The weekly in-and-out of streaming quarterbacks brings a tense moment of nervousness and uncertainty, because you have no idea what you’ll see when your quarterback takes the field. Just this past week, we tried to capitalize on C.J. Stroud’s dominance against a Giants team that hasn’t really found its bearings almost two months into the season. While the matchup didn’t come together quite as expected, Stroud put up a respectable line and took the Texans to overtime before a tough loss. 17 for 28 was a bit of a tough watch, but he was able to end the game with two touchdown passes, even while failing to get Nico Collins or Marvin Harrison involved whatsoever. Kyler Murray was our second write-up, and he ultimately did the same as Stroud, handing you a somewhat respectable fantasy line while not fully showing a level of promise that we had hoped for coming off his best game the week prior. Murray ended the game with only 150 passing yards and a single touchdown with a full arsenal of players at his disposal, propping his mediocre performance up with 40 yards of rushing on top of his stat line. In the final stream of the week, we found our most reliable option again (three weeks and counting) as Geno Smith showed once again that he can capitalize against poor defensive teams. Smith threw for a 76% completion rate and 3 passing touchdowns, helping showcase Omar Cooper once again. Whatever this week has in store for our streamers, your best bet is to take the third option that’s endorsed as we go for a 4-week streak of nailing the final option of the week.
Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons
| Opponent | Matchup Rating | Yahoo Roster % | Proj. Pts |
| @TB | 5/5 | 18 | 16.1 |
Michael Penix Jr. has had an interesting career arc thus far. A 1st-round pick in 2024, Penix seems to have faced a yearly regimen of adversity, fighting for a starter’s role with Kirk Cousins to start his career, then following Cousins out west to join the Raiders. Thereafter, Tua Tagovailoa was brought in this season, and ultimately discussions began about who would start this season and take the starter’s role as Penix recovered through training camp and into the season.
Not so fast, fair-weather fans. Michael Penix deserves a bit better. In his five games back, Penix hasn’t passed for under 213 yards, using all options and helping prop up high-end fantasy options Bijan Robinson and Drake London. This past Sunday, he threw 3 touchdown passes for his second consecutive week to go along with a 73% completion rate, quickly pushing away any doubts about Tua taking his job in the same fashion Bijan Robinson did when Tua came into the game just two weeks ago. In the five games since Penix has returned, Drake London hasn’t had a finish under 12 PPR points and has at least ten targets in every game but one. Bijan Robinson also helps to give him a home run threat out of the backfield, who has three games over five targets in his seven games played, showcasing an ability to pass-catching that could continue to be built up as the season progresses and Penix continues to get more comfortable.
The Bucs defense has had a pretty solid season so far, allowing only the 17th most points in the season and showcasing defensive talent such as Tykee Smith, Christian Rozeboom, and Antoine Winfield Jr. The Bucs have had moments of high-end defensive prowess, holding the Panthers to 13 points on Sunday, capped off with a 32-yard fumble-return touchdown. This was both a great game for the Bucs, and also one that helped skew how the team has looked for the entire season. The Bucs have received high-end output from players like Jacob Parrish , who has been targeted actively this season and yet has allowed just 50 percent completion on target share that’s 25% higher than the next highest corner. The coverage and tackle metrics are where the Bucs have struggled most, and this could help the Falcons in a position where they have two offensive weapons in London and Robinson who are able to make their hay in the open field. This will be a position that the Falcons will likely key in on and could lead to another large box score for Penix.
Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
| Opponent | Matchup Rating | Yahoo Roster % | Proj. Pts |
| ATL | 4/5 | 25 | 16.85 |
Baker Mayfield is someone who has made an entire career out of jokingly having a chip on his shoulder, and no chip can be bigger than the “this guy is hurt and can’t overcome it” chip. Mayfield returned this past week and got right back into the swing of things, handing off the ball at an 80% clip, giving himself one of the best environments to recover from a finger injury. Mayfield has had a season to forget thus far, sandwiching just two 200-plus-yard passing games between injuries and mediocrity, but Mayfield has shown the ability to get extremely productive for long stretches. What better place to stage a return to form this season than after a Panthers drubbing where he only had to complete 7 passes out of 11 attempts?
Mayfield, on the season, has just three passing touchdowns, leading us to think the positive regression will likely show up coming off a performance in which Bucky Irving had 110 all-purpose yards, benefiting from a Panthers team that could not stop a harsh breeze on Sunday. Irving has showcased an ability to catch passes out of the backfield at a consistent clip. The Bucs team may have another return to consistency with the long-awaited return to relevance from Kenneth Gainwell, who was able to optimize his game to the tune of 88 yards on 14 carries.
The Falcons are a strange brew of a defense, showcasing high marks in many facets of their defense while struggling with points allowed (173, 5th most) and their propensity to give up passing yards. Mayfield will likely have a much different game plan going a week removed from the rush-heavy attack of last week, likely looking to have Emeka Egbuka back from his concussion designation last week, helping out a Bucs offense that needs him back greatly after another week of Chris Godwin showing his age. Jessie Bates and DeMarcco Hellams will patrol the safety positions and allow very little over-the-top action from receivers, but the abilities of Gainwell and Irving to pass-catch could help usher in a Bucs offense that will look to win a divisional game with a bit more variety this upcoming week. Look for this to be the best output of the season for Mayfield thus far.
Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals
| Opponent | Matchup Rating | Yahoo Roster % | Proj. Pts |
| @DAL | 5/5 | 27 | 18.98 |
The Arizona Cardinals are in a season of burst and bloom, likely projecting for an almost entirely different offense centered around Trey McBride and Michael Wilson. After shipping Marvin Harrison Jr. out to Houston and continuing the career of Jacoby Brissett as they continue to veer towards an early 1st-round draft pick. Brissett, for all his hazards, has actually played a somewhat solid level of fantasy football, and looks to get the fantasy-capable players involved on a week-to-week basis.
The Cardinals, coming off a game in which they lost 30-16 in a come-to-life Bo Nix appearance, still managed to get the best out of Brissett, who tossed 48 passes in a game where there was no other choice when coming from behind. Brissett’s season is a tale of two cities, finishing 3 of his games with just shy of 300 yards, and under 100 yards passing in 2 of his other 4 games. There is some level of playing Minesweeper when looking for a specific level of output from Brissett, but the signs ahead are pointing us towards a game of solid volume and output more so than a 95-yard drubbing against a Seahawks squad.
The Dallas Cowboys have had one of the worst defenses on paper and in practice for the length of the season. The Cowboys are in the bottom-5 of Coverage in all of the NFL, as Jaishawn Barham has been one of the worst coverage players in the league, allowing 17 of 19 passes directed his way to be completed. As Barham will likely be patrolling the middle of the field, he will likely be the one who has to face the beast that is Trey McBride across the middle of the field, and could spell issues time and time again. McBride is one of the most volume-based players to go in the game, as he averages the 4th-most targets in all of football, only behind names like Puka Nacua, CeeDee Lamb, and Amon-Ra St. Brown. McBride and the Cardinals will likely benefit from incredibly poor coverage, as Brissett will surely look for McBride for upwards of 10 targets. DaRon Bland has also been someone who can be exposed in coverage, as he has allowed 66.7% of targets shown his way to be converted, and could face a difficult matchup if lined up across from Michael Wilson. The Cowboys will likely look to get a strong pass rush rolling, but McBride’s ability to get quickly off the line and directed towards Barham could make this a juicy lineup for fantasy owners.
Feature image by Michael Packard (@CollectingPack on Twitter) / Photography by Rich von Biberstein/ Icon Sportswire