Josh Allen | Buffalo Bills (vs. ARI)
2) Jalen Hurts | Philadelphia Eagles (vs. GB)
3) Lamar Jackson | Baltimore Ravens (at KC)
4) Patrick Mahomes | Kansas City Chiefs (vs. BAL)
5) C.J. Stroud | Houston Texans (at IND)
6) Anthony Richardson | Indianapolis Colts (vs. HOU)
7) Jayden Daniels | Washington Commanders (at TB)
8) Kyler Murray | Arizona Cardinals (at BUF)
9) Joe Burrow | Cincinnati Bengals (vs. NE)
10) Jordan Love | Green Bay Packers (at PHI)
11) Jared Goff | Detroit Lions (vs. LAR)
12) Tua Tagovailoa | Miami Dolphins (vs. JAX)
13) Caleb Williams | Chicago Bears (vs. TEN)
14) Trevor Lawrence | Jacksonville Jaguars (at MIA)
15) Brock Purdy | San Francisco 49ers (vs. NYJ)
16) Dak Prescott | Dallas Cowboys (at CLE)
17) Matthew Stafford | Los Angeles Rams (at DET)
18) Baker Mayfield | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. WAS)
19) Kirk Cousins | Atlanta Falcons (vs. PIT)
20) Justin Herbert | Los Angeles Chargers (vs. LV)
21) Geno Smith | Seattle Seahawks (vs. DEN)
22) Deshaun Watson | Cleveland Browns (vs. DAL)
23) Daniel Jones | New York Giants (vs. MIN)
24) Derek Carr | New Orleans Saints (vs. CAR)
25) Sam Darnold | Minnesota Vikings (at NYG)
26) Aaron Rodgers | New York Jets (at SF)
27) Will Levis | Tennessee Titans (at CHI)
28) Russell Wilson | Pittsburgh Steelers (at ATL)
29) Bo Nix | Denver Broncos (at SEA)
30) Bryce Young | Carolina Panthers (at NO)
31) Gardner Minshew II | Las Vegas Raiders (at LAC)
32) Jacoby Brissett | New England Patriots (at CIN)