Streaming QBs: Week 16

If you have found the advice from this article useful since the start of the season and decided to roll with our No.1 recommended streamer last week you were handsomely rewarded by Jalen Hurts (43.82 fantasy points) and his fantasy QB1 finish in Week 15. The 2nd-round rookie, making only his 2nd ever start in the NFL, put on a breathtaking show as he eclipsed 400 scrimmage yards and accounted for 4 touchdowns in one of the best rookie performances at the quarterback position anyone has ever seen. A pure dual-threat QB, Hurts was electric in the passing game and smart yet still gutsy on the ground, battling through defensive tacklers to run in for a 7-yard score. If you haven’t caught the game on NFL Gamepass, then you really should. Yet another star in the making has come out of the 2020 draft class.

The reliability of veteran Philip Rivers (21.02 fantasy points) was something we earmarked last week in this article and yes, he did it again. Showing the same potent consistency on the field as he has done in the bedroom (9 kids!), Rivers secured his 5th straight game with 20+ fantasy points after throwing for 2 TDs in the Colts’ win against the Texans. It wasn’t spectacular but hopefully, Rivers provided valuable production to get you over the line in your semi-final matchup.

The big disappointment of the week was Drew Brees retaking the starting quarterback job from Taysom Hill (6.30 fantasy points) after returning from IR. Hopefully, you saw that news and opted for another streaming option. Teddy Bridgewater (16.92 fantasy points) fumbled at the goal line when trying to reach the ball high over the Packers defensive front to cost himself a 20+ fantasy point finish in the Panthers’ narrow loss to the Packers. Those are the fine lines that cost people a place in their fantasy championship game. We hope that was not the case if you opted for Teddy “Two Gloves”.

 

 

Who surprised us? Marcus Mariota (28.84 fantasy points) was started by absolutely nobody I imagine and only an early injury to Derek Carr forced him into action but he did not disappoint. Recording a top 10 fantasy QB finish, the former Titans signal-caller moved the ball at will through the air and on the ground in the Raiders’ bizarre defeat in overtime to the Chargers. His 9 carries for 88 yards and a rushing TD made it a nice fantasy day for the former 1st-round pick.

Now, let’s look at the lay of the land for Week 16. Remember, the caveat is that our recommended players for streaming are less than 70% owned in Yahoo! leagues.

Good luck in your fantasy championship game and I hope you have enjoyed this series of articles through the 2020 NFL fantasy football season. We go with just 2 options for your final fantasy game of the season, and both are perfectly placed to ball out due to favorable matchups. They also happend to be 2 of the best performing signal-callers in the last few weeks.

 

 

“Everybody Loves Hurts”

 

Jalen Hurts, Eagles at Cowboys

 

Eagles rookie Jalen Hurts has 29 carries and 169 yards rushing with a TD on the ground in just 2 professional starts. That is a fantasy wonderland! What has actually been more impressive is how he has made this derisory receiving corps look 10 levels above where they actually are. Going into the ideal matchup next week against the hapless Cowboys defense, who have allowed a league-high 31 passing TDs, makes Hurts as good an option as any elite QB out there to help win you a fantasy championship. I am likely going to bench players like Russell Wilson, Matt Ryan, and even Lamar Jackson to start Hurts. Come on, trust me!

🦅 338 passing yards + 3 pass TDs
🦅 63 rushing yards + 1 rush TD

Unreal stat line from @JalenHurts in his second career start. #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/W2K6nVIjoO

— NFL (@NFL) December 21, 2020

 

“Mayfield Reborn”

 

Baker Mayfield, Browns at Jets

 

The magic wand that Kevin Stefanski has used to turn Baker Mayfield into a top 10 fantasy option at quarterback needs to be inducted into the Fantasy Hall of Fame! Over the past 4 weeks, Mayfield has thrown for 1,232 yards (308 average per game) with a 70% completion rate, 10 TDs, and just 1 INT. Benefitting from a huge improvement from his offensive line, Baker has looked fantastic operating from a clean pocket with a simplified but effective game plan featuring heaps of play-action. As a result, he is the hot hand in the fantasy QB room right now. There will never be a better opportunity for the former No.1 overall pick to run riot than this week against a horrendous Jets secondary. Again, Mayfield is a consideration over other stuttering QB1 options like Russell Wilson.

Touchdown @God_Son80❗️

📺: https://t.co/jyHm6MrARd pic.twitter.com/mW6mzXJMIk

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 21, 2020

 

Don’t hesitate to give me your thoughts and hit me up for questions at @benjaminhaller1.

 

(Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire)