Three out of the four receivers in my Sleepers and Streamers had double-digit points in Week 8. The only issue is that they all finished outside the top 30 wide receivers. Double-digit point games are great, but we are reaching for the moon and stars with these choices.
With four teams on a bye in Week 9, here are my sleepers and streamers for wide receivers which feature two rookies who have already made an impact eight games into their rookie seasons.
Week 9 Wide Receivers sleepers and streamers
Wide Receiver sleepers
Tank Dell vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tank Dell had nice games in Week 2 and Week 3. Then, he had an underwhelming two games, missed Week 6 due to injury, then a Week 7 bye. In Week 8, Dell had just three catches for 15 yards on his birthday. It was disappointing, but the Panthers were allowing the 14th fewest ppg to receivers, so expectations should have been lowered.
Now, Dell sees a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team in Week 8. A Buccaneers team that is top 14 in most ppg allowed to receivers. Also, all the attention will constantly be on the Texans’ X receiver, Nico Collins. Dell was disappointing in Week 8 but is in a great spot to deliver against a team giving up 178 ypg and 29.3 ppg to receivers. With that being said, Dell has been up and down in sleepers and streamers this season, but in Week 9, the Dell train picks back up.
Rashid Shaheed vs. Chicago Bears
As previously stated, we are looking for the most upside when finding these receivers, especially the sleepers. Rashid Shaheed has been the best definition of a boom or bust type of receiver. In Week 1, he delivered a top 12 finish. Then, he vanished like the Avatar and was outside the top 50 wide receivers up until Week 6. In Week 6, Shaheed finished in the top 12 again.
Then, a finish outside the top 50 in Week 7. Following that performance, Shaheed had his best boom game of his sophomore season. He had 24.3 points. The only issue I have is that he had just three catches, but accumulated 153 yards and one touchdown. This is the upside we aim for. With four teams on byes and players like Christian Kirk, Brandon Aiyuk, Calvin Ridley, Courtland Sutton, and Amon-Ra St. Brown absent from lineups, Shaheed is worth the dart throw.
Rashid Shaheed has the fourth most deep targets this season and is averaging an ADOT (average depth of target) of 16.2, third overall. He is a perfect dart throw as a sleeper in a Week 9 match-up against the Chicago Bears.
Wide Receiver streamers
Brandin Cooks @ Philadelphia Eagles
First of all, the Eagles are still one of the best teams in all of football. The issue with them is that their secondary cannot stop a single thing. They are giving up the second-most fantasy PPG, not including Week 8’s stats. Still, their secondary has been so atrocious, that Sam Howell is the QB1 pending Monday Night Football. Four touchdowns and 397 yards. Not including tight ends or running backs, the Eagles allowed 288 yards to the Washington Commander’s receivers.
In Week 9, Brandin Cooks of the Dallas Cowboys has an opportunity to be a great streaming option. Cooks has seen back-to-back weeks as a top-30 receiver. He has seen over 14 points, too. Now, against one of the best defenses for receivers in fantasy, Cooks has a chance to be a top 15 play this week in a crucial divisional match-up. Brandin Cooks is my favorite receiver out of all the sleepers and streamers for Week 9.
Josh Downs @ Carolina Panthers
Since Week 5, Josh Downs has been the WR14 on a ppg basis, outplaying Michael Pittman Jr. Although it is only by half a point, the fact Downs has stepped up and delivered WR2 numbers is amazing to see. While consensus was raving over Zay Flowers and Jordan Addison, Downs went undrafted and is now one of the hottest adds in fantasy football.
The Carolina Panthers have been in the bottom half in terms of ppg allowed to receivers with a 26.2 per game average. With Gardner Minshew under center and Jonathan Taylor looking fully healthy, this Colts’ passing game takes another step forward in Week 9. Downs will deliver another top-20 performance and is slowly looking like a league winner.
Week 9 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterback | Running Back | Wide Receiver | Tight End | Half-PPR by Position | Flex Rankings | Positional Ranks w/ K & DST | Dynasty | Superflex Dynasty