Welcome one and all to the very first edition of my Fantasy Life Quarterback Files! I’ll be kicking off the fantasy week by breaking down what we just saw in the free agent QB streets, whether or not we’re buying it and how to react going forward.

Week 1’s Top-Performing Free Agent Fantasy QBs 

(All players were rostered in fewer than 50% of leagues)

• Daniel Jones, IND — 272 PaYd, 1 PaTD, 0 Int; 26 RuYd, 2 RuTD: 29.5 PPR
• Aaron Rodgers, PIT — 244 PaYd, 4 PaTD, 0 Int; -1 RuYd 0 RuTD: 25.7 PPR
• Michael Penix Jr., ATL — 298 PaYd, 1 PaTD, 0 Int; 21 RuYd, 1 RuTD: 24.0 PPR
• Geno Smith, LV — 362 PaYd, 1 PaTD, 1 Int; 10 RuYd, 0 RuTD: 17.5 PPR
• Matthew Stafford, LAR — 245 PaYd, 1 PaTD, 0 Int; -2 RuYd, 0 RuTD: 13.6 PPR
• Joe Flacco, CLE — 290 PaYd, 1 PaTD, 2 Int; 6 RuYd, 0 RuTD: 11.6 PPR
• Russell Wilson, NYG — 168 PaYd, 0 PaTD, 0 Int; 44 RuYd, 0 RuTD: 11.1 PPR
• Spencer Rattler, NO — 214 PaYd, 0 PaTD, 0 Int; 29 RuYd, 0 RuTD: 8.6 PPR
• Bryce Young, CAR — 154 PaYd,  1 PaTD, 2 Int; 40 RuYd, 0 RuTD: 6.2 PPR
• Sam Darnold, SEA — 150 PaYd, 0 PaTD, 0 Int; 14 RuYd, 0 RuTD: 5.4 PPR
• Tua Tagovailoa, MIA — 114 PaYd, 1 PaTD, 2 Int; 7 RuYd, 0 RuTD: 4.6 PPR
• Cam Ward, TEN — 112 PaYd, 0 PaTD, 0 Int; 0 RuYd, 0 RuTD: 4.5 PPR

QB Streaming Survey Says…

Worth a weekly check-in on our free agent QB pool, and how it measures up to expected points added (EPA)—which usually correlates positively to fantasy success.

It’s a little early to overreact in any direction, but keeping your eye on the top-right of this chart below will steer you in the right direction when streaming more often than not.

1. Michael Penix Jr., ATL at MIN in Week 2

Atlanta’s second-year shot caller answered questions surrounding continuation of growth with an extremely productive performance this weekend. Habitually accurate and mindful of protecting the ball while avoiding sacks, Penix hinted at adding a new, exciting wrinkle for 2025—doubling his career scramble rate Sunday. Given the entire surrounding context around Atlanta (team talent, division, dome play), Penix is currently my top rest-of-season add. This could be just the tip of the iceberg.

2. Daniel Jones, IND vs DEN

Indiana Jones’ mini-breakout gets tested immediately this Sunday, as the Colts welcome the vaunted Broncos to town. Ever a tough matchup, Denver allowed just 12 points on a league-leading 74.5% defensive success rate in Week 1.

While I don’t love Indy’s chances against this stingy top-3 defensive unit, Jones should still be considered among the top fantasy QB adds due to the combination of rushing floor and upcoming schedule (@TEN, @LAR, LV). Sometimes streaming’s about the long game as well.

3. Bryce Young, CAR at ARI

Call it a shoot-from-the-hip matchup play, an irrational commitment to priors, or good old-fashioned stubbornness… I’m not quitting Bryce Young (yet). Sure, the Panthers stunk up the joint in a ten-point effort against Jacksonville, but I’m chalking it up to rust, regression, or something like that.

Carolina’s pass-catchers victimized Young with three drops to go with a tipped INT, leaving their QB with the league’s second-highest difference in completion and expected completion rates (-13.2%). Young also posted a 10% scramble rate on Sunday, showing the same willingness to run we saw at the end of 2024. Arizona may have held the hapless Saints to 13 points in Week 1, but they also finished with the NFL’s worst tackle success rate in doing so (38.4%). 

I’m not ready to write off the Panthers and Young just yet.

NOTE: There’s a clear tier-break for me here. Young represents the last guy I think could legitimately break out to move the needle on this season. You’ll always have a choice to fall back on streaming a statuesque veteran pocket passer.

4. Geno Smith, LV at LAC

When will we give Geno Smith proper credit for quality quarterbacking? Despite taking four sacks, Smith posted an impressive +70% completion rate, yielding the weekend’s second-best YPA (10.6!) behind only Lamar Jackson.

Without any rushing floor to speak of, his fantasy floor will be low—but the Raiders' questionable defense will also push him to provide some useful weeks.

5. Aaron Rodgers, PIT vs SEA

Speaking of aging, immobile QBs… Old Man Rodgers stuck his thumb in my projection’s eye after seeing my outright fade of everyone in black and yellow. But is it legit? Though it kills me to admit it, for real-life football at least, the answer’s likely yes. Arthur Smith’s ability to manipulate defenses with run schematics opened up a play-action mode in Rodgers that I’m not sure we’ve ever seen.

In case you’re wondering what AR12’s play-action stats were... how’s 8 of 10 for 101 yards and 3 TDs sound? Not too shabby. And it makes sense; give Rodgers an extra second to process through progressions to deliver the most impactful possible throw.

That said, temper expectations for fantasy spike-weeks given the slow pace of the Steeler offense. PIT scored the third-most points on the sixth-fewest plays—that’s not going to stick forever.

6. Matthew Stafford, LAR at TEN

Think of Matthew Stafford as sitting behind that glass you break in case of emergency. You hope to never find out what it’s like to use, but can operate fearlessly knowing it’s there. On any given weekend, you could get 300 yards with 3 TD, fine. But there’s also a reason Stafford’s rushing prop’s usually set at over/under half a yard. With Tennessee and Philadelphia’s tough secondaries up next, we can probably do better elsewhere in the short term..

Ranking The Best Of The Rest Streams:

• Russell Wilson, NYG at DAL
• Sam Darnold, SEA at PIT
• Joe Flacco, CLE at BAL
• Tua Tagovailoa, MIA vs NE
• Cam Ward, TEN vs LAR
• Spencer Rattler, NO vs SF