Should I start Connor Heyward or John Bates this week? Week 8 Half-PPR (2026)

THE FF CALL

Slight lean: John Bates

+0.9 projected edge · Half-PPR

Start John Bates over Connor Heyward for Week 8 Half-PPR: 1.3 projected points versus 0.4.

Connor Heyward: 0.6 FP recent scoring average.
John Bates: 0.8 FP recent scoring average; 1.25% matchup reduction against PHI.

Forecast updated Oct 28, 2026, 4:12 AM ET · Half-PPR

FF PICK

John Bates

TE · WASStats & schedule

1.3FF projected

= 0.0 vs ESPN

vs PHI

Sun 8:20 PM ET

THE ALTERNATIVE

Connor Heyward

RB · LVStats & schedule

0.4FF projected

↑ +0.1 vs ESPN

at NYJ

Sun 1:00 PM ET

Why this pick?

John Bates

Fortified1.3

ESPN1.3

Sleeper1.4

John Bates faces PHI in Week 8. Recent scoring average: 0.8 fantasy points. The position-specific defensive matchup adjusts the forecast down 1.25%.

Connor Heyward

Fortified0.4

ESPN0.3

Sleeper0.6

Connor Heyward faces NYJ in Week 8. Recent scoring average: 0.6 fantasy points.

John Bates projects for 1.3 points in half-PPR scoring, 0.9 more than Connor Heyward. The gap is small; late injury news or your league’s scoring can change the choice. FantasyPros projections are temporarily unavailable; they are excluded from this comparison.

Updated Oct 28, 2026, 4:12 AM ET. Projections can change before kickoff.

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Scoring & lineup notes

PPR awards one point per reception; half-PPR awards 0.5; standard awards none. Custom league rules can change the result. Confirm active status, kickoff and lineup locks. Projections are estimates; completed-week scores are actuals.