Fantasy Overview - Week 9

Photo: USA Today Sports

Week 8 is complete and the season is halfway over for the teams who have yet to have their bye. In most fantasy leagues there are only four or five more weeks left before the playoffs begin. Is your team in position for a playoff run? Do you need a few more wins to secure a berth? This week I take a look at some streaming options not only for Week 9 but also the rest of the season. It's always good to look ahead a few weeks for waiver claims or in some cases, four or five games ahead.

QUARTERBACK

Over the last four weeks, Oakland, Houston, Detroit, Tampa Bay, and Atlanta have averaged at least three passing touchdowns allowed per game. All except for Tampa Bay are also allowing over 300 yards passing per game.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE:

Oakland: DET, LAC, CIN, at NYJ, at KC
Who stands to benefit: Matthew Stafford Week 9, Philip Rivers Week 10, Ryan Funley Week 11, Sam Darnold Week 12, Patrick Mahomes II Week 13

Houston: at JAC, Bye, at BAL, IND, NE
Who stands to benefit: Gardner Minshew Week 9, Bye Week 10 Lamar Jackson Week 11, Jacoby Brissett Week 12, Tom Brady Week 13.

Detroit: at OAK, at CHI, DAL, at WAS, CHI
Who stands to benefit: Derek Carr Week 9, Mitchell Trubisky Week 10 and 13, Dak Prescott Week 11, Case Keenum/Dwayne Haskins Week 12.

Tampa Bay: at SEA, ARI, NO, at ATL, at JAC
Who stands to benefit: Russell Wilson Week 9, Kyler Murray Week 10, Drew Brees Week 11, Matt Ryan Week 12, Gardner Minshew Week 13.

Atlanta: Bye, at NO, at CAR, TB, NO
Who stands to benefit: Bye Week 9, Drew Brees Week 10 and 13, Cam Newton/Kyle Allen Week 11, Jameis Winston Week 12.

Other teams to target your quarterback against - stats against over the last four weeks

1. Green Bay - 331 passing yards allowed per game. at LAC (Rivers), CAR (Allen/Newton), Bye, at SF (Garoppolo).
2. Arizona - 304 passing yards allowed per game and 2.5 touchdown passes per game. SF (Garoppolo), at TB (Winston), at SF (Garoppolo), Bye.

RUNNING BACK

Running back streaming is more about opportunity than matchup because there aren't many streaming running back options available on the waiver wire, but there may be some possibilities sitting on your bench. Looking ahead, here are some marquee matchups to take note of.

Exploit these opponents: Kansas City, Chicago, Detroit, Carolina

Kansas City - next four games MIN, at TEN, at LAC, Bye, OAK

• The Chiefs have allowed 36.7 PPR fantasy points per game to running backs over the last four weeks
• Running backs have scored on average 0.8 rushing touchdowns and 1.0 receiving touchdowns with 7 receptions for 80 yards on average against the Chiefs over the last four weeks.

Who stands to benefit?
Week 9 Minnesota (Dalvin Cook)
Week 10 at Tennessee (Derrick Henry)
Week 11 at LA Chargers (Melvin Gordon, Austin Ekeler)
Week 13 Oakland (Josh Jacobs)

Chicago - next four games at PHI, DET, at LAR, NYG

• The Bears have allowed the second-most PPR fantasy points to opposing running backs over the last four weeks (35.7), including 105 rushing yards per game to running backs, and 2.0 rushing touchdowns allowed per game.
• Running backs average 7 receptions and 45 yards receiving with 0.3 receiving touchdowns in the last four weeks (three games)

Who stands to benefit?
Week 9 at Philadelphia (Jordan Howard, Miles Sanders)
Week 10 Detroit (Ty Johnson, Tra Carson)
Week 11 at LA Rams (Todd Gurley)
Week 12 NYG (Saquon Barkley)

Detroit - next four games at OAK, at CHI, DAL, at WAS

• The Lions have allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing running backs over the last four weeks, including 129 rushing yards per game to running backs and 0.7 rushing touchdowns per game.
• Running backs average 6 receptions and 52 yards receiving with 1.0 receiving touchdowns in the last four weeks (three games)

Who stands to benefit?
Week 9 at Oakland (Josh Jacobs)
Week 10 at Chicago (David Montgomery)
Week 11 Dallas (Ezekiel Elliott)
Week 12 at Washington (Adrian Peterson, Derrius Guice?)

Carolina - next four games TEN, at GB, ATL, at NO

• The Panthers have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs over the last four weeks, including a league-leading 2.3 rushing touchdowns allowed per game and 118 rushing yards to running backs per game.

Who stands to benefit?
Week 9 Tennessee (Derrick Henry)
Week 10 at Green Bay (Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams)
Week 11 Atlanta (Devonta Freeman)
Week 12 at New Orleans (Alvin Kamara, Latavius Murray)

Other teams to exploit:

Cleveland: 153 rushing yards allowed per game to running backs (last 3 games)
LA Chargers: 133 rushing yards allowed per game to running backs (last 4 games)
NY Giants: 127 rushing yards allowed per game to running backs, plus 1.0 rushing touchdowns allowed per game to running backs (last 4 games)
Buffalo: 1.7 rushing touchdowns allowed per game to running backs with 120 rushing yards allowed to running backs (last 3 games)

WIDE RECEIVER

There are several teams to exploit at wide receiver in the next four weeks. These are the ones you should target:

Exploit these opponents: Atlanta, Carolina, Houston, NY Giants

Atlanta - next four games Bye, at NO, at CAR, TB

• The Falcons have allowed 46.8 PPR fantasy points per game to wide receivers over the last four weeks
• Wide receivers have scored on average 1.3 receiving touchdowns and a league-high 230 receiving yards on 16 receptions over the last four weeks.

Who stands to benefit?
Week 9 Bye
Week 10 at New Orleans (Michael Thomas, Ted Ginn Jr)
Week 11 at Carolina (D.J. Moore, Curtis Samuel)
Week 13 Tampa Bay (Mike Evans, Chris Godwin)

Carolina - next four games TEN, at GB, ATL, at NO

• The Panthers have allowed the second-most PPR fantasy points per game to wide receivers (46.4) over the last three games.
• Wide receivers have scored on average 1.0 receiving touchdowns and 211 receiving yards on 16 receptions over the last four weeks.

Who stands to benefit?
Week 9 Tennessee (Corey Davis, A.J. Brown)
Week 10 at Green Bay (Devante Adams?, Marquez Valdes-Scantling)
Week 11 Atlanta (Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley)
Week 13 at New Orleans (Michael Thomas, Ted Ginn Jr)

Houston - next four games at JAC, Bye, at BAL, IND

• The Texans have allowed the third-most PPR fantasy points per game to wide receivers (45.2) over the last four games.
• Wide receivers have scored on average 2.3 receiving touchdowns and 191 receiving yards on 13 receptions over the last four weeks.

Who stands to benefit?
Week 9 at Jacksonville (D.J. Chark, Chris Conley, Dede Westbrook?)
Week 10 Bye
Week 11 at Baltimore (Marquise Brown, Willie Snead )
Week 13 Indianapolis (T.Y. Hilton, Zach Pascal)

NY Giants - next four games DAL, at NYJ, Bye, at CHI

• The Giants have allowed the fourth-most PPR fantasy points per game to wide receivers (41.7) over the last four games.
• Wide receivers have scored on average 1.3 receiving touchdowns and 194 receiving yards on 15 receptions over the last four weeks.

Who stands to benefit?
Week 9 Dallas (Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup)
Week 10 at NY Jets (Robby Anderson, Jamison Crowder)
Week 11 Bye
Week 13 at Chicago (Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel, Anthony Miller)

Other teams to exploit:

Green Bay: 230 receiving yards allowed per game to wide receivers, with 0.8 receiving touchdowns (last 4 games)
Cincinnati: 198 receiving yards allowed per game to wide receivers with 0.8 receiving touchdowns (last 4 games)
Miami: 152 receiving yards allowed per game to wide receivers with 2.0 receiving touchdowns (last 3 games)
Tampa Bay: 143 receiving yards allowed per game to wide receivers with 2.0 receiving touchdowns (last 3 games)
Arizona: 17 receptions allowed per game to wide receivers with 1.0 receiving touchdowns (last 4 games)

TIGHT END

Streaming tight ends on a weekly is a popular strategy that can be the difference between a win and a loss. Here are some matchups over the next four weeks to exploit.

Exploit these opponents: Seattle, Tampa Bay, Green Bay, Detroit

Seattle - next four weeks TB, at SF, Bye, at PHI

• The Seahawks have allowed the most PPR fantasy points per game to tight ends (19.6) over the last four games.
• Tight ends have scored on average 0.5 receiving touchdowns and 101 receiving yards on 7 receptions over the last four weeks.

Who stands to benefit?
Week 9 Tampa Bay (Cameron Brate, O.J. Howard?)
Week 10 at San Francisco (George Kittle)
Week 11 Bye
Week 13 at Philadelphia (Zach Ertz, Dallas Goedert)

Tampa Bay - next four weeks at SEA, ARI, NO, at ATL

• The Buccaneers are tied for the second-most PPR fantasy points per game allowed to tight ends (19.1) over the last three games.
• Tight ends have scored on average 0.7 receiving touchdowns and 84 receiving yards on 7 receptions over the last four weeks.

Who stands to benefit?
Week 9 Seattle (Luke Willson)
Week 10 Arizona (Charles Clay, Maxx Williams)
Week 11 New Orleans (Jared Cook)
Week 13 at Atlanta (Austin Hooper)

Green Bay - next four weeks at LAC, CAR, Bye, at SF

• The Packers are tied for the second-most PPR fantasy points per game allowed to tight ends (19.1) over the last four games.
• Tight ends have scored on average 1.0 receiving touchdowns and 73 receiving yards on 6 receptions over the last four weeks.

Who stands to benefit?
Week 9 at LA Chargers (Hunter Henry)
Week 10 Carolina (Greg Olsen)
Week 11 Bye
Week 13 at San Francisco (George Kittle)

Detroit - next four weeks at OAK, at CHI, DAL, at WAS

• The Lions have allowed the third-most PPR fantasy points per game to tight ends (17.8) over the last three weeks.
• Tight ends have scored on average 0.7 receiving touchdowns and 75 receiving yards on 6 receptions over the last three weeks.

Who stands to benefit?
Week 9 at Oakland (Darren Waller)
Week 10 at Chicago (Trey Burton)
Week 11 Dallas (Jason Witten)
Week 13 at Washington (Jeremy Sprinkle, Vernon Davis?, Jordan Reed?)

Other teams to exploit at tight end:

Pittsburgh: 67 receiving yards allowed per game to tight ends, with 0.7 receiving touchdowns (last 3 games)
Arizona: 68 receiving yards allowed per game to tight ends, with 0.5 receiving touchdowns (last 4 games)
LA Rams: 82 receiving yards and 6 receptions allowed per game to tight ends, with 0.3 receiving touchdowns (last 3 games)
Atlanta: 42 receiving yards allowed per game to tight ends, with 1.0 receiving touchdowns (last 4 games)
Oakland: 55 receiving yards allowed per game to tight ends, with 1.0 receiving touchdowns (last 3 games)

Teams to avoid starting against

Quarterbacks:

• San Francisco: 3.9 fantasy points allowed per game - last 4
• New England: 7.7 fantasy points allowed per game - last 4
• Denver: 12.0 fantasy points allowed per game - last 4
• LA Chargers: 14.8 fantasy points allowed per game - last 4
• New Orleans: 14.9 fantasy points allowed per game - last 4

Use these exploitations to your advantage. Set your lineups accordingly.

Questions, suggestions, and comments are always welcome to haseley@footballguys.com

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