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Fantasy Stat Pack: Week Nine

Ryan McDowell Posted On October 31, 2018
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If you follow me on Twitter, you’ve probably noticed a series of tweets I share on a weekly basis regarding player and team defensive performances, all from a fantasy lens. I’m going to be sharing some of that same information with you here.

I use this each week as I am making my own lineup and waiver wire decisions and thought you might find this valuable as well. If so, let me know and I can make this a weekly piece.

Note: The scoring system used for this data is always PPR with four points for passing touchdowns.

All year to date fantasy ranks are based on total points.

Quarterbacks

Week Eight QB1s (top 12 scorers)

Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson started the week off right with a huge performance last Thursday but lost one of his top wideouts, Will Fuller, in the process. Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky stayed hot with his fourth consecutive top ten fantasy performance.

Year to Date QB1s

Big weeks from Cam Newton and Watson saw them make big jumps up the season-long standings while the bye week cost veteran Philip Rivers a spot in the top twelve. In the first three weeks of the season, Trubisky was the QB27. Since then, he’s the QB3, even with a bye week mixed in. The off-season comparisons to the Rams and quarterback Jared Goff are starting to make sense.

QB1 Games this Season

  • 7 Patrick Mahomes
  • 6 Andrew Luck
  • 5 Matt Ryan, Deshaun Watson, Cam Newton
  • 4 Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger, Philip Rivers, Tom Brady, Blake Bortles, Jared Goff, Kirk Cousins, Mitch Trubisky

Most QB1 Games Allowed

  • 6 ATL, TB
  • 5 CIN, KC
  • 4 NE, NO, NYJ, PHI, PIT, SF, WAS
  • 3 ARI, BUF, CHI, DEN, IND, MIN, NYG, OAK
  • 2 BAL, CLE, DET, GB, HOU, JAX, LAC, LAR, MIA, TEN
  • 1 CAR, DAL
  • 0 SEA

Atlanta is back from their much-needed bye week after giving up six QB1 performances in their first seven games. This week, the Falcons face the Redskins and veteran Alex Smith, who doesn’t have a QB1 finish since Week One. The Bucs are in flux at the quarterback position themselves and face a red-hot Cam Newton, who is the QB3 over the past three games.

The Bengals are on bye this week while the Chiefs face off against the new look Browns and rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield. Even in what appears to be a nice matchup for Mayfield, it is difficult to know what to expect from the Browns after they fired head coach Hue Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Haley.

The Seahawks remain the only team who have yet to allow a QB1 performance, which will test veteran Philip Rivers, who has six top 15 games this season. Carolina and Dallas are the next obvious targets based on this data. The Panthers get new/old Buccaneers starter, Ryan Fitzpatrick, while Dallas hosts Marcus Mariota and the Titans, who is an easy fade this week.

Running Backs

Week Eight RB1s (top 12 scorers)

Marlon Mack made his second straight appearance in the top three and now looks like a league-winner… as long as he can stay healthy. Speaking of league-winner, Patriots pass-catching back James White took advantage of the absence of rookie Sony Michel just as we expected, notching his fourth game of the year as the RB7 or better.

Year to Date RB1s

The huge game from Steelers back James Conner propelled him to the RB4 spot for the season while pass-catching specialists White and TJ Yeldon continue to hold down RB1 spots.

RB1 Games this Season

  • 8 Todd Gurley
  • 7
  • 6 Saquon Barkley
  • 5 Alvin Kamara, James Conner, Melvin Gordon
  • 4 Christian McCaffrey, James White, Joe Mixon, Kenyan Drake

Most RB1 Games Allowed

  • 7 ATL, MIA
  • 6 KC
  • 5 ARI, DET
  • 4 CIN, CLE, DEN, HOU, IND, NYG
  • 3 BUF, JAX, NYJ, OAK, SF, TB
  • 2 CAR, DAL, LAC, MIN, NE
  • 1 BAL, CHI, GB, NO, PHI, PIT, SEA, TEN, WAS
  • 0 LAR

It’s not only top quarterback performances the battered Falcons defense gives up as they are also tied for the league lead with seven RB1 games given up. This week, surprising veteran Adrian Peterson looks like a strong play. The Dolphins host the Jets, which could be good news for up and down back Isaiah Crowell. The Jets might also have sophomore Elijah McGuire back in the lineup for the first time this season.

The Chiefs defense is also suspect, giving running backs Nick Chubb and Duke Johnson some signs of life.

The Rams are the only team who have not given up a top 12 game to opposing runners but that will be tested as the face off against Alvin Kamara, Mark Ingram and the Saints in New Orleans. I see this streak ending this week.

Wide Receivers

Week Eight WR1s (top 12 scorers)

Patriots receiver Julian Edelman has now delivered three straight games of WR24 or better while Fuller went out on a high note, putting up WR9 stats before suffering a torn ACL to end his season. Veteran receiver Larry Fitzgerald popped with his first WR1 game of the year in the debut of new offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich.

Year to Date WR1s

Veteran Emmanuel Sanders continues to rank as a WR1 for the season and with the recent trade of Demaryius Thomas, Sanders should be an even more reliable weekly target as the Broncos are sure to trail early and often.

WR1 Games this Season

  • 7 Adam Thielen
  • 6
  • 5
  • 4 Antonio Brown, DeAndre Hopkins, Michael Thomas, Mike Evans, Odell Beckham, Stefon Diggs
  • 3 Alshon Jeffery, Emmanuel Sanders, Julio Jones, Tyler Boyd, Tyreek Hill, Will Fuller

Most WR1 Games Allowed

  • 7 NO, TB
  • 6 PHI
  • 5 CLE, TEN
  • 4 ATL, CIN, GB, LAR
  • 3 ARI, CAR, DET, KC, MIA, NYJ, SEA
  • 2 BAL, BUF, CHI, DAL, DEN, JAX, LAC, MIA, NE, NYG, OAK, PIT, SF, WAS
  • 1 IND
  • 0 HOU

The Saints and Bucs sit atop this list of top performances allowed to wideouts and this week New Orleans has a tall task, facing the Rams. Along with Robert Woods and Brandin Cooks, Rams head coach Sean McVay suggested wideout Cooper Kupp could be ready to return to the lineup. This goes without saying but use all Rams receivers in this matchup. Tampa Bay visits Carolina and the situation is a bit trickier. I think many will be excited to use rookie receiver DJ Moore after his breakout game in Week Eight but if veteran Torrey Smith is healthy, Moore’s usage will be uncertain. We should feel very confident in Devin Funchess in this game.

The Texans have yet to allow a WR1 game but have to face the Broncos and their new look starting duo of Sanders and rookie Courtland Sutton. Indianapolis has been the other tough matchup for receivers but they are on bye this week.

Tight Ends

Week Eight TE1s (top 12 scorers)

The tight end landscape remains a weekly mess. Week Eight saw veterans Ed Dickson make his season debut while Jack Doyle came back from a multi-game absence. Both look like immediate weekly fantasy starters.

Year to Date TE1s

The big gainer of the week was Buccaneers tight end OJ Howard, who moved from TE12 to TE7, thanks in part to his huge late-game touchdown against the Bengals.

TE1 Games this Season

  • 8 Zach Ertz
  • 7
  • 6 Travis Kelce, Eric Ebron
  • 5 George Kittle, OJ Howard
  • 4 Jimmy Graham, Trey Burton

Most TE1 Games Allowed

  • 6 CAR, TB
  • 5 CIN, IND, KC, PIT
  • 4 ATL, CHI, MIA, MIN, NE, SF
  • 3 BAL, CLE, DEN, DET, HOU, LAC, OAK, WAS
  • 2 ARI, BUF, DAL, JAX, LAR
  • 1 GB, NYG, NYJ, PHI, SEA, TEN
  • 0 NO

The Panthers and Buccaneers have each allowed six TE1 games this season and in Week Nine, they face off in what could be an offensive explosion. This is good news for Greg Olsen, Howard and maybe even veteran Cameron Brate.

The Saints have not allowed a TE1 game and this week, that streak should continue considering the Rams have no real threat at the position.

Finally, here’s the full defensive chart you might’ve already seen on Twitter.

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