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 for 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, Minnesota, Houston, and Cincinnati have averaged at least three passing touchdowns allowed per game. To narrow down the ultimate opponent exploit, Houston is also allowing over 300 yards passing per game. Minnesota and Cincinnati are up there as well with 293 and 270 yards per game respectively. Houston is a common theme of teams to exploit, across multiple positions. The bottom line, start your players against Houston.

Exploit these opponents: Minnesota, Houston, and Cincinnati

Houston: at JAC, at CLE, NE, at DET

Who stands to benefit: Gardner Minshew Jake Luton Week 9, Baker Mayfield Week 10, Cam Newton Week 11, and Matthew Stafford Week 12.

Minnesota: DET, at CHI, DAL, CAR
Who stands to benefit: Matthew Stafford, Nick Foles, Andy Dalton, Teddy Bridgewater

Cincinnati: BYE, at PIT, at WAS, NYG
Who stands to benefit: Bye Week 9, Ben Roethlisberger Week 10, Kyle Allen Week 11, Daniel Jones Week 12

Other teams to exploit at quarterback

1. Jacksonville - The Jaguars have given up the third-most fantasy points to quarterbacks in the last four weeks including 311 passing yards per game and 2.3 touchdown passes allowed per game. Next opponents include HOU (Watson), at GB (Rodgers), PIT (Roethlisberger), CLE (Mayfield).
2. NY Jets - New York has allowed 330 yards per game over the last four weeks with 2.3 touchdown passes allowed per game. Next opponents include NE (Newton), BYE, at LAC (Herbert), MIA (Tagovailoa)
3. Seattle - The Seahawks allow opposing quarterbacks an average of 46.9 pass attempts per game - almost a full 10 more attempts per game than the next closest team. Seattle is going to be a team to exploit, but those numbers could come down with the presence of Carlos Dunlap on the defensive line. The next four opponents on a brutal trip odometer include at BUF (Allen), at LAR (Goff), ARI (Murray), @PHI (Wentz).

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: Green Bay, Seattle, New England, Detroit, Houston

Green Bay - next four games at SF, JAC, at IND, CHI

• The Packers have allowed 36.4 PPR fantasy points per game to running backs over the last four weeks.
• Running backs have scored on average 1.7 rushing touchdowns and 0.7 receiving touchdowns with 5 receptions for 54 yards on average against the Packers over the last four weeks.
• Dalvin Cook and Ronald Jones II each had at least 2 rushing touchdowns and over 100 yards rushing against Green Bay in two of the last three weeks.

Who stands to benefit against the Packers?
Week 9 at San Francisco (JaMycal Hasty and possibly Tevin Coleman, Jerick McKinnon)
Week 10 Jacksonville (James Robinson)
Week 11 at Indianapolis (Jonathan Taylor, Jordan Wilkins)
Week 12 Chicago (David Montgomery)

Seattle - next four games at BUF, at LAR, ARI, at PHI

• The Seahawks have allowed the second-most PPR fantasy points to opposing running backs over the last four weeks (31.7), including 112 rushing yards per game to running backs, and 1.0 rushing touchdowns allowed per game.
• Running backs average 8 receptions and 68 yards receiving against Seattle in the last four weeks (three games)

Who stands to benefit?
Week 9 at Buffalo (Zack Moss, Devin Singletary)
Week 10 at Los Angeles Rams (Darrell Henderson, Cam Akers)
Week 11 at LA Rams (Chase Edmonds)
Week 12 NYG (Miles Sanders, Boston Scott)

New England - next four games at NYJ, BAL, at HOU, ARI

• The Patriots have allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing running backs over the last four weeks, including 160 rushing yards per game to running backs and 2.0 rushing touchdowns per game.
• Between the Bills and 49ers, the Patriots run defense has been gashed for 6 rushing touchdowns by running backs in just the last two games. Yardage is also easily attained against New England in this span which is often done so by more than one back.

Who stands to benefit?
Week 9 at New York (Lamical Perine, Frank Gore)
Week 10 Baltimore (J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards, maybe Mark Ingram)
Week 11 at Houston (David Johnson, Duke Johnson Jr)
Week 12 Arizona (Chase Edmonds, maybe Kenyan Drake)

Detroit - next four games at MIN, WAS, at CAR, HOU

• The Lions have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs over the last four weeks, including at least two scores (rushing or receiving) by running backs in four of the last six games.

Who stands to benefit?
Week 9 Minnesota (Dalvin Cook)
Week 10 Washington (Antonio Gibson, J.D. McKissic)
Week 11 at Carolina (Christian McCaffrey and maybe Mike Davis)
Week 12 Houston (David Johnson, Duke Johnson Jr)

Houston - next four games at JAC, at CLE, NE, at DET

• The Texans have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs over the last four weeks, including an average of 135 yards rushing by running backs over the last three games.
• The Texans have allowed three 100-yard rusher in the last five games, including a 200-yard effort from Derrick Henry.

Who stands to benefit?
Week 9 at Jacksonville (James Robinson)
Week 10 at Cleveland (Kareem Hunt, Nick Chubb)
Week 11 New England (Damien Harris, Sony Michel?)
Week 12 at Detroit (D'Andre Swift, Adrian Peterson)

Other teams to exploit:

Dallas: An average of 140 rushing yards allowed per game to running backs (last 4 games)
Buffalo: 132 rushing yards allowed per game to running backs (last 4 games) with 1.3 rushing touchdowns allowed.

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: Tennessee, New Orleans, Houston, Arizona

Tennessee - next four games CHI, IND, at BAL, at IND

• The Titans have allowed 53.7 PPR fantasy points per game to wide receivers over the last four weeks, most in the league.
• Wide receivers have scored on average 1.8 receiving touchdowns 213 receiving yards and 22 receptions per game over the last four weeks.
• Tennessee is also poor against third-down conversion allowing a conversion on 61.9% of third down plays, worst in the league.

Who stands to benefit?
Week 9 Chicago (Allen Robinson, Darnell Mooney, Anthony Miller)
Week 10 Indianapolis (Zach Pascal, Michael Pittman, Marcus Johnson)
Week 11 at Baltimore (Marquise Brown, Willie Snead, Devin Duvernay)
Week 12 Indianapolis (Zach Pascal, Michael Pittman, Marcus Johnson)

New Orleans - next four games at TB, SF, ATL, at DEN

• The Saints have allowed the second-most PPR fantasy points per game to wide receivers (53.3) over the last three games.
• Wide receivers have scored on average 2.3 receiving touchdowns and 217 receiving yards on 15 receptions over the last four weeks.
• A wide receiver has scored at least one touchdown in every game against New Orleans this season.

Who stands to benefit?
Week 9 at Tampa Bay (Mike Evans, Antonio Brown, Scotty Miller)
Week 10 San Francisco (Brandon Aiyuk, Kendrick Bourne, maybe Deebo Samuel)
Week 11 Atlanta (Julio Jones, Russell Gage, maybe Calvin Ridley)
Week 12 at Denver (Tim Patrick, Jerry Jeudy, DaeSean Hamilton, K.J. Hamler)

Houston - next four games at JAC, at CLE, NE, at DET

• The Texans have allowed the third-most PPR fantasy points per game to wide receivers (51.3) over the last four games.
• Wide receivers have scored on average 2.7 receiving touchdowns and 192 receiving yards on 16 receptions over the last four weeks.
• A wide receiver has scored at least one touchdown in every game but one against Houston this season. That one team was Baltimore.

Who stands to benefit?
Week 9 at Jacksonville (D.J. Chark, Laviska Shenault, Keelan Cole)
Week 10 at Cleveland (Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins)
Week 11 New England (Damiere Byrd, Jakobi Meyers, maybe Julian Edelman)
Week 12 at Detroit (Marvin Jones, Marvin Hall, maybe Kenny Golladay)

Arizona - next four games MIA, BUF, at SEA, at NE

• The Cardinals have allowed the fourth-most PPR fantasy points per game to wide receivers (49.5) over the last three games.
• Wide receivers have scored on average 1.7 receiving touchdowns and 209 receiving yards on 18 receptions over the last four weeks (three games).
• A wide receiver has scored at least one touchdown in every game but two against Arizona this season.

Who stands to benefit?
Week 9 Miami (Devante Parker, Preston Williams)
Week 10 at NY Jets (Stefon Diggs, John Brown, Cole Beasley)
Week 11 at Seattle (DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, David Moore)
Week 13 at New England (Damiere Byrd, Jakobi Meyers, maybe Julian Edelman)

Other teams to exploit:

Indianapolis: 223 receiving yards allowed per game to wide receivers, with 1.0 receiving touchdowns (last 3 games)
Atlanta: 218 receiving yards allowed per game to wide receivers with 1.3 receiving touchdowns (last 4 games)
Jacksonville: 214 receiving yards allowed per game to wide receivers with 1.0 receiving touchdowns (last 3 games)
Seattle: On average, 19 receptions allowed to wide receivers (last 3 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: Cincinnati, Houston, Las Vegas, Jacksonville

Cincinnati - next four weeks BYE, at PIT, at WAS, NYG

• The Bengals have allowed the most PPR fantasy points per game to tight ends (23.7) over the last four games.
• Tight ends have scored on average 1.5 receiving touchdowns and 72 receiving yards on 6 receptions over the last four weeks.
• Opposing tight ends have scored 6 times in the last four games against Cincinnati.

Who stands to benefit?
Week 9 BYE
Week 10 at Pittsburgh (Eric Ebron)
Week 11 at Washington (Logan Thomas)
Week 12 NY Giants (Evan Engram, Kaden Smith)

Houston - next four weeks at JAC, at CLE, NE, at DET

• The Texans have allowed the second-most PPR fantasy points per game allowed to tight ends (18.2) over the last three games.
• Tight ends have scored on average 0.7 receiving touchdowns and 72 receiving yards on 7 receptions over the last four weeks.

Who stands to benefit?
Week 9 at Jacksonville (James O'Shaughnessy)
Week 10 at CLE (David Njoku, Harrison Bryant)
Week 11 New England (Ryan Izzo)
Week 12 at Detroit (T.J. Hockenson)

Las Vegas - next four weeks at LAC, DEN, KC, at ATL

• The Raiders have allowed the third-most PPR fantasy points per game allowed to tight ends (18.1) over the last three games.
• Tight ends have scored on average 0.7 receiving touchdowns and 78 receiving yards on 6 receptions over the last four weeks.

Who stands to benefit?
Week 9 at LA Chargers (Hunter Henry)
Week 10 Denver (Noah Fant)
Week 11 KC (Travis Kelce)
Week 13 at Atlanta (Hayden Hurst)

Jacksonville - next four weeks HOU, GB, at PIT, CLE

• The Jaguars have allowed the fourth-most PPR fantasy points per game to tight ends (16.7) over the last three games.
• Tight ends have scored on average 1.3 receiving touchdowns and 51 receiving yards on 4 receptions over the last four weeks.
• The Jags have not allowed a tight end over 4 receptions this season, but they have given up 7 touchdowns to tight ends this season. When teams get in the red zone, they exploit Jacksonville by targeting tight ends, especially in the end zone.
• Opposing tight ends have not scored at least one touchdown against Jacksonville in only two games this year.

Who stands to benefit?
Week 9 Houston (Darren Fells, maybe Jordan Akins)
Week 10 Green Bay (Robert Tonyan Jr)
Week 11 at Pittsburgh (Eric Ebron)
Week 12 at CLE (David Njoku, Harrison Bryant)

Other teams to exploit at tight end:

Minnesota: 74 receiving yards allowed per game to tight ends, with 0.7 receiving touchdowns (last 3 games)
NY Jets: 69 receiving yards allowed per game to tight ends, with 0.8 receiving touchdowns (last 4 games)
Chicago: 63 receiving yards and 6 receptions allowed per game to tight ends, with 0.5 receiving touchdowns (last 4 games)
Buffalo: The Bills have allowed 6 touchdowns to tight ends this year and four scores in their last three games.

Teams to avoid starting against

Quarterbacks:

• New England: 11.5 fantasy points allowed per game - last 3
• Miami: 12.9 fantasy points allowed per game - last 3
• LA Rams: 14.6 fantasy points allowed per game - last 4
• Tampa Bay: 16.6 fantasy points allowed per game - last 4
• Washington: 16.9 fantasy points allowed per game - last 3

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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