Welcome to our quarterback streaming articles for 2021! Every week we will bring you our advice on which signal-callers have the potential to help your fantasy teams win. We will look at the previous weeks’ performances, the supporting cast, the matchup, and statistical insights to offer you the clearest picture of which QB to pick up from your waiver wire.
Well, that was carnage! Week 9 of the 2021 NFL season offered up one of the most unpredictable set of outcomes the game has ever seen. If you managed to scrape through with a win in your fantasy league, well done – you dodged a bullet. Our streaming recommendations took a hit too – Tua Tagovailoa was ruled out on game day for the Dolphins with a finger injury, and his status for this week is up in the air. Taysom Hill (1.72 fantasy points in Yahoo! leagues) was not promoted to the starting quarterback role as expected, instead Trevor Siemian got the nod for the New Orleans Saints, who surprisingly went down to the Atlanta Falcons. Again, Hill is unlikely to be given the starter’s role for Week 10.
So, that left us with two! Our primary recommendation Derek Carr (12.34 fantasy points) had a miserable return from the bye week, failing to throw for 300 yards for only the third time this season. His single passing touchdown was negated by two interceptions hauled in by Giants safety Xavier McKinney, one of which was a pick-six.
Carson Wentz (24.18 fantasy points) has become the old faithful when it comes to fantasy streamers at the position. Wentz was fantastic in the Colts’ humiliating of the Jets on Thursday Night Football. He threw three touchdown passes and did not turn the ball over, amassing his best fantasy score of the season. Wentz now has six consecutive games with multiple touchdowns, that’s as reliable as they come.
| QB | Matchup | % Rostered (Yahoo!) | Fantasy Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Derek Carr, Raiders | LV at NYG | 63% | 12.34 |
| Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins | MIA vs. HOU | 41% | 0.00 |
| Carson Wentz, Colts | IND vs. NYJ | 56% | 24.18 |
| Taysom Hill, Saints | NO vs. ATL | 3% | 1.72 |
Now, let’s look at the lay of the land for Week 10. Remember, the caveat is that our recommended players for streaming are less than 70% owned in Yahoo! leagues.
The following teams are on bye this week: Cincinnati Bengals, Chicago Bears, Houston Texans, New York Giants.
| QB | Matchup | % Rostered (Yahoo!) | Projected Fantasy Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carson Wentz, Colts | IND vs. JAX | 60% | 19.23 |
| Matt Ryan, Falcons | ATL at DAL | 56% | 18.40 |
| Taylor Heinicke, WFT | WFT vs. TB | 9% | 21.80 |
“Mr. Reliable”
Carson Wentz, Colts vs. Jaguars
The Colts are living up to their name – bright young things with strength and speed that are a joy to watch. At the saddle is Carson Wentz, who has brushed off a couple of bad moments this season to spearhead Frank Reich’s team to within a game of the wild card positions in the AFC. Wentz has one of the most dynamic run games to work with alongside a young receiving corps that is laying out for him every week. His chemistry with Michael Pittman Jr. is electrifying.
Next up for Wentz is a visit from Jacksonville. Despite the freak win over the Bills, the Jaguars’ defense has been atrocious for large parts of the season. The Colts posted 532 total yards and averaged 8.7 yards per play against the hapless Jets. Play it again, Sam. I mean, Carson!
That's a @MikePitt_Jr TOUCHDOWN. 🙌@Colts | #ForTheShoe
📺: #NYJvsIND on NFLN/FOX/PRIME VIDEO
📱: https://t.co/LjvhBLTVnB pic.twitter.com/s1scIURItw— NFL (@NFL) November 5, 2021
“Ice The Game”
Matt Ryan, Falcons vs. Cowboys
Matt Ryan is playing his best football since the year the Falcons went to the Super Bowl under Dan Quinn. Cordarrelle Patterson and Kyle Pitts are the focal points of Arthur Smith‘s strategic and effective offense, which Ryan has grown into be throwing at least two touchdown passes in six of the last seven games. Don’t expect Ryan to add another rushing score as he did in Week 9 against the Saints, but do expect a strong performance upwards of 20 fantasy points.
This week, Ryan is up against a Cowboys defense that was taken apart through the air by Teddy Bridgewater. Ryan has the acumen and the play-caller to cause yet another upset.
Just an absolute dime by Matty Ice. Game winner. pic.twitter.com/Op5FGPdKB0
— kenny g. (@Gritz_Blitz) November 7, 2021
“This Is A Terry McLaurin Tweet!”
Taylor Heinicke, WFT vs. Buccaneers
Just when I thought I was out on Taylor Heinicke, he pulls me back in. Well, the lack of favorable matchups across the league and doubts over injuries to potential starters like Tua, forces Heinicke onto this list this week. But there are reasons to be hopeful. First, Terry McLaurin. The connection between the two is blossoming and McLaurin has seen 76 targets across the first eight games of the season. Going up against a depleted secondary, this is the week they ball out. Second, Logan Thomas is due to return from injured reserve. The tight end is a red zone darling for Heinicke – a huge boost. Third, the unlikely hero can sling it. Just check out the throw to D’Andre Carter last time out for the touchdown.
Coming off a bye week, the Washington Football Team welcomes Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, whose defense has given up the 12th most fantasy points to quarterbacks. Washington’s own defense is the worst in the league for giving up fantasy points to QBs. This could be a shootout and that is what we are hoping for.
Taylor Heinicke DIME to D'Andre Carter to tie the game! #WashingtonFootball
📺: #WASvsDEN on FOX
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/WBtbw72pFd— NFL (@NFL) October 31, 2021
Don’t hesitate to give me your thoughts and hit me up for questions at @benjaminhaller1.
(Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire)
Nice article. I’m in a 1 QB ESPN Std 10 team. I have Aaron Rodgers. I was hoping Taysom Hill would be a great backup, but w/Rodgers out, Siemian got the call. I scrambled for Tua, then he went out as a game time decision, and I ended up playing Carr. Blah! Should I continue to hold Hill and hope he gets a shot? Trey Lance is available also, and in the same mold of QB, good run scoring, but his path seems further away. Should I continue to hold hold Taysom Hill as a speculative move, or maybe get Trey Lance? Or possibly I am just better off holding onto a steady, but less upside guy, like Carson Wentz, and just monitor Hill & Lance? I’m not sure any of the other teams would jump on them if they did become relevant. Thoughts? Thanks Benjamin!
Thanks for reading!
A couple of things at play here. First, Trevor Siemian came alive in the fourth quarter last week and nearly won the Saints the game. He’ll be the starter at least a few more weeks I reckon. And who knows what the plan is for the 49ers right now. Shanahan doesn’t seem to know and Jimmy G looks to be locked at the minute. So, neither Hill or Lance are worth holding onto at the minute. I would look at streaming options that will give you a safe floor each week – Wentz and Ryan are my recommendations. Both have very good schedules over the next few weeks. I like Tua too but he has the Bills this week and that offense isn’t trustworthy.
Hope that helps.