Before I jump into Week 9, let’s do the Week 8 accounting of my quarterback, tight end and team defense fantasy streamers (Yahoo! scoring, full-point PPR, four points per passing touchdown).
Quarterback: Ryan Tannehill-19.42 points
Tight End: Eric Ebron-5.6 points
Team Defense: Pittsburgh Steelers-13 points
Now, here are my Week 9 quarterback, tight end and team defense streamers. Four teams are on a bye (Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Los Angeles Rams, Cincinnati Bengals).
Quarterback: Gardner Minshew, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans (London)
After a two-game downturn Minshew got back on track in Week 8 against the New York Jets, as he completed 22 of 34 passes for 279 yards and three touchdowns along with 28 rushing yards. He has multiple passing touchdowns in four of his last six games, with at least 21 fantasy points (Yahoo! scoring) in three of his last four.
In Week 9 Minshew will face the Houston Texans, who have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks (ESPN scoring). The last four quarterbacks they’ve faced-Matt Ryan, Patrick Mahomes, Jacoby Brissett and Derek Carr have had at least least three touchdown passes and more than 270 passing yards against them. Even in top cornerback Johnathan Joseph (hamstring) returns this week, Houston’s secondary is highly burnable and now their pass rush has taken a hit with J.J. Watt (pectoral) out.
Minshew’s fantasy viability after Jacksonville’s Week 10 bye is unclear, with Nick Foles on track to return from a collarbone injury in Week 11. But in Week 9, Minshew is my top quarterback streamer.
ESPN Ownership: 52.5%
Yahoo! Ownership: 55%
Others To Consider: Sam Darnold, New York Jets at Miami Dolphins; Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders vs. Detroit Lions; Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals (Thursday night, check availability); Jacoby Brissett, Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers; Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans at Carolina Panthers; Daniel Jones vs. Dallas Cowboys (Monday night)
Tight End: Jonnu Smith, Tennessee Titans at Carolina Panthers
With Delanie Walker (ankle) out, Smith had six receptions (on a team-high seven targets) for 78 yards and a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Over the last two games, with Walker mostly out, Smith has caught nine of 10 targets for 142 yards.
Week 9 brings a tougher matchup, with the Carolina Panthers in the top-10 of the league against tight ends. But the best tight end they’ve faced, George Kittle, had six catches for 86 yards last week and the Titans’ offense features the tight end prominently.
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It’s worth monitoring Walker’s status through the week, as his return is a threat to dampen Smith’s fantasy prospects. But the upside is very good, perhaps with or without Walker in uniform, and Smith is my top tight end streamer for Week 9.
ESPN Ownership: 2.8%
Yahoo! Ownership: 19%
Others To Consider: Chris Herndon, New York Jets at Miami Dolphins (check status); Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears; Darren Fells, Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars (London); Jack Doyle, Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers
Team Defense: Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos
Cleveland’s defense has only reached double-digit fantasy points twice in seven games (Yahoo! scoring), but they have registered multiple sacks in every game. Week 9’s matchup looked good on Monday morning, and it looks even better now.
The Denver Broncos have scored more than 20 points just once all season. Joe Flacco has been sacked at least three times in five games, and last week’s trade of wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders took away a top option.
Flacco emerged from Week 8 with a herniated disc in his neck, and he’s now expected to miss 5-6 weeks. So Brandon Allen will make his first NFL start on Sunday against the Browns, and the first snap of the game will be the first regular season snap he has taken in his career.
ESPN Ownership: 16.2%
Yahoo! Ownership: 25%
Others To Consider: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears; Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants (Monday night); New York Jets at Miami Dolphins; Tennessee Titans at Carolina Panthers (check availability)
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