Who should I pick up: Michael Mayer or Rashid Shaheed?

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

THE PICKUP CALL

For this week: Michael Mayer

If both are available and you need Week 8 points in a FLEX slot, pick up Michael Mayer over Rashid Shaheed: 7.5 versus 6.7 projected FP in PPR. Rashid Shaheed also has an availability concern. A longer-term hold can be a different decision; compare the outlook below before choosing who to drop.

Forecast updated Oct 30, 2:05 PM ET · PPR

THIS-WEEK PICKUP

Michael Mayer

TE · LV · vs NYJ

Stats & schedule ›

7.5FF projected FP

Nov 1, 1:00 PM ET

23.8%rostered on ESPN-0.56 pp recent change

THE ALTERNATIVE

Rashid Shaheed

WR · SEA · vs CHI

Stats & schedule ›

6.7FF projected FP

Nov 2, 8:15 PM ET

Check availability before adding

26.4%rostered on ESPN-0.54 pp recent change

WHY THIS PICKUP?

Fit the move to the job.

Michael Mayer is the stronger immediate points option. Michael Mayer is more widely available across ESPN leagues, but league-wide ownership cannot tell us who is available in yours. These players share FLEX eligibility; check whether you also need one of them in a dedicated RB, WR or TE slot. 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.

Michael Mayer

Michael Mayer projects for 7.5 PPR points against NYJ this week. His recent scoring average is 8.0 FP. The defensive matchup reduces the FF estimate by 2.5%. He is rostered in 23.8% of ESPN leagues, with a reported decline of 0.56 percentage points. Roster trends measure manager activity, not a guarantee of playing time or availability in your league.

Fortified Fantasy: 7.5 FP
ESPN: 7.4 FP
Sleeper: 7.5 FP
FantasyPros: 7.5 FP
Boosted Trees: 8.8 FP
Workload: 7.9 FP
Monte Carlo: 8.2 FP

Boosted Trees: Experimental · saved Oct 27, 12:26 AM ET
Workload: Experimental · includes FantasyPros stat inputs · saved Oct 28, 9:08 PM ET
Monte Carlo: Experimental · central 80%: -0.4–18.6 FP · saved Oct 28, 9:16 PM ET

Rashid Shaheed

Rashid Shaheed projects for 6.7 PPR points against CHI this week. His recent scoring average is 6.1 FP. He is rostered in 26.4% of ESPN leagues, with a reported decline of 0.54 percentage points. His injury designation makes this a conditional pickup; verify his status before committing. Roster trends measure manager activity, not a guarantee of playing time or availability in your league.

Fortified Fantasy: 6.7 FP
ESPN: 7.8 FP
Sleeper: 4.5 FP
FantasyPros: 7.2 FP
Boosted Trees: 7.7 FP
Workload: 7.3 FP
Monte Carlo: 2.5 FP

Boosted Trees: Experimental · saved Oct 27, 12:26 AM ET
Workload: Experimental · includes FantasyPros stat inputs · saved Oct 28, 9:08 PM ET
Monte Carlo: Experimental · central 80%: 0.0–8.9 FP · saved Oct 28, 9:16 PM ET

Roster data as of Oct 30, 1:30 PM ET / Oct 30, 1:30 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	Michael Mayer	Rashid Shaheed
Next 3 weeks	21.6 FPHigher projection3/3 scheduled games projected	21.3 FP3/3 scheduled games projected
Remaining regular-season schedule	73.3 FPHigher projection10/10 scheduled games projected · 1 bye	68.4 FP10/10 scheduled games projected · 1 bye
Weeks 15–18	30.2 FPHigher projection4/4 scheduled games projected	26.1 FP4/4 scheduled games projected

Weekly pickup outlook

Week	Michael Mayer	Rashid Shaheed
Week 8	7.5 FPvs NYJHigher projection	6.7 FPvs CHI
Week 9	7.5 FPvs SFHigher projection	7.3 FPvs ARI
Week 10	6.6 FPvs SEA	7.3 FPvs LVHigher projection
Week 11	6.8 FPvs DENHigher projection	BYE
Week 12	7.1 FPvs CLEHigher projection	6.3 FPvs SF
Week 13	BYE	7.8 FPvs DALHigher projection
Week 14	7.6 FPvs LACHigher projection	6.9 FPvs NYG
Week 15	6.9 FPvs DEN	7.2 FPvs PHIHigher projection
Week 16	7.5 FPvs TENHigher projection	6.2 FPvs LAR
Week 17	8.3 FPvs ARIHigher projection	6.5 FPvs CAR
Week 18	7.5 FPvs KCHigher projection	6.2 FPvs LAR

Outlook updated Oct 30, 2:07 PM ET. Health and roles can change.

PICKUP RANKINGS · FLEX

More options. The same scale.

FF–Monte Carlo midpoint order within this pickup pool. The window connects two estimates; it is not a confidence interval. Rankings may differ from the FF points-only call above.

9.1 FP12.6 FP

Brenton StrangeTE · 48.3% rostered
11.6
Makai LemonWR · 39.8% rostered
10.8
Chris Godwin Jr.WR · 52.8% rostered
10.7
DeMario DouglasWR · 45.0% rostered
10.7
Malik WashingtonWR · 37.5% rostered
10.4

What about Michael Mayer versus these pickups?

TE · Week 8

Michael Mayer7.5projected FP

Mike Gesicki7.9projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗TE · Week 8

Michael Mayer7.5projected FP

Tyler Higbee7.9projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗FLEX · Week 8

Dylan Sampson7.5projected FP

Michael Mayer7.5projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗FLEX · Week 8

Michael Mayer7.5projected FP

Ja'Kobi Lane7.3projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗

More FLEX 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.

WR · Week 8