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 NFL season is already nearing the midpoint. In most fantasy leagues, only four or five weeks remain before your playoffs begin. Is your team in a position for a playoff run? Do you need a few more wins to secure a berth?
As we hit Week 9, the bye-week schedule mercifully lightens up with only two teams on a bye (Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans), but injuries and late-season changes are heavily shifting backfield and pass-catching depth charts. With NFL trade deadlines looming right around the corner, now is the ideal window to use a multi-week outlook to your advantage. Whether you are looking to pull off a buy-low trade for a struggling star or secure a vital waiver wire pickup before your league mates catch on, looking four games ahead can save your season.
This week, we look at which teams to exploit and avoid at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and tight end for the next four weeks. Additionally, several streaming options are available not only for Week 9 but also for the remainder of the season. It's always beneficial 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 Titans, Raiders, and Saints have all allowed an average of over 275 passing yards AND multiple passing touchdowns per game.
- Tennessee: 325 passing yards allowed per game with 1.8 passing touchdowns
- Las Vegas: 279 passing yards allowed per game with 2.8 passing touchdowns
- New Orleans: 279 passing yards allowed per game with 1.3 passing touchdowns
In addition to the above three teams, these teams have allowed 260+ passing yards per game on average over the last four weeks:
- 275 - Chicago
- 267 - Washington
- 266 - New England
- 262 - Buffalo
- 260 - Philadelphia
These teams have allowed 2.0+ passing touchdowns per game on average over the last four weeks:
- 3.0 - Miami
- 2.8 - Las Vegas
- 2.3 - Chicago
- 2.3 - Detroit
- 2.3 - Tampa Bay
- 2.0 - Philadelphia
- 2.0 - San Francisco
- 2.0 - Indianapolis
Exploit These Passing Game Opponents: Tennessee, Las Vegas, New Orleans
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Tennessee's upcoming schedule
- Week 9: BYE
- Week 10: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
- Week 11: at Dallas Cowboys
- Week 12: at Jacksonville Jaguars
The Titans surrendered 462 yards and 5 touchdowns to Joe Burrow last week, with at least 260 passing yards allowed in each of their last four games. Is this the new norm for the Titans' pass defense, with Jeffery Simmons being traded to Chicago as a major factor? After the Week 9 bye, they will face Jacksonville, at Dallas, and at Jacksonville. Opposing signal-callers remain strong weekly plays against this secondary until proven otherwise.
Las Vegas' upcoming schedule
- Week 9: at San Francisco 49ers
- Week 10: vs. Seattle Seahawks
- Week 11: at Denver Broncos
- Week 12: at Cleveland Browns
The Raiders continue to struggle to contain opposing quarterbacks, yielding a league-high 2.8 passing touchdowns per game over the past month alongside 279 yards per contest. Upcoming matchups against San Francisco, Seattle, and Denver keep opposing passing attacks firmly on the radar. Deshaun Watson is the best potential waiver target or roster lineup upgrade among quarterbacks facing the Raiders.
New Orleans' upcoming schedule
- Week 9: vs. Cleveland Browns
- Week 10: vs. Carolina Panthers
- Week 11: at Chicago Bears
- Week 12: at Cincinnati Bengals
The Saints' secondary remains a prime target for opposing passing game attacks, allowing 279 passing yards per game over their last four outings. Favorable games against Cleveland, Carolina, and Chicago keep this unit high on the exploit list.
Stay Away from These Passing Game Opponents: Minnesota, Seattle, NY Giants, Cleveland, Indianapolis, and LA Chargers
Minnesota, NY Giants, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Seattle, and the Los Angeles Chargers have all kept opposing quarterbacks completely bottled up, allowing under 185 passing yards per game over the last four weeks. Furthermore, Minnesota (with upcoming games against Buffalo, at Green Bay, at San Francisco, and Atlanta) has surrendered just 0.3 passing touchdowns per game in that span, making them a unit to strictly avoid from a passing-game standpoint.
Some notable stats worth sharing
- Minnesota has allowed just a single passing touchdown over the last four weeks and only four this season. Josh Allen is up next in a big NFC vs AFC showdown.
- Miami has allowed 9 touchdown passes over the last three games against Joe Burrow, Geno Smith, and Drake Maye.
- The Browns have allowed 175 yards passing per game over the last four weeks AND held opponents to fewer than 1 touchdown pass per game in that span.