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Fantasy managers enjoyed a vintage quarterback performance from Jameis Winston, who led all quarterbacks in passing yardage (334) going into Sunday night. Three other quarterbacks surpassed 300 passing yards with five touchdowns throwing for three or more touchdowns (Jalen Hurts added three rushing scores).
Week 8 was a nice break from bye weeks, but we are back to having two teams off in Week 9 (Pittsburgh and San Francisco). Both teams have fantasy-viable quarterbacks, which makes it likely somebody in your league will be searching for a streaming option.
In this article, I will be focusing on players under 65% rostered in fantasy leagues while adding a couple of deep sleepers for two-quarterback leagues (less than 25% rostered).
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Single-QB Waiver Wire Pickups and Streamers
Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks
Yahoo: 61% rostered
The prospect of playing Geno Smith in fantasy without D.K. Metcalf isn’t very alluring, but the Seahawks’ high-volume passing attack is worth taking the chance. Smith entered Week 8 as the QB11 in fantasy points per game (18.2) and could get Metcalf back in Week 9.
Smith struggled against a good Bills secondary without his top receiver, but there is a chance Metcalf returns in Week 9. Even if he doesn’t, the Rams secondary isn’t nearly as good as Buffalo’s.
We don’t know if Metcalf will be back in the lineup in Week 9 but it may not matter much in a matchup against an exploitable Rams’ secondary. Smith still has weapons in the passing attack regardless and has shown the ability to put up big numbers with his significant passing volume.
Jameis Winston, Cleveland Browns
Yahoo: 6% rostered
Jameis Winston did his best to support the idea that the only thing holding back Cleveland’s offense was Deshaun Watson—the veteran quarterback picked apart Baltimore’s defense in his first start of the season.
JAMEIS WINSTON WHAT IN THE WORLD??
THE BROWNS BEAT THE RAVENS
THIS IS THE NFL. BEST SPORT IN THE WORLDpic.twitter.com/tKAVHxyb67
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 27, 2024
Winston completed 27 of 41 passes for 334 yards and three touchdowns in Week 8, leading Cleveland on a game-winning drive in crunch time. There were still many head-scratching plays, but ultimately he got it done through the air with 23.5 fantasy points.
The Browns have a tough matchup against a stout Chargers defense in Week 9, but it isn’t terrible. Cleveland has a tough stretch of games after their Week 10 bye (New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Denver, and Pittsburgh), which isn’t great.
Winston isn’t afraid to air the ball out and will have plenty of opportunities to put up fantasy points as the season goes on. He’s a high-risk option that will have a strong ceiling and a low floor for the rest of the season.
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Yahoo: 39% rostered
Matthew Stafford got all of his weapons back against the Vikings in Week 8. As a result, the Rams' offense was firing on all cylinders as the team secured an upset win against one of the best teams in the NFC.
Matthew Stafford, my goodness 😳#MINvsLAR on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/cnwM1ftWiw— NFL (@NFL) October 25, 2024
Stafford also had his best game of the season with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua back in the lineup. He completed 25 of 34 passes for 279 yards and four touchdowns with one interception. It was the third time this season that Stafford threw for over 250 passing yards.
His four touchdowns were one more than he had in his six previous games combined. The end-of-the-season matchups for Stafford aren’t great (Seattle, Miami, New England, Philadelphia), but a Rams offense at full strength can overcome bad matchups.
Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers
Yahoo: 21% rostered
We won’t know if Russell Wilson can follow up his strong first start against the Jets (264 yards and two touchdowns with three rushes for three yards and a rushing score). The Steelers are one of the two teams on bye in Week 10. But still, Wilson should be added to fantasy leagues going forward.
Russell Wilson scores his third touchdown of the night — two passing, one rushing — in his Steelers debut. pic.twitter.com/mnt2EzroPm
— Cory Smith (@RCorySmith) October 21, 2024
After Pittsburgh’s Week 9 bye, they have fantastic matchups against the Commanders and Ravens secondaries. Over those two weeks, eight different teams will have their bye week.
If you have the bench space, Wilson is a good addition if you have a quarterback on one of those teams. You won’t have to blow your entire FAAB budget to acquire him since the Steelers are on bye in Week 9 either.
Two-QB Waiver Wire Pickups and Stashes
Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints
Yahoo: 12% rostered
Derek Carr was close to returning in Week 8 before ultimately being ruled out on Sunday. There is a good chance we see the veteran quarterback return in Week 9, putting him on the fantasy radar.
Carr started the season hot with two straight games of 23+ fantasy points before a rough stretch against the Eagles and Falcons (15 fantasy points combined). He also put up a good week (165 yards and two touchdowns with an interception) against the Chiefs before being shut down with an oblique injury.
Assuming Carr is active in Week 9, he will be an interesting streaming option against the Panthers’ terrible defense. There are two other solid streaming matchups against the Falcons and Browns before the Saints’ Week 12 bye.
Daniel Jones, New York Giants
Yahoo: 11% rostered
Daniel Jones has been frustrating in fantasy once again this season. He has three games with at least 18.0 fantasy points. He has three games with fewer than 10 fantasy points. He also has a game with 11.0 points.
Jones got benched against the Eagles’ defense in Week 8 (it was a blowout) and we don’t know if he will play the entire game against Pittsburgh’s defense tonight. Drew Lock isn’t good either and Jones has at least shown he can make this offense move.
Jones has three games with at least two passing touchdowns this season. He also provides a solid rushing floor in fantasy with at least four carries in every game this season.
He’s risky but worth streaming the next two weeks with matchups against Washington and Carolina. He also has good matchups after New York’s Week 11 bye against the Buccaneers and Cowboys.
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More Waiver Wire Pickups and Advice
