3 Quarterback Streaming Targets for Your Fantasy Football Draft

Carson Palmer, QB, Arizona Cardinals

Why You Should Target Him: Amazing First-Quarter Schedule

Of all potential quarterback streaming options, Carson Palmer may be the most intriguing. While Bradford and Taylor are in good Week 1 spots, Palmer has juicy matchups for the first quarter of the season, as he'll face the Lions in Week 1, the Colts in Week 2, the Cowboys in Week 3, and the 49ers in Week 4. Each of those teams ranked in the bottom half in pass defense efficiency last year, according to our metrics, and three of the four -- Cowboys aside -- were bottom-10 defenses in fantasy points allowed to the quarterback position.

Again, these things don't correlate seamlessly year over year, but at the very least, these are average to above-average matchups.

Palmer himself has some year-long upside, though, too. As I mentioned last week (you may want to click that for more details on this), while his total air yards -- that is, the chunk of his passing yardage total that travelled through the air -- were relatively similar from 2015 to 2016 (2,897 versus 2,586), Palmer threw just 6 touchdowns on passes that went 15-plus yards downfield through the air last year versus 13 the previous season. Some quick regression analysis shows us that he should've thrown about 3.80 more of those types of touchdowns a season ago. Positive regression is a good thing.

And don't forget, back during that 2015 season, Palmer was a consistent, reliable fantasy producer, finishing the year with the fifth-most fantasy points at the position. It's not as though he lacks the upside.

So given the early-season matchups and the potential in the Cardinals' vertical offense, Palmer makes for the perfect late-round quarterback selection this season for streamers.