There are a myriad of quarterback injuries, backfield takeovers, and frustrating bye weeks here to deal with in Week 9. Here are my favorite streaming options if you’re in a pinch this week. All these players are in order of who I would start.
Week 9 QB Streaming Options
Sam Howell (WAS) @ NE
ESPN 62%, Yahoo 61%, Sleeper 61%
Howell has quietly been the QB10 on the season so far in fantasy, where he’s only had 2 games that have disappointed fantasy managers so far. Howell’s biggest issue so far in 2023 has been taking an absurd amount of sacks, but some offensive line and scheme changes against Philadelphia last week led to him only being sacked once (and throwing for 397 yards and 4 touchdowns). The Patriots defense has been decimated by injury, and with the amount of QB injuries across the league I see Howell as a fine play this week.
Gardner Minshew (IND) @ CAR
ESPN 11%, Yahoo 24%, Sleeper 28%
Minshew’s fantasy numbers have been pedestrian outside of his 27-point outing against Cleveland 2 weeks ago, but this is still an offense led by Shane Steichen that has scored at least 20 points in every game this season. Every game for Indianapolis feels like it becomes a shootout, and I expect that to remain true in Carolina this week while Minshew continues to build a rapport with Michael Pittman and Josh Downs.
Bryce Young (CAR) v IND
ESPN 14%, Yahoo 16%, Sleeper 29%
Young’s fantasy numbers won’t blow you away, but he’s clearly getting more comfortable at the NFL level every week of his rookie season. This should be his easiest matchup of the season so far against Indianapolis, and I expect his coaching staff to continue taking the training wheels off here at home. The emergence of 2nd-round receiver Jonathan Mingo (99% of snaps last week) would go a long way for Young’s development, as Adam Thielen has been his only reliable target thus far this season.
Players to Start if they are still on your waivers (in order):
- Dak Prescott @PHI
Week 8 RB Streaming Options
Chuba Hubbard (CAR) v IND
ESPN 50%, Yahoo 63%, Sleeper 65%
Hubbard shouldn’t be on waivers at this point, as he saw 17 opportunities a week ago vs Miles Sanders’ 2. Hubbard didn’t have a great fantasy day, but starting running backs are hard to come by in fantasy and Hubbard has clearly earned that title in Carolina. He has an easy matchup this week against Indianapolis and should have plenty of opportunities for touchdowns here in Week 9 as part of a young, improving offense.
Devin Singletary (HOU) v TB
ESPN 42%, Yahoo 41%, Sleeper 48%
Singletary continues to see his work increase in Houston, as we can officially call their backfield a committee at this point. While it is a committee, Dameon Pierce will be missing this week and that should lead to more goal-line work for Singletary. While a matchup against Tampa Bay isn’t very enticing, we can hope for more passing work and 20+ touches from Singletary on Sunday.
Royce Freeman (LAR) @ GB
ESPN 22%, Yahoo 26%, Sleeper 25%
Darrell Henderson may be seeing the majority of snaps in the absence of Kyren Williams, but Freeman has actually been the more efficient runner (5.2 YPC v 3.1 YPC) and scored a goal line touchdown last week against Dallas. With the likely absence of quarterback Matthew Stafford, I expect Sean McVay to lean on the run game against a porous Packers run defense. This should lead to both Henderson and Freeman seeing around 15 touches a piece. If Henderson is on waivers I’d start him over Freeman, but I’d be comfortable starting Freeman as a desperation flex play.
Players to Start if they are still on your waivers (in order):
- Kareem Hunt (CLE) v ARI
- Darrell Henderson (LAR) @GB
Week 9 WR Streaming Options
Jonathan Mingo (CAR) v IND
ESPN 9%, Yahoo 8%, Sleeper 21%
Mingo got his “post-bye rookie bump” in usage and snap percentage last week against Houston, as he saw 99% of snaps and caught 4 passes for 62 yards on 5 targets. The 2nd round prospect out of Ole Miss was clearly raw coming into the season, but he’s starting to come into his own and build a connection with fellow rookie quarterback Bryce Young. With a new playcaller in Carolina, Mingo was the most involved been all season following their bye week. I expect him to have a breakout game here in a great matchup against Indianapolis.
Rashid Shaheed (NO) @ CHI
ESPN 28%, Yahoo 52%, Sleeper 50%
I touted Shaheed as a streamer a week ago, in part due to his rising snap percentage in this offense and the elite efficiency he’s shown throughout this season. To my surprise, Shaheed saw his snap percentage decrease immensely from 70% to 27%. However, Shaheed’s ridiculous efficiency continued, hauling in 3 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown and ending as the WR4 on the week. Something tells me both Saints coaches and fantasy managers would benefit from seeing more Shaheed on the field, and I expect him to be a solid boom-or-bust play every week. Shaheed should find success given opportunity against this Bears defense.
Jamison Crowder (WAS) @ NE
ESPN <1%, Yahoo 1%, Sleeper 1%
Crowder stepped into the slot role in the absence of Curtis Samuel a week ago and thrived, hauling in all 7 of his targets for 95 yards and a touchdown. Crowder showed more juice than I expected for the 8 year veteran, finishing the game with a diving touchdown catch. The slot role seems to be a prominent part of the offense for Eric Bieniemy, as Samuel was thriving in that position before. With Crowder missing this week again and with defenses focusing on Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson, I expect Crowder to see plenty of opportunities underneath in Week 9.
Demario Douglas (NE) v WAS
ESPN 18%, Yahoo 30%, Sleeper 41%
Welp, Kendrick Bourne tore his ACL and DeVante Parker is slated to miss Week 9. It’s next man up in New England, and Douglas seems to be a prime candidate to see the most targets in this offense without some of their main targets. His snap percentage has shot up over the past two weeks, and the rookie has been electric after the catch. He should see plenty of opportunities against a Washington defense that has struggled against the pass all season.
Players to Start if they are still on your waivers (in order):
- Rashee Rice (KC) v MIA
- Josh Downs (IND) @ CAR
- Tank Dell (HOU) v TB
Week 9 TE Streaming Options
Trey McBride (ARI) @ CLE
ESPN 41%, Yahoo 62%, Sleeper 66%
The breakout player of Week 8, Trey McBride thrived in the absence of Zach Ertz who was recently placed on IR. McBride saw the majority of his production come in garbage time a week ago, which would normally be concerning for any fantasy player. But McBride plays for Arizona, who projects to be in many more garbage time situations down the stretch here in 2023. Even with rookie Clayton Tune starting here in Week 9, I think McBride can thrive as a “safety blanket” option for his rookie quarterback.
Hunter Henry (NE) v WAS
ESPN 20%, Yahoo 37%, Sleeper 33%
Hunter Henry had a hot start to this season, but his production has since fallen off. He’s hardly been a factor for this offense over the past 4 weeks, but that should change as a result of WR injuries in New England. Washington has struggled against big pass-catchers this season, and I believe Henry can get home on a redzone target or 2 in this one.
Players to Start if they are still on your waivers (in order):
- Jake Ferguson (DAL) @PHI
If you would like to see more of our rankings and projections you can check out our articles here. Or you can find us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
Image Credit: Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports
