Fantasy Football Quarterback Streamers & Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 17)

Week 16 of the 2024 NFL season is in the books. Hopefully, your team pulled out the victory. However, the only easy win was last week’s win. So, let’s look at the top streaming and waiver wire quarterback options for Week 17.

All the quarterbacks in this article are rostered in fewer than 50% of ESPN 1-QB leagues and in fewer than 25% in Superflex leagues.

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Fantasy Football Quarterback Streamers & Waiver Wire Pickups

Streaming Targets in 1-QB Leagues

Geno Smith (QB – SEA) vs. Chicago Bears (44.7% Rostered)

While he hasn’t been the most consistent fantasy quarterback this year, Geno Smith has had some impressive performances. In Week 16, the veteran quarterback completed 72.1% of his pass attempts for 314 yards, three touchdowns and 21.4 fantasy points in the loss to the Minnesota Vikings, setting a season-high in touchdowns. Meanwhile, he has had over 300 passing yards in a third of his games. More importantly, Smith finally connected with DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the same game, throwing a touchdown pass to both star wide receivers.

After facing an elite Vikings defense in Week 16, the veteran quarterback takes on a struggling unit in the fantasy championship week. The Bears were a fantasy nightmare for opposing quarterbacks earlier this year, surrendering 6.9 or fewer fantasy points in four of their first five matchups. However, they’ve had issues stopping quarterbacks lately. Chicago has given up 286.3 passing yards, 1.8 touchdowns and 19.3 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks over the past six weeks, allowing 20.1+ points in 66.7% of their contests, including 25.3 last in Week 16.

Caleb Williams (QB – CHI) vs. Seattle Seahawks (43.9% Rostered)

Unfortunately, the Bears haven’t won a game since losing the Hail Mary contest to the Washington Commanders in Week 8. However, Caleb Williams has played well since Thomas Brown took over calling the plays. The rookie quarterback has averaged 247.7 passing yards, 1.7 touchdowns and 19.3 fantasy points per game over the past six weeks, totaling 22+ points in half the contests. Furthermore, he has had two or more passing touchdowns in four of the past five games, including in Week 16. More importantly, Williams is coming off a solid performance.

Last week, the rookie quarterback completed 65% of his pass attempts for 334 yards, two touchdowns and 22.8 fantasy points against the Detroit Lions. Meanwhile, the Seahawks had no answers for Sam Darnold in Week 16, allowing him to complete 62.9% of his pass attempts for 246 yards, three touchdowns and 22.9 fantasy points. Furthermore, Seattle has surrendered two or more passing touchdowns to opposing quarterbacks in four consecutive contests. They have given up 18.1 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks over the past month.

Streaming Targets in Superflex Leagues

Drake Maye (QB – NE) vs. Los Angeles Chargers (20.5% Rostered)

New England has lost five consecutive games by an average of 8.4 points. However, their average margin of defeat would have been greater if it had not been for Drake Maye. The rookie has averaged 213.7 passing yards, 1.4 touchdowns and 16.5 fantasy points per game in his 10 starts this season. Furthermore, he has been a solid streaming option for fantasy players. Maye has averaged 241 passing yards, 1.4 touchdowns and 17.2 fantasy points per game over his past five contests, totaling 17.4+ points in all but one outing.

More importantly, the rookie quarterback faces a Chargers defense that has struggled to slow down opposing quarterbacks lately. They have surrendered 256.5 passing yards, two touchdowns and 19.5 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks over the past six weeks, allowing 21+ points in 66.7% of the contests. Furthermore, Los Angeles has allowed opposing quarterbacks to total 551 passing yards, six touchdowns and 49 fantasy points over the past two weeks. Don’t be surprised if Maye is the third consecutive quarterback with over 21 fantasy points against them.

Bryce Young (QB – CAR) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4.9% Rostered)

Bryce Young was awful to start the year, totaling three interceptions over the first two weeks. However, spending time on the bench turned around his season. The former Alabama star has played well since the Week 11 bye, averaging 1.2 passing touchdowns and 18.4 fantasy points per game over the past five weeks, totaling 23.6+ points twice. Furthermore, Young is coming off his best performance this year, totaling 158 passing yards, two touchdowns, 68 rushing yards, a rushing score and 27.1 fantasy points in the win over the Arizona Cardinals.

The second-year pro ends the fantasy season with a matchup against the Buccaneers. They’ve surrendered 20.4 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, one of the highest averages in the NFL, allowing 23.6+ points in nearly half of their contests. Cooper Rush completed 74.3% of his pass attempts for 292 yards, a touchdown and 15.3 fantasy points against Tampa Bay in Week 16. More importantly, Young had 298 passing yards, a passing touchdown, a rushing score and 23.6 fantasy points in the Week 13 matchup against the division rivals.

Streamer to Avoid

Cooper Rush (QB – DAL) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (6.5% Rostered)

Typically, streaming articles provide which players to target off the waiver wire. However, I will give one quarterback fantasy players should avoid streaming each week.

While he was a popular streaming option for Week 16, Cooper Rush had a slightly disappointing fantasy performance. The veteran faced a Tampa Bay Buccaneers that had surrendered 20.7 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks over the first 15 weeks, the second-most in the NFL. However, he had only one passing touchdown and 15.3 fantasy points in the win. Furthermore, Rush hasn’t taken advantage of fantasy-friendly matchups, scoring fewer than 14 fantasy points in contests against the Cincinnati Bengals and New York Giants since taking over as the starting quarterback.

Meanwhile, the Eagles got obliterated by Jayden Daniels in Week 16, surrendering five passing touchdowns and 34.4 fantasy points. However, Philadelphia has struggled with elite running quarterbacks. They have held quarterbacks not named Lamar Jackson and Daniels to 0.6 passing touchdowns and 11 fantasy points per game since their Week 5 bye, including 12.5 or fewer in two consecutive contests. More importantly, Rush had only 45 passing yards and negative-two fantasy points in the Week 10 matchup against the Eagles. Don’t be surprised when he struggles in Sunday’s rematch.

Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.