Who should I pick up: Cade Otton or Darren Waller?

The claim now. The weeks ahead. Make room for the right player.

THE PICKUP CALL

For this week: Darren Waller

If both are available and you need Week 9 points, pick up Darren Waller over Cade Otton: 5.2 versus 4.6 projected FP in Half-PPR. A longer-term hold can be a different decision; compare the outlook below before choosing who to drop.

Forecast updated Nov 4, 4:22 PM ET · Half-PPR

THE ALTERNATIVE

Cade Otton

TE · TB · vs CHI

Stats & schedule ›

4.6FF projected FP

Nov 8, 8:20 PM ET

2.6%rostered on ESPN-0.19 pp recent change

THIS-WEEK PICKUP

Darren Waller

TE · CAR · vs DEN

Stats & schedule ›

5.2FF projected FP

Nov 8, 1:00 PM ET

8.7%rostered on ESPN-0.71 pp recent change

WHY THIS PICKUP?

Fit the move to the job.

Darren Waller is the stronger immediate points option. Cade Otton is more widely available across ESPN leagues, but league-wide ownership cannot tell us who is available in yours. For a TE vacancy, compare the immediate matchup with the weeks you actually need covered. A rising roster percentage can explain interest in a player; it does not increase his projected score. If you must drop someone, check the full roster in GamePlan before making the claim.

Cade Otton

Cade Otton projects for 4.6 Half-PPR points against CHI this week. His recent scoring average is 0.3 FP. He is rostered in 2.6% of ESPN leagues, with a reported decline of 0.19 percentage points. Roster trends measure manager activity, not a guarantee of playing time or availability in your league.

Fortified Fantasy: 4.6 FP
ESPN: 4.7 FP
Sleeper: 6.1 FP
FantasyPros: 5.4 FP
Boosted Trees: 6.5 FP

Boosted Trees: Experimental · saved Oct 27, 12:04 AM ET

Darren Waller

Darren Waller projects for 5.2 Half-PPR points against DEN this week. His recent scoring average is 4.4 FP. The defensive matchup raises the FF estimate by 2.5%. He is rostered in 8.7% of ESPN leagues, with a reported decline of 0.71 percentage points. Roster trends measure manager activity, not a guarantee of playing time or availability in your league.

Fortified Fantasy: 5.2 FP
ESPN: 4.8 FP
Sleeper: 5.9 FP
FantasyPros: 4.8 FP
Boosted Trees: 5.2 FP

Boosted Trees: Experimental · saved Oct 27, 12:04 AM ET

Roster data as of Nov 4, 3:30 PM ET / Nov 4, 3:30 PM ET. Recent change uses ESPN’s reported field; its lookback window is not specified. Saved model estimates are supporting evidence, not independent votes.

THE HOLD, NOT JUST THE CLAIM

What comes after this week?

Future FF estimates are separate from the current-week pickup call. Totals describe the player, not extra points for your roster. Weeks 15–18 are a calendar view; your league’s playoff weeks may differ. Green highlights the higher displayed projection when both outlooks are known; ties and incomplete comparisons stay neutral.

Window	Cade Otton	Darren Waller
Next 3 weeks	9.8 FP2/2 scheduled games projected · Bye Week 10 · cover needed	16.6 FPHigher projection3/3 scheduled games projected
Remaining regular-season schedule	40.0 FP9/9 scheduled games projected · Bye Week 10 · cover needed	53.5 FPHigher projection10/10 scheduled games projected
Weeks 15–18	17.6 FP4/4 scheduled games projected	21.3 FPHigher projection4/4 scheduled games projected

Weekly pickup outlook

Week	Cade Otton	Darren Waller
Week 9	4.6 FPvs CHI	5.2 FPvs DENHigher projection
Week 10	BYE	5.9 FPvs NOHigher projection
Week 11	5.2 FPvs DET	5.5 FPvs BALHigher projection
Week 12	4.2 FPvs CAR	5.3 FPvs TBHigher projection
Week 13	4.2 FPvs LAC	4.4 FPvs MINHigher projection
Week 14	4.3 FPvs BAL	5.9 FPvs NOHigher projection
Week 15	4.7 FPvs NO	5.6 FPvs CINHigher projection
Week 16	4.2 FPvs ATL	5.4 FPvs PITHigher projection
Week 17	4.0 FPvs LAR	4.8 FPvs SEAHigher projection
Week 18	4.7 FPvs NO	5.5 FPvs ATLHigher projection

Outlook updated Nov 4, 4:30 PM ET. Health and roles can change.

PICKUP RANKINGS · Rankings position · WEEK 9

More options. The same scale.

FF expected-points order within this pickup pool, with higher FF-minus-ESPN margin breaking displayed ties. Available model ranges provide context.

9.4 FP15.3 FP

Brock BowersTE · 99.9% rostered
15.2
George KittleTE · 98.2% rostered
14.1
Trey McBrideTE · 99.9% rostered
12.1
Sam LaPortaTE · 96.4% rostered
10.3
Isaiah LikelyTE · 95.1% rostered
10.1

See full TE rankings ↗

What about Darren Waller versus these pickups?

TE · Week 9

Darren Waller5.2projected FP

Eli Raridon5.1projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗TE · Week 9

Darren Waller5.2projected FP

Michael Mayer6.5projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗TE · Week 9

Tyler Higbee5.2projected FP

Darren Waller5.2projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗TE · Week 9

Darren Waller5.2projected FP

Mark Andrews4.9projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗

More TE pickup decisions

Recorded comparison interest informs the order where available, followed by nearby projected options. These are not claims that both players are free agents in your league.

TE · Week 9