
Should I start Baker Mayfield or Michael Penix Jr. in Week 9 (2026, Standard)?
THE FF CALL
Start Michael Penix Jr.
+3.7 projected edge ยท Standard
Start Michael Penix Jr. over Baker Mayfield for Week 9 Standard: 15.6 projected points versus 12.0.
Michael Penix Jr. ยท Injury report dated ยท Starter role checked
Baker Mayfield ยท Injury report dated ยท Starter role checked
- Michael Penix Jr.: 13.9 FP recent scoring average.
- Michael Penix Jr.: 5% matchup lift against CIN.
Forecast updated ยท Standard

FORTIFIED FANTASY ยท TRADE DEADLINE
Before you make the deal.
What could Baker Mayfield get you? Compare the bye weeks, the replacement options, and the playoff payoff.
Browse deadline trades โ

Baker Mayfield
QB ยท TBStats & schedule โบWhy this pick?
Michael Penix Jr.
- FF projection
- 15.6 FP -0.2vs ESPN
- ESPN
- 15.8 FP
- Sleeper
- 16.1 FP
- FantasyPros
- 16.3 FP
- Boosted Trees
- 14.7 FP
- Experimental ยท saved Oct 27, 12:03 AM ET
Michael Penix Jr. faces CIN in Week 9. Recent scoring average: 13.9 fantasy points. The position-specific defensive matchup adjusts the forecast up 5%.
Baker Mayfield
- FF projection
- 12.0 FP -0.6vs ESPN
- ESPN
- 12.6 FP
- Sleeper
- 15.0 FP
- FantasyPros
- 14.7 FP
- Boosted Trees
- 15.8 FP
- Experimental ยท saved Oct 27, 12:03 AM ET
Baker Mayfield faces CHI in Week 9. Recent scoring average: 4.0 fantasy points.
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
Joe BurrowQB ยท CIN vs ATLSun 9:30 AM ETRange unavailableMean 23.3Range unavailableMedian unavailableESPN 21.4Sleeper 20.1FantasyPros 21.223.3Expected FP - 2
Brock PurdyQB ยท SF vs LVSun 4:25 PM ETRange unavailableMean 22.1Range unavailableMedian unavailableESPN 22.2Sleeper 21.7FantasyPros 22.222.1Expected FP - 3
Dak PrescottQB ยท DAL vs INDSun 1:00 PM ETRange unavailableMean 20.7Range unavailableMedian unavailableESPN 19.1Sleeper 19.4FantasyPros 20.120.7Expected 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 9 decisions
Michael Penix Jr.15.6projected FP
Matthew Stafford18.4projected FP
Michael Penix Jr.15.6projected FP
Bo Nix15.4projected FP
Michael Penix Jr.15.6projected FP
C.J. Stroud16.0projected FP
Michael Penix Jr.15.6projected FP
J.J. McCarthy15.0projected FP
Joe Burrow23.3projected FP
Brock Purdy22.1projected FP
Brock Purdy22.1projected FP
Dak Prescott20.7projected FP
Dak Prescott20.7projected FP
Jared Goff20.2projected FP
Jared Goff20.2projected FP
Jayden Daniels19.6projected FP
Jayden Daniels19.6projected FP
Patrick Mahomes II19.4projected FP
Patrick Mahomes II19.4projected FP
Trevor Lawrence19.3projected FP