Who should I pick up: Evan McPherson or Jake Bates?

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 Jake Bates: 9.0 versus 7.6 projected FP. A longer-term hold can be a different decision; compare the outlook below before choosing who to drop.

Forecast updated Oct 30, 1:21 PM ET · Common scoring preset

THIS-WEEK PICKUP

Evan McPherson

K · CIN · vs TEN

Stats & schedule ›

9.0FF projected FP

Nov 1, 1:00 PM ET

22.2%rostered on ESPN+0.44 pp recent change

THE ALTERNATIVE

Jake Bates

K · DET · vs MIN

Stats & schedule ›

7.6FF projected FP

Nov 1, 1:00 PM ET

41.0%rostered on ESPN+0.03 pp recent change

WHY THIS PICKUP?

Fit the move to the job.

Evan McPherson is the stronger immediate points option. Evan McPherson 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.

Evan McPherson

Evan McPherson projects for 9.0 Standard points against TEN this week. His recent scoring average is 6.0 FP. The defensive matchup raises the FF estimate by 5%. He is rostered in 22.2% of ESPN leagues, with a reported gain of 0.44 percentage points. Roster trends measure manager activity, not a guarantee of playing time or availability in your league.

Fortified Fantasy: 9.0 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

Jake Bates

Jake Bates projects for 7.6 Standard points against MIN this week. His recent scoring average is 9.5 FP. The defensive matchup reduces the FF estimate by 6.25%. He is rostered in 41.0% of ESPN leagues, with a reported gain of 0.03 percentage points. Roster trends measure manager activity, not a guarantee of playing time or availability in your league.

Fortified Fantasy: 7.6 FP
ESPN: 8.5 FP
Sleeper: 8.4 FP
FantasyPros: 7.8 FP
Boosted Trees: 9.6 FP
Monte Carlo: 8.4 FP

Boosted Trees: Experimental · saved Oct 27, 12:03 AM ET
Monte Carlo: Experimental · central 80%: 2.3–15.9 FP · saved Oct 28, 9:16 PM ET

Roster data as of Oct 30, 12:30 PM ET / Oct 30, 12:30 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	Evan McPherson	Jake Bates
Next 3 weeks	26.0 FPHigher projection3/3 scheduled games projected	25.3 FP3/3 scheduled games projected
Remaining regular-season schedule	91.3 FP11/11 scheduled games projected	92.0 FPHigher projection11/11 scheduled games projected
Weeks 15–18	33.1 FPHigher projection4/4 scheduled games projected	31.6 FP4/4 scheduled games projected

Weekly pickup outlook

Week	Evan McPherson	Jake Bates
Week 8	9.0 FPvs TENHigher projection	7.6 FPvs MIN
Week 9	8.4 FPvs ATL	9.1 FPvs MIAHigher projection
Week 10	8.6 FPvs PIT	8.6 FPvs NE
Week 11	8.3 FPvs WAS	9.1 FPvs TBHigher projection
Week 12	8.2 FPvs NOHigher projection	7.9 FPvs CHI
Week 13	7.8 FPvs CLE	8.4 FPvs ATLHigher projection
Week 14	7.9 FPvs KC	9.7 FPvs TENHigher projection
Week 15	8.0 FPvs CARHigher projection	7.7 FPvs MIN
Week 16	9.0 FPvs INDHigher projection	8.7 FPvs NYG
Week 17	8.0 FPvs BALHigher projection	7.4 FPvs CHI
Week 18	8.0 FPvs CLEHigher projection	7.8 FPvs GB

Outlook updated Oct 30, 1:24 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.

8.8 FP11.1 FP

Will ReichardK · 93.2% rostered
10.1
Tyler BassK · 60.7% rostered
10.1
Chris BoswellK · 78.5% rostered
10.0
Brandon AubreyK · 96.3% rostered
9.8
Spencer ShraderK · 86.4% rostered
9.5

What about Evan McPherson versus these pickups?

K · Week 8

Chad Ryland8.4projected FP

Evan McPherson9.0projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗K · Week 8

Evan McPherson9.0projected FP

Matt Gay8.5projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗K · Week 8

Evan McPherson9.0projected FP

Spencer Shrader8.8projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗K · Week 8

Evan McPherson9.0projected FP

Tyler Loop7.9projected 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