
Should I start Aaron Jones Sr. or Kimani Vidal this week? Week 9 Half-PPR (2026)
THE FF CALL
Start Aaron Jones Sr.
+2.2 projected edge ยท Half-PPR
Start Aaron Jones Sr. over Kimani Vidal for Week 9 Half-PPR: 8.3 projected points versus 6.1.
- Aaron Jones Sr.: 4.0 FP recent scoring average; 6.25% matchup lift against BUF.
- Kimani Vidal: 4.8 FP recent scoring average.
Forecast updated ยท Half-PPR



Kimani Vidal
RB ยท LACStats & schedule โบWhy this pick?
Aaron Jones Sr.
Aaron Jones Sr. faces BUF in Week 9. Recent scoring average: 4.0 fantasy points. The position-specific defensive matchup adjusts the forecast up 6.25%.
Kimani Vidal
Kimani Vidal faces HOU in Week 9. Recent scoring average: 4.8 fantasy points.
THE MATCHUP, IN CONTEXT
What separates Aaron Jones Sr. and Kimani Vidal?
Aaron Jones Sr. holds a 2.2 FP projected edge over Kimani Vidal. Read that as an expected-points preference, not a promise that he will finish higher.
The available estimates disagree: Sleeper, FantasyPros, Boosted Trees lean toward Aaron Jones Sr., while ESPN leans toward Kimani Vidal. That disagreement is a reason to examine the matchup and availability rather than count providers as votes.
Aaron Jones Sr.
Aaron Jones Sr. has a 8.3 FP forecast in Half-PPR against BUF. His recorded recent scoring average is 4.0 FP, putting this forecast 4.2 points above that average. The position-specific defensive adjustment raises the FF estimate by 6.25%; it is already included in the projection.
Kimani Vidal
Kimani Vidal has a 6.1 FP forecast in Half-PPR against HOU. His recorded recent scoring average is 4.8 FP, putting this forecast 1.4 points above that average.
Compare the saved forecasts side by side
| Source | Aaron Jones Sr. | Kimani Vidal | Projected edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESPN | 7.2 FP | 7.9 FP | Kimani Vidal +0.7 |
| Sleeper | 8.5 FP | 6.7 FP | Aaron Jones Sr. +1.8 |
| FantasyPros | 8.4 FP | 5.8 FP | Aaron Jones Sr. +2.7 |
| Boosted Trees | 10.1 FP | 6.4 FP | Aaron Jones Sr. +3.6 |
Before the first kickoff. Aaron Jones Sr.: Mon 8:15 PM ET. Kimani Vidal: Sun 4:05 PM ET. If a questionable player has the later kickoff, keep an eligible later-game replacement available. Where your league allows it, putting a later-game starter in FLEX can preserve swap options.
Your next decision
Scoring & lineup notes
FORTIFIED RANKINGS ยท ยท WEEK 9 ยท Half-PPR
RB. The bigger picture.
Ranked by FF expected points. Displayed ties favor the higher FF-minus-ESPN margin. Medians and ranges add context.
- 1
Jahmyr GibbsRB ยท DET vs MIASun 1:00 PM ETRange unavailableMean 25.1Range unavailableMedian unavailableESPN 24.2Sleeper 23.1FantasyPros 23.725.1Expected FP - 2
Kenneth Walker IIIRB ยท KC vs NYJSun 1:00 PM ETRange unavailableMean 20.5Range unavailableMedian unavailableESPN 21.5Sleeper 19.9FantasyPros 19.620.5Expected FP - 3
Christian McCaffreyRB ยท SF vs LVSun 4:25 PM ETCheck availability ยท Range unavailableMean 20.0Range unavailableMedian unavailableESPN 20.5Sleeper 20.8FantasyPros 18.520.0Expected FP
How the forecast and ranges work
FF uses position-specific provider weights, rescored CBS and FFToday stats, and the existing bounded form, defense and metric adjustments. Saved Boosted Trees and Workload have bounded model influence when available. Monte Carlo supplies the distribution; it does not get a duplicate mean vote.
Every player is ranked by the FF expected score (mean), whether or not a simulation distribution is available. Equal displayed scores use the higher FF-minus-ESPN margin when both ESPN forecasts are known, then unrounded FF, a comparable FantasyPros/Sleeper estimate, and stable identity order if still level. This tiebreaker is not a measured probability of beating ESPN. The median marker is additional information and never changes the order. Missing or availability-conditional ranges do not switch the ranking statistic. The window shows the experimental middle 80% (P10โP90), rather than the difference between two model means. Its observed coverage under this new version is still collecting. Availability-conditional distributions are labeled and are not shifted to a different center.
Missing sources and incompatible scoring are excluded. Bye and confirmed unavailable players remain excluded. ESPN, Sleeper and FantasyPros are the benchmark markers. The common scale covers the displayed outcome windows and available benchmarks.
YOUR LINEUP ยท A CLOSER LOOK
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Aaron Jones Sr.8.3projected FP
David Montgomery9.3projected FP
Aaron Jones Sr.8.3projected FP
Jadarian Price8.3projected FP
Aaron Jones Sr.8.3projected FP
Woody Marks8.3projected FP
Aaron Jones Sr.8.3projected FP
Dylan Sampson7.9projected FP
Jahmyr Gibbs25.1projected FP
Kenneth Walker III20.5projected FP
Kenneth Walker III20.5projected FP
Christian McCaffrey20.0projected FP
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Jonathan Taylor19.7projected FP
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Bijan Robinson18.2projected FP
Bijan Robinson18.2projected FP
Javonte Williams16.8projected FP
Javonte Williams16.8projected FP
Kyren Williams15.9projected FP
Ryan Flournoy
Kimani Vidal
Omarion Hampton