Week 9: Fantasy Football Running Back & Wide Receiver Streaming Options
It’s more popular to stream quarterbacks and tight ends than running backs and receivers, but with four teams on bye in Week 9, it’s important to identify a few potential streamers at the running back and receiver positions. With so many playmakers off due to the absence of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Football Team, Detroit Lions, and Seattle Seahawks, fantasy owners are likely scrambling to find someone to plug into that flex spot.
It doesn’t help that there has been so much negative news around the NFL surrounding fatal car crashes (I’m looking at you Henry Ruggs), and COVID-19 (Aaron Rodgers and Saquon Barkley). So let’s dig deep to find some potential streamers to help you get that pivotal win in Week 9. Time to make that much-needed postseason push!
Running Backs
Jeremy McNichols, Tennessee Titans
Adrian Peterson and McNichols were two of the most-added running backs on the waiver wire ahead of Week 9. I know that Tennessee felt they needed to add an early-down bruiser in Peterson, but McNichols still seems like the safer option in PPR leagues. Maybe it’s just me, but AP hasn’t played all season and still needs to get familiar with the Titans’ playbook. Plus, we have no idea what his conditioning will be like after taking so much time off. McNichols has already proven himself as a worthy pass catcher out of the backfield, and with Henry sidelined, something tells me that the Titans are going to find themselves in quite the deficit against NFC superpower, the Los Angeles Rams. There is a reason that the Titans are 7.5-point dogs in this matchup. The gamescript is going to be much more favorable to McNichols than Peterson. Ryan Tannehill is going to be forced to toss the pigskin and Mike Vrabel is going to have to get creative if the Titans are going to compete in this game. I’m expecting tons of screens and dump-offs to McNichols in the flat. Double-digit fantasy points isn’t out of the question for the shifty and elusive back.
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Boston Scott, Philadelphia Eagles
Many are calling Scott’s breakout game against the Lions a fluke. Scott isn’t the type of player who will produce in the passing game, however, he is a solid up-and-down runner who should get most of the goal-line opportunities against a Chargers defense that struggles against the run. Last week, Scott was Philadelphia’s RB1, as he turned 12 carries into 60 yards and two touchdowns. Once the game was out of hand, Philadelphia started to use Jordan Howard and Kenneth Gainwell more. This week’s matchup is not going to be a blowout, and as long as the Eagles can keep it close, Scott could see north of 15 touches.
Mark Ingram, New Orleans Saints
In his return to New Orleans, Ingram was heavily involved in the Saints’ offense in their surprising upset over the reigning Super Bowl champs. He averaged over six yards per touch and finished with six carries for 27 yards along two receptions for an additional 25 yards. That was against one of the best rushing defenses in the league. This week, he gets a favorable matchup against a Falcons defense that really struggles against running backs. The game script should be in Ingram’s favor and he could even spell Alvin Kamara in the red zone a few touches. I wouldn’t be surprised if he found the end zone.
Wide Receivers
Van Jefferson, Los Angeles Rams
Jefferson should be owned in just about every league, especially after the Rams waived DeSean Jackson. The Rams face a Titans’ secondary that has been absolutely atrocious this season, allowing the most fantasy points per game to opposing wideouts. Jefferson is coming off back-to-back double-digit performances and has become one of Matthew Stafford’s favorite deep-ball threats. Jefferson has yet to see more than six targets in a contest, but the second-year wideout could breakout in Week 9 if the Titans are able to keep this game close. This could be a shootout, which would bode well for all fantasy options in this matchup. It’s hard not to start a member of the Rams in Week 9.
Bryan Edwards, Las Vegas Raiders
The news about Henry Ruggs is absolutely terrible, but that doesn’t matter when it comes to fantasy football. Outside of Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow, the Raiders lack any real weapons in the passing game. And Renfrow is strictly a guy who excels out of the slot. Derek Carr will need soemone who can play on the outside and Edwards is poised to step into that WR1 for Vegas. The Raiders’ opponents, the New York Giants, have struggled against opposing wideouts, ranking in the bottom third of the league in fantasy points per game allowed to wide receivers. Could this be the breakout performance we’ve all been waiting for from Edwards?
Elijah Moore, New York Jets
With Corey Davis considered doubtful for tonight’s primetime matchup against the Colts, the rookie could find himself peppered with targets from gun-slinging quarterback Mike White. The Jets are obvious underdogs, which means the gamescript is favorable for Moore and the rest of New York’s passing game. And although the Colts rank in the middle of the pack against wide receivers, they do allow 1.5 receiving touchdowns per game to wide receivers, tied for the most in the NFL. Moore has seen six targets in back-to-back outings but is coming off his best performance as a pro. He hauled in all six passes thrown his way last week for 67 yards. Look for more of the same tonight against Indianapolis.
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