Week 16 of the 2025 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 17.
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Fantasy Football Quarterback Streamers & Waiver Wire Pickups
All the quarterbacks in this article are rostered in under 50% of ESPN leagues.
Sam Darnold (SEA) vs. Carolina Panthers (43.4% Rostered)
Many fantasy players benched Darnold last week because of the matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. Despite throwing two interceptions against a talented defense, the former USC star was productive for fantasy players in a massive win over the division rivals. The veteran completed 64.7% of his pass attempts for 270 yards, two touchdowns, and 19.5 fantasy points. Furthermore, he has played well lately despite facing some excellent pass defenses, averaging 14.8 fantasy points per game over the past five weeks, totaling 17.7 or more in 60% of the outings.
While Darnold only spent one year with the Panthers, it could be a revenge game for the former USC star on Sunday. Last week, Baker Mayfield continued his cold streak against Carolina, totaling 145 passing yards, a touchdown, and 12.7 fantasy points on 26 attempts. However, the Panthers have had issues with quarterbacks lately. Tyler Shough had 272 passing yards, a touchdown, and 18.1 fantasy points against them in Week 15. Furthermore, they have given up 18 or more fantasy points to quarterbacks in six of their past 12 matchups.
Tyler Shough (NO) vs. Tennessee Titans (10.9% Rostered)
Speaking of Shough, I feel like I’m beating a dead horse at this point. The rookie has been a consistent member of this article, appearing for the fourth consecutive week and the fifth time since the Saints’ Week 11 bye. He hasn’t been a superstar, scoring over 21 fantasy points only once this season. Yet, the former Louisville star has been a top-10 quarterback lately, averaging 240.8 passing yards, a touchdown, and 18.5 fantasy points per game over the past four weeks, totaling 17 or more in every contest.
Last week, Shough completed 65.3% of his career-high 49 pass attempts for 308 yards, a touchdown, and 17.1 fantasy points despite Taysom Hill stealing a 38-yard touchdown pass. Thankfully, he has another excellent fantasy matchup on Sunday against the Titans. Tennessee “held” Gardner Minshew and Chris Oladokun to 6.5 fantasy points last week. However, they had surrendered 283 passing yards, 2.5 touchdowns, and 24.7 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks over the previous four contests, allowed at least 395 yards, three touchdowns, and 26.2 fantasy points in back-to-back weeks.
Kirk Cousins (ATL) vs. Los Angeles Rams (5.9% Rostered)
Cousins isn’t the ideal streaming option during fantasy championship week. However, the veteran has been solid as Atlanta’s starter outside of the matchup against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 14. Furthermore, he has played well lately and has an underrated matchup against the Rams on Monday. Last week, Cousins completed 60% of his pass attempts for 197 yards, two touchdowns, and 17.6 fantasy points against the Arizona Cardinals. Furthermore, he was outstanding in Week 15, completing 68.2% of his pass attempts for 373 yards, three touchdowns, and 26.9 fantasy points.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles has had an elite pass defense for most of the year, surrendering single-digit fantasy points to quarterbacks six times over their first 11 matchups. However, they have struggled to slow down opposing quarterbacks after their impressive start. The Rams have given up 271.3 passing yards, 2.5 touchdowns, and 21.7 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks over the past four weeks, allowing at least two touchdowns and 19 fantasy points in every outing despite facing Bryce Young, Jacoby Brissett, Jared Goff, and Sam Darnold during that stretch.
Cam Ward (TEN) vs. New Orleans Saints (5.9% Rostered)
No one wanted to start Ward in fantasy earlier this season, even in superflex leagues. However, the rookie has quietly played well since the Titans’ bye week. He has averaged 182.4 passing yards, 1.4 touchdowns, and 14.9 fantasy points per game over the past five weeks, totaling 15 or more in 60% of the contests. Furthermore, Ward has had two passing touchdowns in three consecutive games despite facing multiple solid pass defenses. Last week, he had 228 passing yards, two touchdowns, and 18 fantasy points against the Kansas City Chiefs.
More importantly, Ward has a solid matchup during fantasy championship week against the Saints. New Orleans has quietly been one of the hottest teams in the NFL, winning three consecutive games. However, they haven’t faced an elite quarterback during that stretch. Last week, the Saints “held” Brady Cook to 188 passing yards, zero touchdowns, two turnovers, and 3.7 fantasy points. By comparison, they had surrendered 201.3 passing yards, two touchdowns, and 14.3 fantasy points per contest to quarterbacks over their previous three matchups before the three-game win streak.
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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.