
Should I start J.J. McCarthy or Patrick Mahomes II? (Half-PPR Week 17 2026)
THE FF CALL
Slight lean: J.J. McCarthy
Week 17 ยท Half-PPR
J.J. McCarthy has the higher current FF forecast: 17.6 FP versus 17.2 FP. The 0.4-point gap is small; saved experimental forecasts provide context, not a separate override.
J.J. McCarthy ยท Injury report dated ยท Starter role checked
Patrick Mahomes II ยท Injury report dated ยท Starter role checked
- J.J. McCarthy: 8.7 FP recent scoring average.
- J.J. McCarthy: 7.5% matchup lift against DAL.
Forecast updated ยท Half-PPR



Patrick Mahomes II
QB ยท KCStats & schedule โบJ.J. McCarthy
- Recent scoring average: 8.7 FP.
- The DAL defensive matchup changes the FF estimate up 7.5%.
- Last 2 recorded games: 10.5 pass attempts per game.
Patrick Mahomes II
- Recent scoring average: 16.0 FP.
- The LAC defensive matchup changes the FF estimate down 3.75%.
- Last 3 recorded games: 28.0 pass attempts per game.
J.J. McCarthy
- FF projection
- 17.6 FP +0.9vs ESPN
- ESPN
- 16.7 FP
- Sleeper
- 15.3 FP
- FantasyPros
- 20.7 FP
J.J. McCarthy faces DAL in Week 17. Recent scoring average: 8.7 fantasy points. The position-specific defensive matchup adjusts the forecast up 7.5%.
Patrick Mahomes II
- FF projection
- 17.2 FP -0.7vs ESPN
- ESPN
- 17.9 FP
- Sleeper
- 19.6 FP
- FantasyPros
- 16.4 FP
Patrick Mahomes II faces LAC in Week 17. Recent scoring average: 16.0 fantasy points. The position-specific defensive matchup adjusts the forecast down 3.75%.
Your next decision
Scoring & lineup notes
FORTIFIED RANKINGS ยท
QB. The bigger picture.
Ranked by FF expected points. Displayed ties favor the higher FF-minus-ESPN margin. Medians and ranges add context.
- 1
Josh AllenQB ยท BUF vs MIASun 1:00 PM ETRange unavailableMean 24.3Range unavailableMedian unavailableESPN 22.8Sleeper 26.0FantasyPros 22.924.3Expected FP - 2
Joe BurrowQB ยท CIN vs BALThu 8:15 PM ETRange unavailableMean 24.3Range unavailableMedian unavailableESPN 23.4Sleeper 21.1FantasyPros 20.524.3Expected FP - 3
Caleb WilliamsQB ยท CHI vs DETSun 4:25 PM ETRange unavailableMean 23.5Range unavailableMedian unavailableESPN 17.9Sleeper 21.0FantasyPros 22.623.5Expected FP
How the forecast and ranges work
FF uses position-specific provider weights, rescored CBS and FFToday stats, and the existing bounded form, defense and metric adjustments. Saved Boosted Trees and Workload have bounded model influence when available. Monte Carlo supplies the distribution; it does not get a duplicate mean vote.
Every player is ranked by the FF expected score (mean), whether or not a simulation distribution is available. Equal displayed scores use the higher FF-minus-ESPN margin when both ESPN forecasts are known, then unrounded FF, a comparable FantasyPros/Sleeper estimate, and stable identity order if still level. This tiebreaker is not a measured probability of beating ESPN. The median marker is additional information and never changes the order. Missing or availability-conditional ranges do not switch the ranking statistic. The window shows the experimental middle 80% (P10โP90), rather than the difference between two model means. Its observed coverage under this new version is still collecting. Availability-conditional distributions are labeled and are not shifted to a different center.
Missing sources and incompatible scoring are excluded. Bye and confirmed unavailable players remain excluded. ESPN, Sleeper and FantasyPros are the benchmark markers. The common scale covers the displayed outcome windows and available benchmarks.
More Week 17 decisions
J.J. McCarthy17.6projected FP
Trevor Lawrence20.8projected FP
J.J. McCarthy17.6projected FP
Tyler Shough17.8projected FP
J.J. McCarthy17.6projected FP
Deshaun Watson18.0projected FP
J.J. McCarthy17.6projected FP
Fernando Mendoza18.2projected FP
Josh Allen24.3projected FP
Joe Burrow24.3projected FP
Joe Burrow24.3projected FP
Caleb Williams23.5projected FP
Caleb Williams23.5projected FP
Trevor Lawrence20.8projected FP
Trevor Lawrence20.8projected FP
Drake Maye20.5projected FP
Drake Maye20.5projected FP
Brock Purdy20.3projected FP
Brock Purdy20.3projected FP
Jordan Love19.6projected FP