Josh Allen is on bye.
That alone is going to push a lot of fantasy managers toward the waiver wire this week.
Fortunately, Week 7 gives us several usable options.
Some are playing better football.
Others simply landed in matchups we want to attack.
That is what streaming quarterback is about.
Find volume. Find a vulnerable defense. Give yourself a path to multiple touchdowns.
Here are the quarterbacks I would target in Week 7.
1. C.J. Stroud, QB, Houston Texans
Rostered: Around 40%
C.J. Stroud is starting to look much more like the quarterback fantasy managers expected.
He threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns in Week 6 and has now averaged more than 300 passing yards over his last three games.
The biggest change is volume.
Houston has struggled to consistently generate offense on the ground, forcing more responsibility onto Stroud and the passing game.
That is exactly what we want from a streamer.
Now he gets the Giants.
New York has allowed multiple passing touchdowns in four of six games and has struggled against quarterbacks over the past month.
Stroud does not need an elite rushing floor when the passing volume is this strong.
Why Stream Him
The workload is there.
The matchup is favorable.
And the offense is leaning more heavily on Stroud than it was earlier in the year.
Verdict
My No. 1 Week 7 quarterback streamer.
If he is available, he is the first quarterback I would add.
2. Geno Smith, QB, New York Jets
Rostered: Around 5–10%
Geno Smith has not been a great fantasy quarterback this season.
That is okay.
This is a matchup play.
Miami has allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete passes at a very high rate while giving up plenty of production through the air.
Geno also got another weapon back in Week 6.
Omar Cooper Jr. immediately made an impact, catching six passes for 103 yards and a touchdown.
That gives Smith another legitimate option in a matchup we already wanted to attack.
He does not need to suddenly become an elite quarterback.
He just needs to take advantage of the environment.
Why Stream Him
This is one of the best quarterback matchups on the Week 7 slate.
And unlike some of the other streamers, Geno should still be widely available.
Verdict
My favorite widely available one-week streamer.
If Stroud is gone, Geno is the next quarterback I would look at.
3. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Rostered: Around 25–35%
Aaron Rodgers has quietly become useful again.
He has finished as a top-12 fantasy quarterback in four straight games and has thrown 11 touchdowns during that stretch.
More importantly, Pittsburgh is letting him throw.
Rodgers attempted 49 passes in Week 6 and has reached at least 39 attempts in four of six games.
That kind of volume gives us a much better fantasy floor.
Now he gets New Orleans.
The Saints have struggled against opposing quarterbacks over the past month, giving Rodgers another realistic path to multiple touchdowns.
The rushing ceiling is nonexistent.
The passing floor is becoming difficult to ignore.
Why Stream Him
Rodgers has volume, touchdown production, and a matchup that does not scare us.
That combination is enough to make him useful even without rushing production.
Verdict
Strong floor play with enough touchdown upside to finish as a QB1 again.
4. Michael Penix Jr., QB, Atlanta Falcons
Rostered: Around 15–20%
Michael Penix Jr. finally gave fantasy managers the breakout game.
He threw three touchdown passes against Chicago after totaling only three across his first three starts.
The touchdowns were nice.
The passing volume may have been more important.
Atlanta fell behind early, forcing Penix to attempt a season-high 33 passes.
That kind of game script could happen again against San Francisco.
The 49ers are capable of forcing opponents to throw, and Penix has enough weapons around him to take advantage if Atlanta is chasing points.
That makes him more interesting than the raw season-long numbers suggest.
Why Stream Him
The ceiling rises significantly if Atlanta is forced into another 30-plus attempt game.
You are betting on game script as much as the quarterback himself.
Verdict
Solid upside streamer in deeper leagues.
He carries more volatility than Stroud or Rodgers, but the ceiling is there.
5. Tanner McKee, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
Rostered: Around 5%
This is the deeper-league swing.
With Jalen Hurts expected to miss significant time, Tanner McKee is now in line to run Philadelphia’s offense.
His first start was not spectacular.
He threw for 215 yards and one touchdown.
Week 7 gives him a much better setup.
Dallas has been one of the most favorable quarterback matchups in fantasy football, consistently allowing opposing passers to produce.
McKee will also have legitimate weapons around him.
DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert give him proven targets, and Philadelphia now has a full week to build the offense around him rather than asking him to step in unexpectedly.
That matters.
Why Stream Him
The matchup is strong.
The supporting cast is good.
And the Eagles have time to design the offense around what McKee does well.
Verdict
Best deep-league and Superflex streamer of Week 7.
He is riskier in standard one-quarterback leagues, but the setup is much better than his name value suggests.
Week 7 QB Streaming Rankings
- C.J. Stroud vs. NYG
- Geno Smith vs. MIA
- Aaron Rodgers vs. NO
- Michael Penix Jr. vs. SF
- Tanner McKee vs. DAL
Check Your Waiver Wire
There are two quarterbacks worth checking even though their roster percentages may normally keep them out of streaming articles.
Kyler Murray vs. Indianapolis
Kyler Murray gets a favorable matchup against a Colts defense that has struggled against quarterbacks.
His rushing involvement has also improved recently, giving him a much better fantasy floor than he had earlier in the season.
If someone dropped him, he belongs ahead of most traditional streaming options.
Jordan Love at Detroit
Jordan Love gets another attractive matchup after producing a QB1 finish against Dallas.
Detroit has consistently allowed strong fantasy production to quarterbacks, and Love has now put together back-to-back useful weeks.
If he is somehow available, he would immediately become one of my favorite Week 7 starts.
Who Should You Prioritize?
Best Overall Option
C.J. Stroud: The combination of volume, recent production, and matchup makes him the strongest play.
Best Matchup Play
Geno Smith: You are attacking Miami more than betting on Geno. That is perfectly fine for one week.
Best Veteran Floor
Aaron Rodgers: The passing volume has become difficult to ignore.
Best Upside Swing
Michael Penix Jr.: Another pass-heavy game script could unlock a much bigger fantasy ceiling.
Best Deep-League Play
Tanner McKee: The Dallas matchup and Philadelphia’s supporting cast give him a legitimate path to usefulness.
Looking Ahead to Week 8
Jacoby Brissett is worth remembering.
Arizona gets Dallas in Week 8, giving Brissett a matchup against one of the most fantasy-friendly quarterback defenses in football.
If you already know you will need another streamer next week and have the bench space, this is a spot where getting ahead could save you FAAB.
Final Verdict
C.J. Stroud is the clear priority if he is available.
After that, the decision depends on what you need.
If you only need one week, I would lean Geno Smith and attack the matchup.
If you want the safer veteran option, Aaron Rodgers continues to provide enough passing volume to trust.
If you are chasing ceiling, Michael Penix Jr. is the swing.
And if you are digging deeper or playing Superflex, Tanner McKee has one of the better setups available.
That is quarterback streaming.
You are not trying to find the best quarterback in football.
You are trying to find the quarterback in the best situation this week.
Related research
Start/sit calls for players in this article
- Should I start Josh Allen?This week's start/sit callOpen
- Should I start C.J. Stroud?This week's start/sit callOpen
- Should I start Geno Smith?This week's start/sit callOpen
- Should I start Omar Cooper?This week's start/sit callOpen
- Should I start Aaron Rodgers?This week's start/sit callOpen
- Should I start Michael Penix?This week's start/sit callOpen
Tools for this week
- Start/sit toolGet a start/sit call for any player this weekOpen
- Rest-of-season rankingsEvery position, updated weeklyOpen
- Trade value chartWhat every player is worth in a redraft tradeOpen
- Strength of scheduleEasiest and hardest remaining schedules by positionOpen
