
Should I start Eric Saubert or Payne Durham in Week 18 (2026, Standard)?
THE FF CALL
Slight lean: Eric Saubert
Week 18 ยท Standard
Eric Saubert has the higher current FF forecast: 0.7 FP versus 0.3 FP. The 0.4-point gap is small; saved experimental forecasts provide context, not a separate override.
- Eric Saubert: 0.6 FP recent scoring average.
- Eric Saubert: 3.75% matchup reduction against LAR.
Forecast updated ยท Standard



Payne Durham
TE ยท TBStats & schedule โบEric Saubert
- Recent scoring average: 0.6 FP.
- The LAR defensive matchup changes the FF estimate down 3.75%.
- Last 3 recorded games: 0.3 targets per game.
Payne Durham
- Recent scoring average: 0.0 FP.
- The NO defensive matchup changes the FF estimate up 2.5%.
- Last 3 recorded games: 0.3 targets per game.
Eric Saubert
- FF projection
- 0.7 FP +0.3vs ESPN
- ESPN
- 0.4 FP
- Sleeper
- 0.8 FP
- Boosted Trees
- 1.4 FP
- Experimental ยท saved Oct 27, 12:03 AM ET
Eric Saubert faces LAR in Week 18. Recent scoring average: 0.6 fantasy points. The position-specific defensive matchup adjusts the forecast down 3.75%.
Payne Durham
- FF projection
- 0.3 FP Evenvs ESPN
- ESPN
- 0.3 FP
- Sleeper
- 0.1 FP
- Boosted Trees
- 1.0 FP
- Experimental ยท saved Oct 27, 12:03 AM ET
Payne Durham faces NO in Week 18. Recent scoring average: 0.0 fantasy points. The position-specific defensive matchup adjusts the forecast up 2.5%.
Your next decision
Scoring & lineup notes
FORTIFIED RANKINGS ยท
TE. The bigger picture.
Ranked by FF expected points. Displayed ties favor the higher FF-minus-ESPN margin. Medians and ranges add context.
- 1
Brock BowersTE ยท LV vs KCSun 12:00 AM ETRange unavailableMean 11.6Range unavailableMedian unavailableESPN 9.3Sleeper 11.9FantasyPros 9.411.6Expected FP - 2
George KittleTE ยท SF vs ARISun 12:00 AM ETRange unavailableMean 11.1Range unavailableMedian unavailableESPN 10.1Sleeper 11.3FantasyPros 10.511.1Expected FP - 3
Trey McBrideTE ยท ARI vs SFSun 12:00 AM ETRange unavailableMean 9.3Range unavailableMedian unavailableESPN 7.5Sleeper 9.5FantasyPros 7.89.3Expected 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 18 decisions
Eric Saubert0.7projected FP
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Grant Calcaterra0.7projected FP
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Zach Ertz0.6projected FP
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George Kittle11.1projected FP
George Kittle11.1projected FP
Trey McBride9.3projected FP
Trey McBride9.3projected FP
Tucker Kraft8.6projected FP
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Travis Kelce8.1projected FP
Travis Kelce8.1projected FP
Harold Fannin Jr.7.6projected FP
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Isaiah Likely7.2projected FP