Who should I pick up: Patrick Mahomes II or Tanner McKee?

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: Patrick Mahomes II

If both are available and you need Week 8 points, pick up Patrick Mahomes II over Tanner McKee: 14.3 versus 13.7 projected FP. A longer-term hold can be a different decision; compare the outlook below before choosing who to drop.

Forecast updated Oct 30, 1:36 PM ET · Common scoring preset

THIS-WEEK PICKUP

Patrick Mahomes II

QB · KC · vs DEN

Stats & schedule ›

14.3FF projected FP

Nov 1, 4:25 PM ET

90.1%rostered on ESPN-0.41 pp recent change

THE ALTERNATIVE

Tanner McKee

QB · PHI · vs WAS

Stats & schedule ›

13.7FF projected FP

Nov 1, 8:20 PM ET

4.5%rostered on ESPN-0.21 pp recent change

WHY THIS PICKUP?

Fit the move to the job.

Patrick Mahomes II is the stronger immediate points option. Tanner McKee is more widely available across ESPN leagues, but league-wide ownership cannot tell us who is available in yours. For a QB 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.

Patrick Mahomes II

Patrick Mahomes II projects for 14.3 Standard points against DEN this week. His recent scoring average is 8.2 FP. He is rostered in 90.1% of ESPN leagues, with a reported decline of 0.41 percentage points. Roster trends measure manager activity, not a guarantee of playing time or availability in your league.

Fortified Fantasy: 14.3 FP
ESPN: 14.2 FP
Sleeper: 16.4 FP
FantasyPros: 15.7 FP
Boosted Trees: 17.5 FP
Workload: 14.3 FP
Monte Carlo: 14.3 FP

Boosted Trees: Experimental · saved Oct 27, 12:03 AM ET
Workload: Experimental · includes FantasyPros stat inputs · saved Oct 28, 9:08 PM ET
Monte Carlo: Experimental · conditional on availability · central 80%: 5.9–22.8 FP · saved Oct 28, 9:16 PM ET

Tanner McKee

Tanner McKee projects for 13.7 Standard points against WAS this week. His recent scoring average is 11.6 FP. The defensive matchup raises the FF estimate by 7.5%. He is rostered in 4.5% of ESPN leagues, with a reported decline of 0.21 percentage points. Roster trends measure manager activity, not a guarantee of playing time or availability in your league.

Fortified Fantasy: 13.7 FP
ESPN: 12.4 FP
Sleeper: 12.9 FP
FantasyPros: 13.0 FP
Boosted Trees: 13.3 FP
Workload: 12.2 FP
Monte Carlo: 14.1 FP

Boosted Trees: Experimental · saved Oct 27, 12:03 AM ET
Workload: Experimental · includes FantasyPros stat inputs · saved Oct 28, 9:08 PM ET
Monte Carlo: Experimental · central 80%: 5.9–23.1 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	Patrick Mahomes II	Tanner McKee
Next 3 weeks	46.2 FPHigher projection3/3 scheduled games projected	25.6 FP2/2 scheduled games projected · 1 bye
Remaining regular-season schedule	180.1 FPHigher projection11/11 scheduled games projected	123.7 FP10/10 scheduled games projected · 1 bye
Weeks 15–18	65.4 FPHigher projection4/4 scheduled games projected	45.1 FP4/4 scheduled games projected

Weekly pickup outlook

Week	Patrick Mahomes II	Tanner McKee
Week 8	14.3 FPvs DENHigher projection	13.7 FPvs WAS
Week 9	16.6 FPvs NYJHigher projection	11.9 FPvs NYG
Week 10	15.3 FPvs ATLHigher projection	BYE
Week 11	20.0 FPvs ARIHigher projection	10.9 FPvs PIT
Week 12	17.9 FPvs BUFHigher projection	14.0 FPvs DAL
Week 13	14.7 FPvs LAR	15.6 FPvs ARIHigher projection
Week 14	15.9 FPvs CINHigher projection	12.5 FPvs IND
Week 15	15.9 FPvs NEHigher projection	9.4 FPvs SEA
Week 16	15.4 FPvs SFHigher projection	12.4 FPvs HOU
Week 17	15.3 FPvs LACHigher projection	11.1 FPvs SF
Week 18	18.8 FPvs LVHigher projection	12.2 FPvs NYG

Outlook updated Oct 30, 2:03 PM ET. Health and roles can change.

PICKUP RANKINGS · QB

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.

20.5 FP24.6 FP

Drake MayeQB · 98.9% rostered
23.2
Josh AllenQB · 99.9% rostered
23.0
Joe BurrowQB · 98.7% rostered
22.3
Jayden DanielsQB · 95.0% rostered
21.6
Lamar JacksonQB · 98.7% rostered
21.4

What about Patrick Mahomes II versus these pickups?

QB · Week 8

Jayden Daniels21.2projected FP

Patrick Mahomes II14.3projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗QB · Week 8

Josh Allen24.6projected FP

Patrick Mahomes II14.3projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗QB · Week 8

Aaron Rodgers15.0projected FP

Patrick Mahomes II14.3projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗QB · Week 8

Michael Penix Jr.14.5projected FP

Patrick Mahomes II14.3projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗

More QB 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.

QB · Week 8