Who should I pick up: Harrison Butker 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: Harrison Butker

If both are available and you need Week 8 points, pick up Harrison Butker over Jake Bates: 7.9 versus 7.5 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

THIS-WEEK PICKUP

Harrison Butker

K · KC · vs DEN

Stats & schedule ›

7.9FF projected FP

Nov 1, 4:25 PM ET

60.6%rostered on ESPN-1.97 pp recent change

THE ALTERNATIVE

Jake Bates

K · DET · vs MIN

Stats & schedule ›

7.5FF 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.

Harrison Butker is the stronger immediate points option. Jake Bates 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.

Harrison Butker

Harrison Butker projects for 7.9 Standard points against DEN this week. His recent scoring average is 7.0 FP. He is rostered in 60.6% of ESPN leagues, with a reported decline of 1.97 percentage points. Roster trends measure manager activity, not a guarantee of playing time or availability in your league.

Fortified Fantasy: 7.9 FP
ESPN: 8.8 FP
Sleeper: 7.6 FP
FantasyPros: 7.3 FP
Boosted Trees: 8.2 FP
Monte Carlo: 8.7 FP

Boosted Trees: Experimental · saved Oct 27, 12:03 AM ET
Monte Carlo: Experimental · conditional on availability · central 80%: 2.2–16.5 FP · saved Oct 28, 9:16 PM ET

Jake Bates

Jake Bates projects for 7.5 Standard points against MIN this week. His recent scoring average is 9.5 FP. The defensive matchup reduces the FF estimate by 8.75%. 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: 7.5 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, 11:30 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	Harrison Butker	Jake Bates
Next 3 weeks	25.7 FPHigher projection3/3 scheduled games projected	25.2 FP3/3 scheduled games projected
Remaining regular-season schedule	96.8 FPHigher projection11/11 scheduled games projected	92.5 FP11/11 scheduled games projected
Weeks 15–18	36.0 FPHigher projection4/4 scheduled games projected	31.7 FP4/4 scheduled games projected

Weekly pickup outlook

Week	Harrison Butker	Jake Bates
Week 8	7.9 FPvs DENHigher projection	7.5 FPvs MIN
Week 9	9.0 FPvs NYJ	9.1 FPvs MIAHigher projection
Week 10	8.8 FPvs ATLHigher projection	8.6 FPvs NE
Week 11	9.1 FPvs ARI	9.3 FPvs TBHigher projection
Week 12	8.9 FPvs BUFHigher projection	8.2 FPvs CHI
Week 13	8.5 FPvs LAR	8.6 FPvs ATLHigher projection
Week 14	8.7 FPvs CIN	9.6 FPvs TENHigher projection
Week 15	8.8 FPvs NEHigher projection	7.4 FPvs MIN
Week 16	9.6 FPvs SFHigher projection	8.7 FPvs NYG
Week 17	8.6 FPvs LACHigher projection	7.7 FPvs CHI
Week 18	9.0 FPvs LVHigher projection	7.8 FPvs GB

Outlook updated Oct 30, 12:28 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 Harrison Butker versus these pickups?

K · Week 8

Chad Ryland8.5projected FP

Harrison Butker7.9projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗K · Week 8

Harrison Butker7.9projected FP

Tyler Bass10.0projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗K · Week 8

Harrison Butker7.9projected FP

Matt Gay8.4projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗K · Week 8

Harrison Butker7.9projected FP

Spencer Shrader8.9projected 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