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, Miami, Baltimore, New York Jets, Cincinnati, and New England have averaged at least 300-plus passing yards allowed per game. To narrow down the ultimate opponent exploit, Miami is also allowing 2.5 touchdown passes per game in that span. Cleveland and Washington are up there as well allowing 2.8 and 2.5 passing touchdowns per game respectively.
Exploit These Passing Game Opponents: Miami, Baltimore, NY Jets, Cincinnati, and New England.
Upcoming schedule
Miami: HOU, BAL, at NYJ, CAR
Who stands to benefit:
- Tyrod Taylor, Davis Mills Week 9
- Lamar Jackson Week 10
- Mike White/Zach Wilson Week 11
- Sam Darnold Week 12
Baltimore: MIN, at MIA, at CHI, CLE
Who stands to benefit:
- Kirk Cousins Week 9
- Tua Tagovailoa Week 10
- Justin Fields Week 11
- Baker Mayfield Week 12
New York Jets: at IND, BUF, MIA, at HOU
Who stands to benefit:
- Carson Wentz Week 9
- Josh Allen Week 10
- Tua Tagovailoa Week 11
- Davis Mills Week 12
Cincinnati: CLE, Bye, at LSV, PIT
Who stands to benefit:
- Baker Mayfield Week 9
- BYE Week 10
- Derek Carr Week 11
- Ben Roethlisberger Week 12
New England: at CAR, CLE, at ATL, TEN
Who stands to benefit:
- Sam Darnold/P.J. Walker Week 9
- Baker Mayfield Week 10
- Matt Ryan Week 11
- Ryan Tannehill Week 12
Teams to keep your quarterback away from
- Arizona - 188 passing yards allowed on average over the last four weeks - they have allowed the fewest fantasy points (15.4 per game) to quarterbacks in that span.
- San Francisco - 188 passing yards allowed on average over the last four weeks - like Arizona, the 49ers have allowed less than 200 yards passing per game in that span.
- Buffalo - The Bills are averaging 0.7 passing touchdowns allowed per game over the last four weeks.
- SEA, PIT, GB, LAC, ARI, MIN, BUF - 7 teams allowing 1.0 touchdown pass or less per game in the last four weeks.
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, some of which include potential streaming options or waiver claims.
Exploit These Opponents: LA Chargers, NY Jets, Houston, and Denver
LA Chargers
- Allow 31 rushes per game to opposing running backs over the last four weeks (most in the league)
- Allow an average of 156 yards rushing to opposing backs in the last four weeks (most in the league)
- Allow an average of 2.3 rushing touchdowns to running backs in the last four weeks (most in the league).
- 10 touchdowns allowed to running backs this season (9 rush, 1 rec) - seven of those scores have come in the last three games.
Who stands to benefit against the Chargers?
- Week 9 at PHI - Boston Scott, Jordan Howard, Kenneth Gainwell
- Week 10 MIN - Dalvin Cook
- Week 11 PIT - Najee Harris
- Week 12 at DEN - Melvin Gordon, Javonte Williams
NY Jets
- The Jets have allowed the most PPR fantasy points to opposing running backs this season (37.6 FP/gm) and a whopping 42.5 FP/gm since Week 5 - easily the most in the league.
- Running backs average 22 carries for 90 yards against the Jets over the last four weeks but the kicker is they have allowed 8 touchdowns to running backs in the last three games (6 rushing, 2 receiving), PLUS an average of 9 receptions for 88 yards.
- All told, the Jets have allowed 13 total touchdowns to running backs this season in seven games.
The Jets schedule coming up: at IND, BUF, MIA, at HOU
Who stands to benefit?
- Week 9 at IND - Jonathan Taylor
- Week 10 BUF - Devin Singletary, Zack Moss
- Week 11 MIA - Myles Gaskin, Salvon Ahmed
- Week 12 at HOU - David Johnson, Rex Burkhead, Phillip Lindsay
Houston
- The Texans have allowed an average of 145 rushing yards on 27 carries since Week 5.
- They have allowed five touchdowns to running backs in the last three games (4 rushing, 1 receiving).
Who stands to benefit?
- Week 9 at Miami - Myles Gaskin, Salvon Ahmed
- Week 10 BYE
- Week 11 at TEN - Adrian Peterson, Jeremy McNichols
- Week 12 NYJ - Michael Carter, Ty Johnson
Denver
- The Broncos have allowed the third-most PPR points (33.1 FP/gm) to running backs since Week 5
- Denver has allowed 7 touchdowns to running backs this season. All have come since Week 4
- On average running backs are averaging 26 carries for 124 yards over the last four weeks
Who stands to benefit?
- Week 9 at DAL - Ezekiel Elliott, Tony Pollard
- Week 10 PHI - Boston Scott, Jordan Howard, Kenneth Gainwell
- Week 11 BYE
- Week 12 LAC - Austin Ekeler, Justin Jackson
Teams to keep your running back away from
- San Francisco - The 49ers have allowed only one 100-yard rusher this season (Jonathan Taylor in Week 7). They have not had a running backs exceed 3 receptions against them since Week 1 when Detroit tallied 16 receptions from D'Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams. The 49ers have allowed the fewest PPR points to running backs since Week 5.
- Tampa Bay - The Bucs have allowed two rushing touchdowns to running backs all season. They have allowed 4 receiving touchdowns to running backs though, so keep that in mind.
- Tennessee - Teams have struggled to run the ball against Tennessee averaging only 15 carries per game for 76. yards since Week 5.
- Washington - The Football Team has allowed only 63 yards rushing per game to running backs over the last four weeks. They have averaged a rushing touchdown per game allowed in that span, but the yardage has been tough to come by against foes such as Atlanta, Kansas City, Green Bay, and Denver.
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: Miami, New Orleans, Tennessee, and Washington
Miami
- The Dolphins have allowed 53.4 PPR fantasy points per game to wide receivers over the last four weeks, most in the league.
- Wide receivers have scored on average 2.3 receiving touchdowns 221 receiving yards and 18 receptions per game over the last four weeks.
- Miami is also poor against third-down conversion allowing a conversion on 51.9% of third-down plays, second-worst in the league. (Washington 57%)
Who stands to benefit?
- Week 9 HOU - Brandin Cooks, Nico Collins
- Week 10 BAL - Marquise Brown, Rashod Bateman
- Week 11 at NYJ - Corey Davis, Elijah Moore, Jamison Crowder
- Week 12 CAR - D.J. Moore, Robby Anderson, Terrace Marshall
New Orleans
- The Saints have allowed the third-most PPR fantasy points per game to wide receivers (43.5) over the last four weeks.
- Wide receivers have scored on average 1.3 receiving touchdowns and 216 receiving yards on 13 receptions over the last four weeks.
- The Saints have allowed 8 touchdowns to wide receivers this year, all over the last six games.
Who stands to benefit?
- Week 9 ATL - Tajae Sharpe, Russell Gage
- Week 10 at TEN - A.J. Brown, Julio Jones
- Week 11 at PHI - DeVonta Smith, Jalen Reagor, Quez Watkins
- Week 12 BUF - Stefon Diggs, Emmanuel Sanders, Cole Beasley
Tennessee
- The Titans have allowed the most PPR fantasy points per game to wide receivers (46.4) this season.
- Wide receivers have scored on average 1.5 receiving touchdowns and 209 receiving yards on 16 receptions.
- In five of their eight games, Tennessee has allowed two-plus touchdowns to wide receivers.
Who stands to benefit?
- Week 9 at LAR - Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, Van Jefferson
- Week 10 NO - Marquez Callaway, Michael Thomas?, Deonte Harris, Tre'Quan Smith
- Week 11 HOU - Brandin Cooks, Nico Collins
- Week 12 at NE - Jakobi Meyers, Kendrick Bourne, Nelson Agholor
Washington
- The Football Team has allowed the third-most PPR fantasy points per game to wide receivers (43.3) over the last four weeks.
- Wide receivers have scored on average 1.4 receiving touchdowns and 196 receiving yards on 15 receptions over the last four weeks (three games).
- Washington has allowed at least two wide receiver scores in four of their games this season.
Who stands to benefit?
- Week 9 Bye
- Week 10 TB - Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, Antonio Brown
- Week 11 at CAR - D.J. Moore, Robby Anderson, Terrace Marshall
- Week 13 SEA - DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett
Teams to keep your wide receiver away from
- LA Chargers - start your running backs against the Chargers, but fade your wide receivers. Los Angeles has allowed the fewest PPR points/gm (26.3) to wide receivers this season. They have allowed only three touchdown receptions to wide receivers all year. Teams stop passing against them, averaging only 11 receptions to wide receivers per game, lowest in the league.
- Buffalo - Buffalo has allowed only two touchdowns to wide receivers this year. They are right behind the Chargers for the stingiest team against wide receivers, allowing 122 yards on 13 receptions per game.
- Tampa Bay - The Bucs have turned around their pass defense to wide receivers. In the last five games, they have allowed only one touchdown to wide receivers (Tre'Quan Smith). They also have not allowed a single wide receiver more than three receptions in any of their last four games. The competition isn't great (NO, CHI, PHI, MIA) but that's still impressive.
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: NY Jets, Kansas City, Indianapolis, and Philadelphia
New York Jets
- The Jets started off well against tight ends, but in the last three games, they have allowed three touchdowns to tight ends including a 100-yard effort from Kyle Pitts.
The Jets schedule coming up: at IND, BUF, MIA, at HOU
Who stands to benefit?
- Week 9 at IND - Mo Alie-Cox, Jack Doyle
- Week 10 BUF - Dawson Knox
- Week 11 MIA - Mike Gesicki, Durham Smythe
- Week 12 at HOU - Jordan Akins, Brevin Jordan
Kansas City
- The Chiefs have allowed six touchdowns to tight ends this season.
- All have come in the last five games (PHI, BUF, WAS, TEN, NYG)
Who stands to benefit?
- Week 9 GB - Marcedes Lewis, Josiah Deguara
- Week 10 at LSV - Darren Waller, Foster Morreau
- Week 11 DAL - Dalton Schultz, Blake Jarwin
- Week 12 Bye
Indianapolis
- The Colts are tied (IND) for having allowed the second-most PPR fantasy points per game allowed to tight ends (19.2) over the last four weeks.
- Tight ends have scored on average 0.8 receiving touchdowns and 74 receiving yards on 7 receptions over the last four weeks. The majority of that came from Mark Andrews in Week 5.
Who stands to benefit?
- Week 9 NYJ - Tyler Kroft
- Week 10 at JAC - Dan Arnold
- Week 11 at BUF - Dawson Knox
- Week 13 TB - Rob Gronkowski, O.J. Howard
Philadelphia
- The Eagles are tied (PHI) for having allowed the second-most PPR fantasy points per game allowed to tight ends (19.2) over the last four weeks.
- Tight ends have scored on average 0.8 receiving touchdowns and 69 receiving yards on 8 receptions over the last four weeks.
- Philadelphia has allowed six touchdowns to tight ends this season, all in the last six games.
- A tight end has reached six receptions in four of the Eagles
Who stands to benefit?
Week 9 LAC - Jared Cook, Donald Parham
Week 10 at DEN - Noah Fant, Albert Okwuegbunam
Week 11 NO - Juwan Johnson, Adam Trautman
Week 12 at NYG - Evan Engram, Kyle Rudolph
Teams to keep your tight end away from
- Arizona - The Cardinals are one of four teams (ARI, DEN, NO, MIN) who have not allowed a touchdown to a tight end this year. Only one tight end (Tyler Higbee) has more than three receptions against them in a game. Higbee had four, for 36 yards. The most yards allowed to a tight end this season has been 49 to Robert Tonyan Jr in Week 8.
- Denver - Only Mark Andrews and Darren Waller (5 receptions each) have caught over 2 receptions against Denver this season. The Broncos have not allowed a touchdown to a tight end, and four times, they held an opponent's tight end to less than 20 yards.
- Minnesota - Zero touchdowns allowed, plus only twice has a tight end exceeded two receptions. The Vikings held T.J. Hockenson and Dalton Schultz to two catches each in Week 5 and Week 8.
Use these exploitations to your advantage. Set your lineups accordingly.
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