Who should I pick up: Brandon McManus or Evan McPherson?

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

Reception scoring does not change these projections. One comparison covers PPR, Half-PPR and Standard.

THE PICKUP CALL

For this week: Evan McPherson

If both are available and you need Week 8 points, pick up Evan McPherson over Brandon McManus: 8.9 versus 7.2 projected FP. A longer-term hold can be a different decision; compare the outlook below before choosing who to drop.

Forecast updated Oct 30, 12:12 PM ET · Common scoring preset

THE ALTERNATIVE

Brandon McManus

K · LAR · vs LAC

Stats & schedule ›

7.2FF projected FP

Nov 1, 4:05 PM ET

0.5%rostered on ESPN+0.02 pp recent change

THIS-WEEK PICKUP

Evan McPherson

K · CIN · vs TEN

Stats & schedule ›

8.9FF projected FP

Nov 1, 1:00 PM ET

22.2%rostered on ESPN+0.46 pp recent change

WHY THIS PICKUP?

Fit the move to the job.

Evan McPherson is the stronger immediate points option. Brandon McManus is more widely available across ESPN leagues, but league-wide ownership cannot tell us who is available in yours. For a K 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.

Brandon McManus

Brandon McManus projects for 7.2 Standard points against LAC this week. His recent scoring average is 5.0 FP. He is rostered in 0.5% of ESPN leagues, with a reported gain of 0.02 percentage points. Roster trends measure manager activity, not a guarantee of playing time or availability in your league.

Fortified Fantasy: 7.2 FP
ESPN: 7.2 FP
Sleeper: 7.6 FP
FantasyPros: 7.5 FP
Boosted Trees: 8.4 FP
Monte Carlo: 7.2 FP

Boosted Trees: Experimental · saved Oct 27, 12:03 AM ET
Monte Carlo: Experimental · conditional on availability · central 80%: 2.0–13.5 FP · saved Oct 28, 9:16 PM ET

Evan McPherson

Evan McPherson projects for 8.9 Standard points against TEN this week. His recent scoring average is 6.0 FP. The defensive matchup raises the FF estimate by 3.75%. He is rostered in 22.2% of ESPN leagues, with a reported gain of 0.46 percentage points. Roster trends measure manager activity, not a guarantee of playing time or availability in your league.

Fortified Fantasy: 8.9 FP
ESPN: 8.3 FP
Sleeper: 9.4 FP
FantasyPros: 8.8 FP
Boosted Trees: 8.1 FP
Monte Carlo: 8.0 FP

Boosted Trees: Experimental · saved Oct 27, 12:03 AM ET
Monte Carlo: Experimental · conditional on availability · central 80%: 2.0–15.2 FP · saved Oct 28, 9:16 PM ET

Roster data as of Oct 30, 10:30 AM ET / Oct 30, 11:30 AM 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	Brandon McManus	Evan McPherson
Next 3 weeks	21.7 FP3/3 scheduled games projected	25.7 FPHigher projection3/3 scheduled games projected
Remaining regular-season schedule	70.0 FP10/10 scheduled games projected · 1 bye	90.6 FPHigher projection11/11 scheduled games projected
Weeks 15–18	27.5 FP4/4 scheduled games projected	32.9 FPHigher projection4/4 scheduled games projected

Weekly pickup outlook

Week	Brandon McManus	Evan McPherson
Week 8	7.2 FPvs LAC	8.9 FPvs TENHigher projection
Week 9	7.3 FPvs WAS	8.4 FPvs ATLHigher projection
Week 10	7.1 FPvs ARI	8.4 FPvs PITHigher projection
Week 11	BYE	8.1 FPvs WASHigher projection
Week 12	6.5 FPvs GB	8.2 FPvs NOHigher projection
Week 13	6.9 FPvs KC	7.8 FPvs CLEHigher projection
Week 14	7.5 FPvs SF	7.9 FPvs KCHigher projection
Week 15	7.3 FPvs DAL	8.0 FPvs CARHigher projection
Week 16	6.4 FPvs SEA	8.9 FPvs INDHigher projection
Week 17	7.3 FPvs TB	8.0 FPvs BALHigher projection
Week 18	6.5 FPvs SEA	8.0 FPvs CLEHigher projection

Outlook updated Oct 30, 12:32 PM ET. Health and roles can change.

PICKUP RANKINGS · K

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.

8.9 FP11.1 FP

Will ReichardK · 93.2% rostered
10.2
Tyler BassK · 60.5% rostered
10.1
Chris BoswellK · 78.5% rostered
10.1
Brandon AubreyK · 96.3% rostered
9.8
Spencer ShraderK · 86.4% rostered
9.6

What about Evan McPherson versus these pickups?

K · Week 8

Chad Ryland8.5projected FP

Evan McPherson8.9projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗K · Week 8

Evan McPherson8.9projected FP

Matt Gay8.4projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗K · Week 8

Evan McPherson8.9projected FP

Spencer Shrader8.9projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗K · Week 8

Evan McPherson8.9projected FP

Tyler Loop8.0projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗

More K 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.

K · Week 8