Who should I pick up: Jake Bates or Matt Gay?

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: Matt Gay

If both are available and you need Week 8 points, pick up Matt Gay over Jake Bates: 8.5 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, 2:55 PM ET · Common scoring preset

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+0.02 pp recent change

THIS-WEEK PICKUP

Matt Gay

K · LV · vs NYJ

Stats & schedule ›

8.5FF projected FP

Nov 1, 1:00 PM ET

55.5%rostered on ESPN+2.79 pp recent change

WHY THIS PICKUP?

Fit the move to the job.

Matt Gay 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.

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 0.02 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

Matt Gay

Matt Gay projects for 8.5 Standard points against NYJ this week. His recent scoring average is 8.3 FP. He is rostered in 55.5% of ESPN leagues, with a reported gain of 2.79 percentage points. Roster trends measure manager activity, not a guarantee of playing time or availability in your league.

Fortified Fantasy: 8.5 FP
ESPN: 10.0 FP
Sleeper: 8.6 FP
FantasyPros: 7.7 FP
Boosted Trees: 6.7 FP
Monte Carlo: 9.9 FP

Boosted Trees: Experimental · saved Oct 27, 12:03 AM ET
Monte Carlo: Experimental · central 80%: 2.6–18.8 FP · saved Oct 28, 9:16 PM ET

Roster data as of Oct 30, 2:30 PM ET / Oct 30, 2:30 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	Jake Bates	Matt Gay
Next 3 weeks	25.3 FP3/3 scheduled games projected	26.9 FPHigher projection3/3 scheduled games projected
Remaining regular-season schedule	92.0 FP11/11 scheduled games projected	93.0 FPHigher projection10/10 scheduled games projected · 1 bye
Weeks 15–18	31.6 FP4/4 scheduled games projected	38.5 FPHigher projection4/4 scheduled games projected

Weekly pickup outlook

Week	Jake Bates	Matt Gay
Week 8	7.6 FPvs MIN	8.5 FPvs NYJHigher projection
Week 9	9.1 FPvs MIA	9.7 FPvs SFHigher projection
Week 10	8.6 FPvs NE	8.7 FPvs SEAHigher projection
Week 11	9.1 FPvs TBHigher projection	9.0 FPvs DEN
Week 12	7.9 FPvs CHI	9.1 FPvs CLEHigher projection
Week 13	8.4 FPvs ATLHigher projection	BYE
Week 14	9.7 FPvs TENHigher projection	9.6 FPvs LAC
Week 15	7.7 FPvs MIN	9.3 FPvs DENHigher projection
Week 16	8.7 FPvs NYG	10.5 FPvs TENHigher projection
Week 17	7.4 FPvs CHI	9.7 FPvs ARIHigher projection
Week 18	7.8 FPvs GB	9.0 FPvs KCHigher projection

Outlook updated Oct 30, 3:00 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 · 60.9% rostered
10.1
Chris BoswellK · 78.6% rostered
10.0
Brandon AubreyK · 96.3% rostered
9.8
Spencer ShraderK · 86.4% rostered
9.5

What about Matt Gay versus these pickups?

K · Week 8

Chase McLaughlin8.9projected FP

Matt Gay8.5projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗K · Week 8

Evan McPherson9.0projected FP

Matt Gay8.5projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗K · Week 8

Jason Myers8.6projected FP

Matt Gay8.5projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗K · Week 8

Harrison Butker7.8projected FP

Matt Gay8.5projected 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