Before diving into Week 9, let’s look at the results for Week 8’s quarterback, tight end and team defense streamers (Yahoo! scoring, 0.5-point PPR).
Quarterback: Teddy Bridgewater-13.04 points
Tight End: Richard Rodgers-0 points
Team Defense-Green Bay Packers-0 points
A rough week to say the least. With that, here are my top quarterback, tight end and team defense streamers for Week 9. The Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns are on a bye this week.
Quarterback: Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers
Carr had a down game in Week 8 against the Cleveland Browns, going 15-for-24 for 112 yards with one touchdown. He needed 41 rushing yards to salvage a fantasy day, on a windy day in Cleveland, as his streak of games with multiple passing touchdowns ended at five. In Week 9, the start of a new streak is looming.
The Los Angeles Chargers are allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks (23.3 per game, Yahoo! scoring). Three of the last four quarterbacks they’ve faced have had multiple touchdown passes against them, and the one that didn’t (Drew Brees) had a rushing score to give himself two total touchdowns. Desmond King was inactive in Week 8, then traded to the Tennessee Titans. While his play has dropped off some, the Chargers have subtracted a good player from their secondary. The status of defensive end Joey Bosa (concussion) is up in the air for Week 9.
Carr has stretched beyond the general 50 percent threshold to qualify as a streamer in ESPN leagues, though it’s worth wondering if his ownership rate will fall some after a rough Week 8. In any case Week 9 is a nice rebound opportunity with weather not in play, so Carr gets the edge as my No. 1 quarterback streamer for the week.
ESPN Ownership: 61.2%
Yahoo! Ownership: 42%
Others To Consider: Drew Lock, Denver Broncos at Atlanta Falcons; Teddy Bridgewater, Carolina Panthers at Kansas City Chiefs; Philip Rivers, Indianapolis Colts vs. Baltimore Ravens; Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions; Nick Mullens, San Francisco 49ers vs. Green Bay Packers (Thursday night); Daniel Jones, New York Giants at Washington; Nick Foles, Chicago Bears at Tennessee Titans; Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins at Arizona Cardinals; Kyle Allen, Washington vs. New York Giants
Tight End: Logan Thomas, Washington Football Team vs. New York Giants
Going into a Week 8 bye, Thomas scored in back-to-back-games with a total of 102 yards on seven catches. After a downturn in production for a couple games, around Washington’s quarterback change, the converted quarterback is back on the upswing.
The New York Giants are in the top-12 of the league against tight ends through Week 8. But they are on a negative trend, with a tight end posting over 13 fantasy points (full PPR) against them in three straight games. The first tight end in that streak was Thomas in Week 6 (three catches for 42 yards and a touchdown).
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Thomas has at least four targets in all seven games this season. That, and a better matchup than it looks like on the surface, combined to make him my top tight end streamer for Week 9.
ESPN Ownership: 11.8%
Yahoo! Ownership: 23%
Others To Consider: Eric Ebron, Pittsburgh Steelers at Dallas Cowboys; Jimmy Graham, Chicago Bears at Tennessee Titans; Jordan Reed/Ross Dwelley, San Francisco 49ers vs. Green Bay Packers (Thursday night, lean Reed if he plays); Trey Burton/Jack Doyle, Indianapolis Colts vs. Baltimore Ravens; Jordan Akins, Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars (check status); Cameron Brate, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New Orleans Saints; Ian Thomas, Carolina Panthers at Kansas City Chiefs
Team Defense: Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars
To put it mildly, the Texans’ defense has not been good this season. They’ve allowed at least 27 points in six of seven games, with 31 or more points allowed three times. Their best performance by far came in Week 5 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, when the allowed 14 points, sacked Gardner Minshew four times and had two takeaways.
The Texans get the Jaguars again in Week 9, and the situation has improved for a defense facing Jacksonville.
Last week it was revealed Minshew had been playing with a fractured thumb since that game against Houston. He’ll miss Week 9 (and almost surely beyond), and the Jaguars are set to give rookie Jake Luton his first start on Sunday. Luton was productive at Oregon State last year (28 touchdowns, 3 INT). But Pro Football Focus notably graded him poorly in completion rate under pressure during his three seasons with the Beavers. Prior to their last game, Week 7 against the Green Bay Packers, Houston registered multiple sacks in five straight games (three or more three times).
Luton of course did not get the benefit of playing preseason games, so he’ll be getting his first taste of anything close to substantive NFL action on Sunday. That’s a clear recipe for the Texans’ defense to have success.
Even if some notable players are traded before Tuesday’s deadline (or were traded, depending on when you’re reading this), that doesn’t change the rosy outlook for the Texans’ defense in Week 9. There’s a chance the Jaguars turn to Mike Glennon during Sunday’s game if Luton struggles, but that will not make a difference either.
ESPN Ownership: 2.8%
Yahoo! Ownership: 6%
Others To Consider: Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers (Thursday night); Washington Football Team vs. New York Giants; Tennessee Titans vs. Chicago Bears; Arizona Cardinals vs. Miami Dolphins; New York Giants at Washington Football Team
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