Fantasy Overview: Week 9

Fantasy Overview offers a weekly breakdown of key information, stats, and strategies to help you excel in your fantasy league. Stay informed about the ever-changing landscape and gain insights to boost your success.

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, we look at which teams to exploit at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and tight end for the next few weeks. Plus, there are 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, the Ravens and Buccaneers have both averaged over 325 passing yards and over three passing touchdowns allowed per game. 

Tampa Bay: 327 passing yards per game with 3.5 passing touchdowns
Baltimore: 341 passing yards per game with 3.3 passing touchdowns

Other teams who have allowed 275+ passing yards per game on average over the last four weeks:

• 275 - New Orleans
• 278 - Jacksonville
• 285 - Pittsburgh

Other teams who have allowed 2.5+ passing touchdowns per game on average over the last four weeks:

• 2.7 - Minnesota
• 2.5 - Atlanta
• 2.5 - Jacksonville

Exploit These Passing Game Opponents: Tampa Bay, Baltimore, Jacksonville

Tampa Bay's upcoming schedule - at KC, SF, BYE, at NYG

Kirk Cousins has been a nightmare for the Buccaneers' defense, racking up 785 passing yards and 8 touchdowns in just two games. This, coupled with the team's struggles against other quarterbacks like Spencer Rattler (243 yards, 1 TD) and Lamar Jackson (281 yards, 5 TDs), highlights a significant weakness in Tampa Bay's secondary over the last four weeks. With this recent trend, opposing quarterbacks have found success consistently, making it a prime opportunity for fantasy managers to target this vulnerable defense. Interestingly enough, prior to Week 5 the Buccaneers only gave up one passing touchdown - to Jalen Hurts in Week 4. Since Week 5 it has been another story altogether. 

Who stands to benefit:

• Week 9 at Kansas City: Patrick Mahomes II - Could this be the week Mahomes stats explode?
• Week 10 vs San Francisco: Brock Purdy - The 49ers and Kyle Shanahan are more than capable of finding a weakness and exploiting it. 
• Week 11 - Bye
• Week 12 at NY Giants: Daniel Jones - Jones quietly has three games of multiple touchdown passes this season.

Baltimore's upcoming schedule - DEN, CIN, at PIT, at LAC

The Ravens' defense has been vulnerable to the pass, allowing an astounding 13 touchdowns and three 300-yard passing performances in their last four games. This porous secondary presents a significant opportunity for opposing quarterbacks.

Who stands to benefit:

• Week 9 vs Denver: Bo Nix is coming off a season-high 284-yard, 3-touchdown game against Carolina. He may continue to produce with a favorable matchup here. 
• Week 10 vs Cincinnati: In Joe Burrow's first meeting against Baltimore, he passed for 392 yards and 5 touchdowns. What will game two of this division rivalry hold?
• Week 11 at Pittsburgh: This will be Pittsburgh's first matchup against the Ravens this year. Russell Wilson figures to have a favorable matchup in a home game with their rival. 

Jacksonville's upcoming schedule - at PHI, MIN, at DET, Bye

The Jaguars' defense has been gashed by opposing quarterbacks, surrendering five games with multiple touchdown passes and three 300-yard passing performances.

Who stands to benefit:

• Week 9 at Philadelphia: Jalen Hurts and the Eagles have won four of their last five games and three straight. A positive matchup is in the cards for the Eagles passing game. 
• Week 10 vs Minnesota. The Vikings have lost two games in a row after starting 5-0 to begin the season. A road trip to Jacksonville in Week 10 may yield a productive game for Sam Darnold. 
• Week 11 at Detroit. The Lions are hitting on all cylinders and it looks like that will continue with a positive passing matchup against Jacksonville in Week 11. 
• Week 12 Bye

Stay Away from These Passing Game Opponents: Tennessee, NY Jets, Miami, Houston, and Denver

Tennessee, NY Jets, Miami, Houston, and Denver have all averaged less than 200 yards passing per game allowed over the last four weeks. 

The Jets' defense has been stout against the pass, allowing only six touchdown passes all season. They've held opponents to zero or one touchdown pass in six games, and only Russell Wilson has managed to exceed 231 passing yards against them.

Excluding Josh Allen's explosive performance of 323 yards in Week 7, the Tennessee Titans have been formidable against the pass, holding opposing quarterbacks to under 200 yards in four of their six games. Even Malik Willis' 202 passing yards in Week 3 could be considered an outlier. Tennessee was abused by the Lions for 52 points in Week 8, but the damage was done on the ground and by special teams. Statistically, they have allowed the fewest passing yards in the league at 151.6 yards per game. 

Miami's defense has been equally impressive, allowing only five passing touchdowns and limiting opponents to under 165 passing yards in five of seven games.

Houston has not allowed an opponent to pass for more than 250 yards all season and have held their opponents to under 200 yards passing four times. 

Denver's defense has been a fortress against the pass, allowing only one quarterback to throw for multiple touchdowns. They've consistently held opponents under 240 passing yards, with three games seeing less than 200 yards.