Week 3 of the 2023 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 quarterback options for Week 4.
All the quarterbacks in this article are rostered in under 50% of ESPN 1QB leagues and under 25% in superflex leagues.
Streaming Targets in 1QB Leagues
It might only be three games into the year, but Love looks like the next great Green Bay quarterback. The former Utah State star has scored over 20 fantasy points in every contest this season, averaging 22.5 fantasy points per game. Last week, he had only one passing touchdown after throwing three in Week 1 and Week 2. However, Love had a career-high in passing yards (259) and rushing yards (39) against the New Orleans Saints. He also had his first career rushing touchdown in Week 3.
Week 3 of the 2023 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 quarterback options for Week 4.
All the quarterbacks in this article are rostered in under 50% of ESPN 1QB leagues and under 25% in superflex leagues.
Streaming Targets in 1QB Leagues
It might only be three games into the year, but Love looks like the next great Green Bay quarterback. The former Utah State star has scored over 20 fantasy points in every contest this season, averaging 22.5 fantasy points per game. Last week, he had only one passing touchdown after throwing three in Week 1 and Week 2. However, Love had a career-high in passing yards (259) and rushing yards (39) against the New Orleans Saints. He also had his first career rushing touchdown in Week 3.
Yet, the young star has even more upside this week if Christian Watson and Aaron Jones play. Love has averaged 205 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, and 22.3 fantasy points per game over the past two weeks without his top two weapons. More importantly, the former Utah State star has an excellent matchup Thursday night against the Lions. Detroit surrendered 277 passing yards, two touchdowns, and 21.33 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks over the first two weeks. This NFC North showdown will be high-scoring and excellent for fantasy players.
Garoppolo was placed in the concussion protocol after the Week 3 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. If he is good to play this week, the veteran quarterback is an appealing streaming option. The former second-round pick struggled in Week 2 against a talented Buffalo Bills defense. However, he has played well in the other two games this season, averaging 262 passing yards, two touchdowns, and 16.4 fantasy points per game despite throwing four interceptions. More importantly, the veteran has an outstanding matchup this week.
The Chargers surrendered 24.1 fantasy points to quarterbacks over the first two weeks this season, the second-most in the NFL. Furthermore, Kirk Cousins had 367 passing yards for three touchdowns and 25.7 fantasy points against Los Angeles in Week 3. The Chargers have surrendered 359.7 passing yards, 2.3 touchdowns, and 24.6 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this year, giving up at least 21 fantasy points in every contest. While they have faced two talented quarterbacks, Los Angeles gave up 246 passing yards and 21 fantasy points to Ryan Tannehill in Week 2. Expect a similar performance from Garoppolo.
Streaming Targets in Superflex Leagues
While Anthony Richardson was the big-name rookie quarterback entering the season, Stroud has been productive for fantasy players. The former Ohio State star had a rocky Week 1. However, he has been fantastic the past two weeks, averaging 332 passing yards, two touchdowns, and 21.03 fantasy points per game, scoring 20.6 or more in both contests. While the rookie has faced two below-average secondaries, Stroud has another fantasy-friendly matchup this week against the Steelers.
Pittsburgh has made life difficult for opposing quarterbacks with sacks and turnovers. They have forced seven turnovers and sacked the quarterback 13 times over the first three weeks. However, Stroud has done well protecting the ball, throwing zero interceptions this season. Meanwhile, the Steelers have struggled to defend the pass, giving up 259.7 passing yards and 1.7 touchdowns per game. While they have held quarterbacks to 15.3 fantasy points per game, that average would be 4.7 points higher if the quarterbacks didn’t average 2.3 turnovers per game. If Stroud can protect the ball, the rookie can be a low-end QB1 in Week 4.
Bryce Young could play this week after missing the Week 3 matchup with an ankle injury. However, Dalton is an excellent cheap streaming option this week if he is the starter. The veteran quarterback was outstanding for fantasy players against the Seattle Seahawks, throwing 361 yards and two touchdowns, scoring 23.54 fantasy points. He was a top-10 quarterback last week and could repeat that performance in Week 4 against one of the worst defenses in the NFL.
While the Vikings’ offense has been elite for fantasy players, their defense has been equally valuable for the fantasy football world. Last week, Justin Herbert had 405 passing yards, three touchdowns, and 29.3 fantasy points against Minnesota. More importantly, the reigning NFC North champions have surrendered 257 passing yards, two touchdowns, and 23.5 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season, giving up at least 16 fantasy points in every contest. Fantasy players in superflex leagues that need a potential Derek Carr replacement should make Dalton their top priority off the waiver wire.
Streamer to Avoid
Typically, streaming articles tell you which players to target off the waiver wire. However, I will give one quarterback each week that you should avoid.
The Sunday night matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders was encouraging. Pickett had 235 passing yards, two touchdowns, and 18.5 fantasy points in the win. The second-year quarterback has at least 220 passing yards in every game this season. However, the former Pittsburgh Panther completed only 57.1% of his pass attempts in Week 3, the second time he has completed under 58% this year. Furthermore, it took a blown coverage 72-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Austin III for Pickett to score over 12 fantasy points for the first time this season.
More importantly, the second-year quarterback has an awful Week 4 matchup. The Texans have surrendered 16.7 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season. Yet, they have held Lamar Jackson and Trevor Lawrence 448 passing yards, one touchdown, and 20.92 fantasy points combined. Furthermore, the only quarterback to score more than 14.5 fantasy points against Houston this year is Anthony Richardson (17.74). However, 87.4% of his fantasy production in that contest came from his two rushing touchdowns. By comparison, the Texans have surrendered only 11.6 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season, outside of those two rushing scores.
Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.
