Who should I pick up: Austin Ekeler or Seth McGowan?

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

THE PICKUP CALL

For this week: Austin Ekeler

If both are available and you need Week 9 points, pick up Austin Ekeler over Seth McGowan: 4.8 versus 4.4 projected FP in Standard. A longer-term hold can be a different decision; compare the outlook below before choosing who to drop.

Forecast updated Nov 4, 7:09 PM ET · Standard

THIS-WEEK PICKUP

Austin Ekeler

RB · WAS · vs LAR

Stats & schedule ›

4.8FF projected FP

Nov 8, 1:00 PM ET

1.9%rostered on ESPN+0.26 pp recent change

THE ALTERNATIVE

Seth McGowan

RB · IND · vs DAL

Stats & schedule ›

4.4FF projected FP

Nov 8, 1:00 PM ET

Planning a bid? Seth McGowan FAAB guide ↗

21.5%rostered on ESPN+0.35 pp recent change

WHY THIS PICKUP?

Fit the move to the job.

Austin Ekeler is the stronger immediate points option. Austin Ekeler is more widely available across ESPN leagues, but league-wide ownership cannot tell us who is available in yours. For a RB 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.

Austin Ekeler

Austin Ekeler projects for 4.8 Standard points against LAR this week. His recent scoring average is 3.1 FP. The defensive matchup reduces the FF estimate by 2.5%. He is rostered in 1.9% of ESPN leagues, with a reported gain of 0.26 percentage points. Roster trends measure manager activity, not a guarantee of playing time or availability in your league.

Fortified Fantasy: 4.8 FP
ESPN: 5.6 FP
Sleeper: 5.9 FP
FantasyPros: 5.9 FP
Boosted Trees: 1.8 FP

Boosted Trees: Experimental · saved Oct 27, 12:03 AM ET

Seth McGowan

Seth McGowan projects for 4.4 Standard points against DAL this week. His recent scoring average is 3.5 FP. The defensive matchup raises the FF estimate by 7.5%. He is rostered in 21.5% of ESPN leagues, with a reported gain of 0.35 percentage points. Roster trends measure manager activity, not a guarantee of playing time or availability in your league.

Fortified Fantasy: 4.4 FP
ESPN: 4.2 FP
Sleeper: 5.4 FP
FantasyPros: 4.3 FP
Boosted Trees: 2.3 FP

Boosted Trees: Experimental · saved Oct 27, 12:03 AM ET

Roster data as of Nov 4, 6:30 PM ET / Nov 4, 6:30 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	Austin Ekeler	Seth McGowan
Next 3 weeks	14.1 FPHigher projection3/3 scheduled games projected	11.8 FP3/3 scheduled games projected
Remaining regular-season schedule	42.1 FPHigher projection10/10 scheduled games projected	33.5 FP9/9 scheduled games projected · Bye Week 13 · cover needed
Weeks 15–18	15.6 FPHigher projection4/4 scheduled games projected	14.2 FP4/4 scheduled games projected

Weekly pickup outlook

Week	Austin Ekeler	Seth McGowan
Week 9	4.8 FPvs LARHigher projection	4.4 FPvs DAL
Week 10	5.2 FPvs NYGHigher projection	4.0 FPvs MIA
Week 11	4.2 FPvs CINHigher projection	3.5 FPvs HOU
Week 12	4.2 FPvs ARIHigher projection	4.0 FPvs NYG
Week 13	4.3 FPvs TENHigher projection	BYE
Week 14	4.0 FPvs HOUHigher projection	3.5 FPvs PHI
Week 15	4.2 FPvs ATLHigher projection	3.8 FPvs TEN
Week 16	3.6 FPvs MIN	4.0 FPvs CINHigher projection
Week 17	3.0 FPvs JAC	3.5 FPvs CLEHigher projection
Week 18	4.8 FPvs DALHigher projection	2.9 FPvs JAC

Outlook updated Nov 4, 7:11 PM ET. Health and roles can change.

PICKUP RANKINGS · Rankings position · WEEK 9

More options. The same scale.

FF expected-points order within this pickup pool, with higher FF-minus-ESPN margin breaking displayed ties. Available model ranges provide context.

11.7 FP22.6 FP

Jahmyr GibbsRB · 99.9% rostered
22.6
Kenneth Walker IIIRB · 99.9% rostered
18.9
Bijan RobinsonRB · 99.9% rostered
16.6
James Cook IIIRB · 99.9% rostered
14.9
Bhayshul TutenRB · 93.9% rostered
14.3

See full RB rankings ↗

What about Austin Ekeler versus these pickups?

RB · Week 9

Samaje Perine4.8projected FP

Austin Ekeler4.8projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗RB · Week 9

Austin Ekeler4.8projected FP

Brian Robinson Jr.4.6projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗RB · Week 9

Austin Ekeler4.8projected FP

Kimani Vidal5.2projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗RB · Week 9

Austin Ekeler4.8projected FP

Emmett Johnson5.3projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗

More RB 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.

RB · Week 9