Skip to content
Quarterback streaming isn’t for everyone, but if you’re in a standard league — like a 10- or 12-team league that only has one starting caller — you’ll often snag potentially productive quarterbacks in good matchups from the waiver wire doable.
Sure, you won’t have the luxury of setting and forgetting it with Patrick Mahomes as quarterback, but when the top-end signal callers pull a tough matchup, their advantage can often be matched by a waiver wire option in a more favorable situation.
If you’re looking for some quarterback options from the waiver wire – regardless of league size – you’ve come to the right place. Here are three quarterbacks that are listed in less than about 40% of Yahoo’s leagues and are in good positions this week.
Table of Contents
Jameis Winston, Saints
Yahoo roster percentage: 46%
It’s pretty easy to like Jameis Winston in Week 1.
The Saints of New Orleans are in a great place against the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons were poor defensively last year, allowing the quarterbacks the third-most fantasy points per game (20.2). Atlanta should be D-poor once again, and our model sees them as the second-worst pass defense heading into the campaign.
In addition to the cozy matchup, Winston has some new toys to throw this year. Michael Thomas is back, Jarvis Landry was signed and Chris Olave was taken in the first round. There’s some insidious juice in this offensive.
Winston was solid last year before he got injured. He scored at least 25.0 fantasy points in two of his six full games and averaged 16.8 points per game for the year.
We forecast him to accumulate 15.5 fantasy points in week 1 and rate him as QB21. I think he has more to offer in this matchup.
Ryan Tannehill, Titans
Yahoo roster percentage: 19%
Ryan Tannehill finds himself on the streaming radar quite often. A good, not great, fantasy option, he’s usually on the waiver wire in one-quarterback formats, and his streaming appeal is boosted by his ability to run a little.
He’s definitely involved in a nice home game against the New York Giants this week.
The Tennessee Titans have an implied total of 24.50 points and are 5.5-point favorites. It should be a game script that goes well with Tannehill.
He threw just four touchdowns across the Titans’ five losses last season, so he tends to be a more prolific fantasy passer in wins. He also does a little more on the ground in wins, rushing for five points and 16.6 yards per game in wins last year compared to two tuddies and 14.2 yards per game in losses.
Our predictions are that Tannehill will score 15.8 Fantasy and rate him as QB19. I prefer Winston’s blanket, but Tanny is a good choice too.
Carson Wentz, Commanders
Yahoo roster percentage: 12%
I get it. Nobody wants to go into the season with Carson Wentz as their Week 1 quarterback. The Indianapolis Colts tried it once and really didn’t want to do it again.
But Wentz can deliver on Sunday.
The matchup is certainly there as he plays the Jacksonville Jaguars at home. Washington’s implied total of 23.50 points is an OK number, and while Wentz needed plenty of heat to graduate through 2021, he was at wrong football for a good portion of the year, scoring at least 17 fantasy points in eight of the first nine games.
Our algorithm actually has Wentz a tiny bit ahead of Winston and Tannehill, projecting the Washington Commanders signal caller to 15.9 fantasy points (QB18). And if Week 1 goes well, you can keep Wentz for Week 2 when he sees the Detroit Lions.