Should I start Eric Saubert or John Bates in Week 18 (2026, Half-PPR)?

THE FF CALL

Slight lean: John Bates

Week 18 · Half-PPR

John Bates has the higher current FF forecast: 1.2 FP versus 0.8 FP. The 0.4-point gap is small; saved experimental forecasts provide context, not a separate override.

John Bates: 0.0 FP recent scoring average.
Eric Saubert: 0.7 FP recent scoring average.

Forecast updated Nov 11, 2026, 5:07 PM ET · Half-PPR

THE ALTERNATIVE

Eric Saubert

TE · SEAStats & schedule

0.8FF projected

↑ +0.2 vs ESPN

at LAR

Sun 12:00 AM ET

FF PICK

John Bates

TE · WASStats & schedule

1.2FF projected

↑ +0.3 vs ESPN

vs DAL

Sun 12:00 AM ET

Your next decision

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Scoring & lineup notes

PPR awards one point per reception; half-PPR awards 0.5; standard awards none. Custom league rules can change the result. Confirm active status, kickoff and lineup locks. Projections are estimates; completed-week scores are actuals.

FORTIFIED RANKINGS · Rankings position

TE. The bigger picture.

Ranked by FF expected points. Displayed ties favor the higher FF-minus-ESPN margin. Medians and ranges add context.

FF expected pointsMedian · when availableWindow: experimental middle 80%● ESPN● Sleeper● FantasyPros

3 shown · common FP scale

11.215.2

FF MEAN

1
Brock BowersTE · LV vs KCSun 12:00 AM ETRange unavailable
Mean 14.8Range unavailable
Median unavailable
ESPN 12.3Sleeper 15.2FantasyPros 12.6
14.8Expected FP
2
George KittleTE · SF vs ARISun 12:00 AM ETRange unavailable
Mean 13.5Range unavailable
Median unavailable
ESPN 12.4Sleeper 13.8FantasyPros 13.4
13.5Expected FP
3
Trey McBrideTE · ARI vs SFSun 12:00 AM ETRange unavailable
Mean 12.6Range unavailable
Median unavailable
ESPN 11.2Sleeper 13.2FantasyPros 11.2
12.6Expected 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% (P10–P90), 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.