
Should I start Gardner Minshew II or J.J. McCarthy in Week 9 (2026, Standard)?
THE FF CALL
Start J.J. McCarthy
+4.6 projected edge ยท Standard
Start J.J. McCarthy over Gardner Minshew II for Week 9 Standard: 15.0 projected points versus 10.4.
J.J. McCarthy ยท Starter role checked
Gardner Minshew II ยท Injury report dated ยท Starter role checked
- J.J. McCarthy: 13.3 FP recent scoring average.
- Gardner Minshew II: 9.8 FP recent scoring average.
Forecast updated ยท Standard

FORTIFIED FANTASY ยท TRADE DEADLINE
Before you make the deal.
What could Gardner Minshew II get you? Compare the bye weeks, the replacement options, and the playoff payoff.
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Gardner Minshew II
QB ยท ARIStats & schedule โบWhy this pick?
J.J. McCarthy
- FF projection
- 15.0 FP -2.5vs ESPN
- ESPN
- 17.5 FP
- Sleeper
- 14.8 FP
- FantasyPros
- 15.7 FP
- Boosted Trees
- 17.5 FP
- Experimental ยท saved Oct 27, 12:03 AM ET
J.J. McCarthy faces PHI in Week 9. Recent scoring average: 13.3 fantasy points.
Gardner Minshew II
- FF projection
- 10.4 FP -1.3vs ESPN
- ESPN
- 11.7 FP
- Sleeper
- 10.4 FP
- FantasyPros
- 12.4 FP
Gardner Minshew II faces SEA in Week 9. Recent scoring average: 9.8 fantasy points. The position-specific defensive matchup adjusts the forecast down 8.75%.
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
Joe BurrowQB ยท CIN vs ATLSun 9:30 AM ETRange unavailableMean 23.3Range unavailableMedian unavailableESPN 21.4Sleeper 20.4FantasyPros 21.223.3Expected FP - 2
Brock PurdyQB ยท SF vs LVSun 4:25 PM ETRange unavailableMean 22.0Range unavailableMedian unavailableESPN 22.2Sleeper 21.2FantasyPros 22.122.0Expected FP - 3
Dak PrescottQB ยท DAL vs INDSun 1:00 PM ETRange unavailableMean 20.7Range unavailableMedian unavailableESPN 19.1Sleeper 19.2FantasyPros 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.
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