Streaming Quarterbacks: Week 15 Targets

Dec 09, 2014

C.D. Carter

We were looking for a splash play or two, and we got just that.

I wrote last week about the Steelers' penchant for giving up chunk plays to opposing quarterback-receiver combos. That was the impetus behind deploying Andy Dalton as a Week 14 streaming play. The red-haired wonder came through with top-5 fantasy numbers thanks to a long score to A.J. Green and yet another rushing touchdown.

Shaun Hill held his own and became the latest unheralded signal caller to post nice numbers against the thing formerly known as Washington's secondary. Hill put up 16.4 fantasy points despite three St. Louis drives that sputtered and stalled out inside the Washington 20 yard line.

Our streaming picks, through 14 weeks, are averaging 17.1 fantasy points per contest, or QB9 numbers. Optimal streaming quarterbacks highlighted in this space are averaging 23.1 points, or QB3 numbers.

Let's do a deep dive into Week 15's best plays, using 4for4's schedule-adjusted points allowed and fantasy points per attempt (FPAT) as our guides. I'll only mention signal callers available in at least 40 percent of Yahoo fantasy leagues.

Johnny Manziel (CLE) vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Manziel, who would've been our top streaming play a week ago, finally gets his chance to inject some life into a talented Browns' offense weighed down by the bald anchor known as Brian Hoyer.

I believe Manziel, like any quarterback who racks up rushing production, comes into his first pro start with a hefty fantasy floor. It was clear two weeks ago during his quarter of play against Buffalo that he was ready and willing to take off if his first couple of reads were covered. I wouldn't be shocked to see that approach lead to more than 50 rushing yards against the Bengals.

Opponents average more pass attempts per game against the Bengals (39.1) than any team in the league not called Denver. JFF's passing prowess, however, isn't nearly as appealing as his rushing potential. We've seen it happen with Russell Wilson time and again in 2014: he posts middling passing totals -- maybe 200 yards and a touchdown -- but winds up a top-5 play because of his on-the-ground production. That's what makes Manziel so very irresistible.

The presence of Josh Gordon and Jordan Cameron -- especially against a Cincy defense that has been gouged by opposing tight ends -- gives us legitimate hope that JFF, available in 68 percent of leagues, could be a locked-in QB1 in Week 15.