Week 9 Streaming QBs and DSTs: Two of the biggest positions for streaming in fantasy are quarterback and defense. Here in this article, we will break down the best options at quarterback and defense. We hope to steer fantasy managers into decisions that create wins. This article will focus mostly on players less than 50-percent rostered.
Week 9 Streaming QBs
Taysom Hill (vs ATL)
The top addition for all fantasy managers in Week 9 is likely Taysom Hill. The assumed quarterback of the Saints is still recovering from a concussion, but he is expected to clear the protocol this week. Hill has yet to make a start at quarterback in 2021, but in 2020 we had a four-game preview of what should come in Week 9 for the Saints, and beyond.
Digging up 2020’s stats we can see that in Weeks 11 – 14 (when Hill started for the Saints at quarterback), Hill averaged 21.55-FPPG which is largely attributed to his rushing volume. In this same time frame, Hill rushed the ball an average of nine times for 52 yards per game. Quarterbacks who consistently run the ball are a cheat code for fantasy football: think Kyler Murray, Lamar Jackson, and Jalen Hurts. Mobile quarterbacks give fantasy managers reliable floors and easily accessible ceilings, something you cannot say for 99-percent of fantasy players.
Even with Hill expected to start against Atlanta this week, New Orleans’ team implied totaled remains a healthy 24 points. Atlanta has allowed four, top-six quarterback performances and Taysom Hill should easily finish top-12 at his position in Week 9.
Hill is a unique fantasy asset and one that you can count on in Week 9 and for the rest of the season. QB-needy teams will be after this player as well so if you want him you will have to fork over a top waiver position or a large chunk of your FAAB.
Hill is available in 99-percent of ESPN rosters and no, you cannot play him at tight end this season, only quarterback (boy, was that crazy when Hill started in 2020 and had TE-position eligibility).
Derek Carr (@NYG)
As a fringe top-12 quarterback, Derek Carr looks to be a solid go-to for streaming managers in Week 9.
Carr has been extremely consistent for fantasy this season. He has averaged 20-FPPG and has only missed the 20-point mark twice this season.
Playing against the Giants should be advantageous for Carr and the Raiders. The Giants have allowed a middling 19.2-FPPG to the quarterback position. Additionally, they have allowed three top-12 fantasy finishes to quarterbacks as well. The big factor with this Giants’ defense is that they allow opponents to score regularly. Currently, they allow opponents to score an average of 25 (game) points, 10th-worst.
Carr’s match-up may not pop out on paper, but what does pop out is his consistency. He seems to consistently throw for three hundred yards and two touchdowns in each contest. Consistency is something to search for when streaming quarterbacks.
Carr is available in 46-percent of ESPN leagues heading into Week 9.
Tua Tagovailoa (vs HOU)
With a team implied total of 26 points, Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins look like a sneaky streaming option in Week 9.
This week’s matchup draws the Houston Texans and it may be an improved version of the Texans, assuming Tyrod Taylor regains the reigns of this offense. If this comes to fruition, this contest should be even better for fantasy since Taylor is a competent quarterback. When both teams are scoring, quarterbacks generally score fantasy points at a higher rate.
Tagovailoa has been inconsistent for fantasy this season, but when he has faced bad defenses he has shined. Going against the Jaguars he threw for 329 yards with a 70-percent completion rate and two touchdowns. The following week, Tagovailoa completed 80-percent of his passes, threw for four touchdowns, and even ran the ball for 29 yards. Tagovailoa finished with 23 and 26-fantasy points respectively. Both the Jags and the Falcons have bottom-of-the-barrel defenses, much like Houston does.
Tagovailoa is a startable fantasy asset in the right environment and in Week 9, he looks to be in a great position to capitalize for his fantasy stakeholders.
Tagovailoa remains available in 64-percent of ESPN leagues heading into Week 9.
Week 9 Streaming QBs — Honorable Mentions
- Daniel Jones (@LV)
- Teddy Bridgewater (@DAL)
Week 9 Streaming DSTs
New Orleans Saints DST (vs ATL)
Coming in as a top-three fantasy defense is the New Orleans Saints. Their opponent, the Atlanta Falcons, give up the sixth-most fantasy points against D/ST’s and in addition, the Falcons will be without their star player Calvin Ridley, which seems to condense Atlanta’s offense.
Despite an optimistic match-up, the Saints’ D/ST have given fantasy stakeholders consistent points throughout the season. They have consistently gotten to the quarterback, averaging two sacks per game, and this New Orleans defense has logged the third-most takeaways in the NFL with 13.
The Saints’ team identity has been fortified to run the ball and play defense, especially now that Taysom Hill is likely to take over at quarterback. New Orleans will naturally run the ball with Hill and both of their running backs (Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara) keeping this game low-paced, potentially. Playing any Atlanta fantasy asset will be hard to count on in Week 9.
The Saints are available in 46-percent of ESPN leagues heading into Week 9.
Indianapolis Colts DST (vs NYJ) – Thursday Night Game
The Colts come into Week 9 having forced the most turnovers in the NFL with 18. This metric has propelled the Colts to being a top-five fantasy defense, leading them to four double-digit fantasy finishes this season.
The New York Jets ride into Indianapolis on the high of beating a solid Cincinnati Bengals team. Even against the Bengals, the Jets gave the ball away three times, making them a clear team to target heading into Week 9. The Jets remain the second-most turnover-friendly team and have allowed the fifth-most sacks as well.
The Colts D/ST is locked into arguably the best streaming opportunity for fantasy managers. They have the upside to win you a match-up, but at the least, they should provide solid value in Week 9.
The Colts are available in 46-percent of ESPN leagues heading into Week 9.
Las Vegas Raiders (@NYG)
Coming out of their bye-week is the Las Vegas Raiders who will be taking the New York Giants.
The Giants are no strangers to turning the ball over, although they are not doing it at an extreme rate this season. So far they have given the ball away 10 times and that is the 12th highest in the league. The Giants’ quarterback Daniel Jones has also turned the ball over seven times this season, nearly once per contest.
Las Vegas’ defense can always get you something positive in the fantasy score box, it seems. They have finished with at least four-fantasy points in six-of-seven contests. They have logged at least two sacks in each game played and even tallied as many as five in Week 6 against Denver.
Playing Las Vegas may not be the first-choice when streaming a defense this week, but they certainly can help your team to a Week 9 victory.
The Raiders are available in 89-percent of ESPN leagues.
Week 9 Streaming DSTs — Probably rostered but can be started
- New England Patriots D/ST (@CAR)
- Pittsburgh Steelers D/ST (vs CHI)
Week 9 Streaming DSTs — Honorable Mentions
- Dallas Cowboys D/ST (vs DEN)
- Miami Dolphins D/ST (vs HOU)
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