Navigating the quarterback position through the first three weeks of the fantasy football season has felt like walking through a minefield.
Not only has the position been severely hit by injuries, headlined by Caleb Williams’ hamstring and Jaxson Dart’s season-ending knee surgery, but we’ve also endured a massive level of underperformance from quarterbacks we all trusted as reliable starters.
Justin Herbert continues to struggle in Mike McDaniel’s new offensive scheme, and Drake Maye has turned into an outright liability with seven turnovers through three games.
Neither has come even remotely close to living up to their draft cost.
If your QB1 is destroying your weekly matchup and needs to be parked on the bench, it is officially time to hit the waiver wire and stream your way to victory.
Bryce Young enters Week 4 as one of the premier streaming targets for managers needing a high floor.
Facing a Lions secondary that has consistently allowed chunk plays through the air, Young has shown improved poise and a willing scrambling dynamic in recent weeks.
With both Detroit safeties still on IR, the middle of the defensive backfield has been wide open. Detroit’s high-powered offense also forces opposing teams into passing game scripts, giving Young ample opportunity to rack up volume, yards and garbage-time fantasy points.
For managers seeking pure rushing upside, Marcus Mariota presents an intriguing spot-start against the Colts. The Indianapolis defense has struggled to contain mobile quarterbacks, leaving massive defensive gaps on read-option plays and broken coverages.
Mariota’s ability to supplement his passing line with 30-50 rushing yards and a potential goal-line score makes him an ideal plug-and-play QB2 streamer with top-12 upside for the week.
Colts signal-caller Daniel Jones also finds himself in a bounce-back spot against the Commanders. Washington’s defense ranks near the bottom of the league in passing yards allowed and passer rating against, offering Jones a soft matchup to regain his confidence.
Between his rushing floor and Washington’s vulnerability to play-action passing, Jones offers a high-ceiling option capable of delivering a solid multi-touchdown performance.
If you are looking for a safe, steady option to avoid negative plays, Jacoby Brissett against the Giants is as reliable as it gets.
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The Giants have struggled to generate consistent pass-rush pressure, which gives the veteran quarterback time to survey the field and distribute the ball effectively.
Brissett might not boast game-breaking rushing ability, but his efficiency and ball security ensure a stable 15-18 point fantasy floor for desperate managers.
The quarterback landscape is as chaotic as ever, but fantasy managers do not need to panic. By leveraging matchups and streaming week-to-week, you can stay competitive despite the injuries and busts.
Howard Bender is the head of content at FantasyAlarm.com. Follow him on X @rotobuzzguy, catch him on the award-winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Ch. 87) weekdays from 6-8 p.m. and dominate your leagues with the latest football news and advice from Fantasy Alarm.
