Week 8 is complete, and the season is already nearing the midpoint. In most fantasy leagues, there are only four or five more weeks left before the playoffs begin. Is your team in a 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, Atlanta, Minnesota, Kansas City, and Pittsburgh have averaged at least 300-plus passing yards allowed per game. To narrow down the ultimate opponent exploit, Pittsburgh is also allowing 2.5 touchdown passes per game in that span. Las Vegas is up there as well, allowing 274 passing yards and 2.7 passing touchdowns per game.
EXPLOIT THESE PASSING GAME OPPONENTS: Atlanta, Minnesota, Kansas City, and Pittsburgh
Upcoming schedule
Atlanta: LAC, at CAR, CHI, at WAS
Who stands to benefit:
- Justin Herbert Week 9
- P.J. Walker Week 10
- Justin Fields Week 11
- Taylor Heinicke Week 12
Minnesota: at WAS, at BUF, DAL, NE
Who stands to benefit:
- Taylor Heinicke Week 9
- Josh Allen Week 10
- Dal Prescott Week 11
- Mac Jones Week 12
Kansas City: TEN, JAC, at LAC, LAR
Who stands to benefit:
- Ryan Tannehill/Malik Willis Week 9
- Trevor Lawrence Week 10
- Justin Herbert Week 11
- Matthew Stafford Week 12
Pittsburgh: Bye, NO, CIN, at IND
Who stands to benefit:
- BYE Week 9
- Andy Dalton Week 10
- Joe Burrow Week 11
- Sam Ehlinger Week 12
Teams to keep your quarterback away from
- LA Rams - Allowed an average of 152 yards passing per game with only 0.7 passing touchdowns allowed per game in the last four weeks. Their 8.1 fantasy points allowed in that span is the best in the league. The Rams' last four opponents - DAL, CAR, BYE, SF
- Denver - Has allowed only two touchdown passes since Week 1 and zero passing games allowed over 255 yards.
- Houston - Has allowed only three touchdown passes since Week 2 and has forced seven interceptions.
- Chicago - Has not allowed a 300-yard passer and has four games of less than 200 yards passing allowed. They have forced nine interceptions from quarterbacks.
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: HOUSTON, LAS VEGAS, LA Chargers, Cleveland
HOUSTON
- Allow 184 rushing yards per game to opposing running backs over the last four weeks (most in the league)
- Allow an average of 27 carries to opposing backs in the last four weeks (most in the league)
- Allow an average of 1.7 rushing touchdowns to running backs in the last four weeks (second-most in the league).
- 11 touchdowns allowed to running backs this season (10 rush, 1 rec) - seven of those scores have come in the last four games.
Who stands to benefit against the Texans?
- Week 9 PHI - Miles Sanders, Boston Scott, Kenneth Gainwell
- Week 10 at NYG - Saquon Barkley
- Week 11 WAS - Brian Robinson Jr, Antonio Gibson
- Week 12 at MIA - Jeff Wilson, Raheem Mostert
Las Vegas
- The Raiders have allowed the second-most PPR fantasy points to opposing running backs (35.5) since Week 5
- Running backs averaged 21 carries for 84 yards against the Raiders over the last four weeks but the kicker is they allowed 3 touchdowns to running backs last week against the Saints.
The Raiders' schedule coming up: at JAC, IND, at DEN, at SEA
Who stands to benefit?
- Week 9 at JAC - Travis Etienne
- Week 10 IND - Jonathan Taylor, Deon Jackson
- Week 11 at DEN - Melvin Gordon, Chase Edmonds
- Week 12 at SEA - Kenneth Walker
LA Chargers
- The Chargers have allowed an average of 122 rushing yards on 24 carries since Week 5.
- They have allowed five touchdowns to running backs in the last three games (all rushing).
- The Chargers have allowed three 100-yard rushers this season. Each one has scored at least one rushing touchdown.
Who stands to benefit?
- Week 9 at ATL - Tyler Allgeier, maybe Cordarrelle Patterson
- Week 10 at SF - Christian McCaffrey
- Week 11 KC - Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Isaih Pacheco
- Week 12 at ARI - James Conner, Eno Benjamin
Cleveland
- The Browns have allowed the fourth-most PPR points (31.4 FP/gm) to running backs since Week 5,
- Cleveland has allowed 12 touchdowns to running backs this season (10 rushing, 2 receiving).
- On average, running backs are averaging 24 carries for 111 yards over the last four weeks,
Who stands to benefit?
- Week 9 BYE
- Week 10 PHI - Jeff Wilson, Raheem Mostert
- Week 11 at BUF - Devin Singletary, James Cook
- Week 12 TB - Leonard Fournette, Rachaad White
Teams to keep your running back away from
- Minnesota - The Vikings have not allowed a rusher over 60 yards since Week 3. 15.1 PPR FP/gm allowed in the last four weeks is the best in the league. Only one running back has 20 carries or more against them this year.
- Dallas - The Cowboys have allowed only three touchdowns to running backs all year and only one 100-yard rusher since Week 1.
- Buffalo - The Bills have allowed only two running backs over 50 yards rushing this season, and they both came last week against Green Bay (Aaron Jones 143 and A.J. Dillon 54). They have allowed five touchdowns to running backs this year (4 rushing, 1 receiving).
- Tennessee has allowed only one rushing touchdown to a running back this year (Saquon Barkley Week 1). Barkley is also the only 100-yard rusher against the Titans. No back has reached 70 yards rushing since.
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, Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Kansas City
Atlanta
- The Dolphins have allowed 52.2 PPR fantasy points per game to wide receivers over the last four weeks, the most in the league.
- Wide receivers have scored an average of 1.5 receiving touchdowns, 255 receiving yards, and 17 receptions per game over the last four weeks.
- Atlanta has allowed a touchdown to a wide receiver in every game but two. Four different wide receivers have 2+ touchdowns in four games against the Falcons this year.
Who stands to benefit?
- Week 9 LAC - Keenan Allen, Josh Palmer
- Week 10 at CAR - D.J. Moore, Terrace Marshall
- Week 11 CHI - Darnell Mooney, Chase Claypool
- Week 12 at WAS - Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel, Jahan Dotson?
Pittsburgh
- The Steelers have allowed the second-most PPR fantasy points per game to wide receivers (50.9) over the last four weeks.
- Wide receivers have scored an average of 2.0 receiving touchdowns and 247 receiving yards on 14 receptions over the last four weeks.
- The Steelers have allowed 13 touchdowns to wide receivers this year.
Who stands to benefit?
- Week 9 BYE
- Week 10 NO - Chris Olave, Michael Thomas?
- Week 11 CIN - Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd
- Week 12 at IND - Michael Pittman, Alec Pierce, Parris Campbell
Minnesota
- The Vikings have allowed the third-most PPR fantasy points per game to wide receivers (44.2) in the last four weeks.
- Wide receivers have scored an average of 1.0 receiving touchdowns and 225 receiving yards on 15 receptions in the last four weeks.
- The Vikings have allowed only five touchdowns to wide receivers this season but have struggled recently, allowing 159 yards to DeAndre Hopkins, 177 yards to Tyreek Hill, and 129 yards to Jaylen Waddle - all of which came in their last two games.
Who stands to benefit?
- Week 9 at WAS - Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel, Jahan Dotson?
- Week 10 at BUF - Stefon Diggs, Gabe Davis
- Week 11 DAL - CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup
- Week 12 NE - Jakobi Meyers, Tyquan Thornton
Kansas City
- The Chiefs have allowed the fourth-most PPR fantasy points per game to wide receivers (44.0) over the last four weeks.
- Wide receivers have scored an average of 1.7 receiving touchdowns and 202 receiving yards on 14 receptions over the last four weeks (three games).
- Kansas City has allowed at least one touchdown to a wide receiver in all but one game this season.
Who stands to benefit?
- Week 9 TEN - Robert Woods
- Week 10 JAC - Christian Kirk, Zay Jones
- Week 11 at LAC - Keenan Allen, Josh Palmer
- Week 13 LAR - Cooper Kupp, Allen Robinson, Ben Skowronek
Teams to keep your wide receiver away from
- Denver - The Broncos have allowed only one touchdown to a wide receiver this year - Brandon Aiyuk in Week 3. Davante Adams totaled 101 receiving yards but nobody else has cracked more than 81 yards.
- Rams - The Rams have allowed just two touchdowns to wide receivers since Week 2. They have allowed the fewest PPR points per game (15.4) to wide receivers since Week 5.
- Colts - Indianapolis has allowed two touchdowns to wide receivers since Week 2 and has just one 100-yard receiver against.
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, las vegas, Arizona
Seattle
- The Seahawks have allowed the most PPR FP/gm (20.9) since Week 5
The Seahawks' schedule coming up: at ARI, at TB, BYE, LV
Who stands to benefit?
- Week 9 at ARI - Zach Ertz
- Week 10 TB - Cade Otton, Cameron Brate?
- Week 11 BYE
- Week 12 LV - Darren Waller
Las Vegas
- The Raiders have allowed six touchdowns to tight ends this season.
- Four touchdowns came in one game against Travis Kelce
Who stands to benefit?
- Week 9 at JAC - Evan Engram
- Week 10 IND - Mo Alie-Cox, Kylen Granson
- Week 11 at DEN - Greg Dulcich
- Week 12 at SEA - Will Dissly
Arizona
- The Cardinals have allowed seven touchdowns to tight ends this year, including four in the last two games.
Who stands to benefit?
- Week 9 SEA - Will Dissly
- Week 10 at LAR - Tyler Higbee
- Week 11 SF - George Kittle
- Week 12 LAC - Gerald Everett
Teams to keep your tight end away from
- Washington - The Commanders have allowed only one touchdown to a tight end this year (Dallas Goedert in Week 3). No tight end has exceeded 40 yards against Washington this season.
- New Orleans - The Saints have not allowed a touchdown to a tight end this season. 49 yards is the most yards they have allowed (Noah Fant) in any game.
- Pittsburgh - Aside from David Njoku, no tight end has scored against the Steelers. Only two games did a tight end even have double-digit fantasy points against them.
Use these exploitations to your advantage. Set your lineups accordingly.
Questions, comments, and suggestions are always welcome. Hit me up on Twitter.