Week 9 Stream Team - Free Agent and Bye-Week Streamers

Now that the bye weeks are in full swing; streaming becomes a more viable and almost necessary strategy. Knowing who to add and when to start them could be the ultimate difference-maker in a weekly matchup. Making the right streaming decisions throughout the season could easily be the difference between missing the playoffs and having a shot to win a championship.

Each week, I will create a team of streamers for you to choose from. They will be broken down based on ownership levels and league size. I will make specific recommendations for 14, 12, and 10-team leagues to give you the most guidance possible when selecting a streamer. 14-team streamers will be players with ownership levels around 15%, 12-teamers will be around 30%, and 10-teamers will be around the 45% mark. Keep in mind that just because a player is listed as a streamer for a particular league size, it does not mean you can't use them in a different league size. For instance, if a 12-team league streamer is available in your 14-team league, by all means, use them accordingly.

Let's take a look at Week 9's best streaming options with some highlighted players to keep an especially close eye on.

Stream Team for 14-Team Leagues

• QB: Sam Darnold, New York Jets- 23% Owned
• RB: Nyheim Hines, Indianapolis Colts - 11% Owned
• RB:  Kalen Ballage. Miami Dolphins- 9% Owned
• WR: Chris Conley, Jacksonville Jaguars - 17% Owned
• WR: Anthony Miller, Chicago Bears - 11% Owned
• TE: Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles - 23% Owned

Sam Darnold (QB, NYJ) - 23% Owned

Sam Darnold has been underwhelming so far this season, however, he gets a solid matchup against the Dolphins this week. The Dolphins have allowed over 260 passing yards per game this season to quarterbacks. They have also allowed 18 passing touchdowns, which is tied for fourth-worst in the league. These two stats equate to them allowing 23.1 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, which also ranks them fourth-worst in the league. Sam Darnold should be able to move the ball effectively through the air and get guys like Robby Anderson and Jamison Crowder heavily involved. Look for him to have a solid day.

Chris Conley (WR, JAX) - 17% Owned

Chris Conley has quietly been having a very productive season under Gardner Minshew and the Jacksonville Jaguars. In the last two weeks, he has made seven receptions on 14 targets for 186 yards and a touchdown. Those are very solid numbers for someone who is supposedly the number three wide receiver. This week, he gets a very favorable matchup against the Houston Texans' secondary. Houston has given up the second-most receiving yards (1,536), fourth-most receptions (110), and most touchdowns (13) to wide receivers this season. These numbers should jump off the page and tell you to start any wide receiver you can against them. It all equates to them allowing 29.1 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, which is only behind the atrocious Philadelphia Eagles' secondary. Add in the fact that the Jaguars are a slight underdog, and they may have to throw a little more than usual. This is a prime spot to use Conley.

Dallas Goedert (TE, PHI) - 23% Owned

Another opportunity to highlight an under-the-radar tight end brings Dallas Goedert into the spotlight. Goedert has been cutting into Ertz's targets recently and is a very sneaky stream this week that could pay solid dividends. In the past three weeks, Goedert has caught 12 balls on 17 targets for 139 yards and two scores. This is solid production for a number two tight end. This week, he gets a matchup against the Bears, who have been less than stellar against tight ends.

On the season, Chicago has allowed a 78% completion rate to tight ends. They have also allowed tight ends to catch 39 passes for 406 yards. Each of these ranks near the middle to bottom third of the league. The same can be said about their total fantasy production allowed of 7.5 points per game as they rank 15th-worst in the league. Overall, streaming tight ends in a 14 team league is a very difficult task, but I think Goedert could provide solid value at the position this week.

Stream Team for 12-Team Leagues

• QB: Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders - 36% Owned
• RB: Ronald Jones II, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 43% Owned
• RB: Alexander Mattison, Minnesota Vikings - 26% Owned
• WR: Danny Amendola, Detroit Lions - 22% Owned
• WR: Devante Parker, Miami Dolphins - 30% Owned
• TE: Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota Vikings- 34% Owned

Derek Carr (QB, OAK) - 36% Owned

Derek Carr was highlighted in this spot last week and performed well by putting up his first 20-point game of the season. This week, he gets another outstanding matchup vs. the Lions and is worth streaming once again.

The total in this game is set at 50.5, which is the second-highest total on the board. The Lions are currently one of the worst defenses in the league against both the run and the pass. In the passing game, they are allowing quarterbacks to throw for over 300 yards per game, which is worst in the league. They have also allowed quarterbacks to throw for 14 touchdowns while only coming away with three interceptions, so there is not a high risk of negative stats entering the equation with Carr. Also, the Lions are allowing 21.1 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, which ranks seventh-worst in the league. Overall, Derek Carr should perform very well in this game and is certainly worth streaming in any league where he may be available. The only way he does not have a great fantasy game is if Oakland has tremendous success running the ball with Josh Jacobs and gets out to an early lead. If this happens, Carr should still do well, but the big numbers may not be there like they were a week ago.

Alexander Mattison (RB, MIN) - 26% Owned

I want to start by saying this is somewhat of a desperate play. Only use Mattison if you have limited options, or if you are favored and just need moderate production from your RB2 position. That being said, Mattison has a nice matchup vs. Kansas City this week.

Although Mattison has served as the primary backup to Dalvin Cook this season, he has been given several carries in which he has been able to produce each week. In the past three weeks, Mattison has been given 31 carries. In two of the last three weeks, he has been given double-digit carries. This is solid usage for a backup. On the season, he has been able to turn his opportunities into an average of 4.8 yards per carry. He has racked up over 50 yards rushing in four of eight games and also finished with 49 yards rushing in another game.

Enter the Chiefs Defense. The Chiefs are horrendous against the run. They are currently allowing 122.5 rushing yards per game to running backs, which ranks second-worst behind only the Bengals. They are allowing an astonishing 4.9 yards per carry as well. They have also allowed production to running backs in the passing game as backs have totaled 470 receiving yards on 45 receptions. In total, running backs have scored 10 touchdowns on the Chiefs. All of this destruction equates to the Chiefs allowing nearly 25 fantasy points per game to the position. If Mattison can get his usual 8-10 carries, he could have a very respectable stat-line at the end of the day.

Devante Parker (WR, MIA) - 30% Owned

Devante Parker may finally be showing signs of the breakout many of us have expected for the past couple of seasons. He has scored a touchdown in three of the last four weeks and has been regularly targeted throughout the 2019 campaign. This week, he and the Dolphins get a solid matchup against the Jets.

The Jets are strong against the run but have been somewhat suspect against the pass. They have allowed over 176 receiving yards per game to wide receivers. They have also allowed receivers to score eight touchdowns through the air, which is tied for 11th-worst in the league. They are even worse in fantasy points allowed to the position where they rank ninth-worst, allowing 24.7 fantasy points per game. The Jets are favored by three in this game but likely get ahead by more than that at some point late in the game, which means the Dolphins will be forced to throw in order to make the loss look respectable. Parker should be targeted on a number of these passes, and I look for him to have a productive day.

Stream Team for 10-Team Leagues

• QB: Gardner Minshew, Jacksonville Jaguars - 60% Owned
• RB: Mark Walton, Miami Dolphins - 45% Owned
• RB: Jaylen Samuels, Pittsburgh Steelers - 54% Owned
• WR: Phillip Dorsett, New England Patriots - 47% Owned
• WR: Jamison Crowder, New York Jets - 51% Owned
• TE: Vance McDonald, Pittsburgh Steelers - 58% Owned

Gardner Minshew (QB, JAX) - 60% Owned

Gardner Minshew has taken the league by storm and will look to continue this trend in Week 9's game across the pond vs. the Houston Texans. Minshew is currently averaging 247 passing yards per game and has thrown 13 touchdowns through his first eight career games. This week, I think he goes over his season average of 247 passing yards and also adds in two passing touchdowns vs. Houston.

Houston has been horrible against the pass this season as shown last week when they allowed Derek Carr to put up his first 20-point fantasy performance. They are currently allowing quarterbacks to throw for over 293 passing yards per game, which ranks fifth-worst in the league. They have also allowed quarterbacks to throw for 18 touchdowns while only intercepting three passes. In terms of fantasy points allowed, they rank sixth-worst in the league by allowing 21.2 points. In his first career start back in Week 2, Minshew managed to throw for 213 yards and one touchdown vs. this defense. I think the additional six games under his belt will give him the confidence to make some big plays and we should look for a big day out of him.

Jaylen Samuels (RB, PIT) - 54% Owned

This recommendation is predicated on James Conner and Benny Snell Jr. missing the game on Sunday. If this is the case, Samuels will be left with lead-back duties and should have an enormous work-load. Therefore, it will be very important to monitor the Steeler's injury report leading up to Sunday.

The matchup vs. the Colts is not all that juicy, but given the volume Samuels would see, it is not likely you will find a better play, even in 10 teams leagues. The Colts do all0w 4.3 yards per carry to running backs, which is good news for Samuels. No one has tried to pound the rock on Indy as they have the eighth-fewest rushing attempts against them. This is why they rank so low in terms of total rushing yards against. If the Steelers wake up and decide to rush the ball more often than their current 23 times per game, they could find a lot of success vs. this Colts Defense. The game is expected to be close as the Steelers opened as slight home favorites and were soon bet down to slight home dogs. I also would expect this game to be close throughout and think Samuels should have plenty of opportunities to provide fantasy pay-dirt.

Vance McDonald (TE, PIT) - 58% Owned

I have not been a Vance McDonald guy this season. I called that he would be a bust in this article back in September. This week he gets a solid matchup, though, and I have to go ahead and recommend him as a streamer for those that need a bye week replacement or are dealing with injuries at the position.

The Colts have not been very good vs. tight ends in 2019. They rank 12th-worst in yards allowed (415), eighth-worst in receptions (42), and seventh-worst in points allowed (8.5). McDonald has not been targeted as often as many thought he would be coming into the season; he is currently averaging just over three targets per game, which is putrid. I think the Steelers understand Indy is weak vs. tight ends and will look to get him more involved this week much like they did vs. Seattle in Week 2 when McDonald caught seven of seven targets for 38 yards and two touchdowns. Given that there are not many options on the wire as far as tight ends are concerned, you could do a lot worse than streaming Vance McDonald this week.