Should I start Aaron Jones Sr. or Kimani Vidal this week? Week 9 PPR (2026)

THE FF CALL

Start Aaron Jones Sr.

+2.5 projected edge · PPR

Start Aaron Jones Sr. over Kimani Vidal for Week 9 PPR: 9.3 projected points versus 6.8.

Aaron Jones Sr.: 4.8 FP recent scoring average; 7.5% matchup lift against BUF.
Kimani Vidal: 6.0 FP recent scoring average.

Forecast updated Nov 4, 2026, 11:58 AM ET · PPR

FF PICK

Aaron Jones Sr.

RB · MINStats & schedule

9.3FF projected

↑ +1.1 vs ESPN

vs BUF

Mon 8:15 PM ET

THE ALTERNATIVE

Kimani Vidal

RB · LACStats & schedule

6.8FF projected

↓ -2.0 vs ESPN

vs HOU

Sun 4:05 PM ET

Why this pick?

Aaron Jones Sr.

Fortified9.3

ESPN8.2

Sleeper9.6

FantasyPros9.6

Aaron Jones Sr. faces BUF in Week 9. Recent scoring average: 4.8 fantasy points. The position-specific defensive matchup adjusts the forecast up 7.5%.

Kimani Vidal

Fortified6.8

ESPN8.8

Sleeper7.5

FantasyPros6.4

Kimani Vidal faces HOU in Week 9. Recent scoring average: 6.0 fantasy points.

Aaron Jones Sr. projects for 9.3 points in PPR scoring, 2.5 more than Kimani Vidal. This is a projection-based recommendation, not a guarantee. Verify the latest injury report and active status before kickoff.

Updated Nov 4, 2026, 11:58 AM ET. Projections can change before kickoff.

THE MATCHUP, IN CONTEXT

What separates Aaron Jones Sr. and Kimani Vidal?

Aaron Jones Sr. holds a 2.5 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 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 9.3 FP forecast in PPR against BUF. His recorded recent scoring average is 4.8 FP, putting this forecast 4.5 points above that average. The position-specific defensive adjustment raises the FF estimate by 7.5%; it is already included in the projection.

Kimani Vidal

Kimani Vidal has a 6.8 FP forecast in PPR against HOU. His recorded recent scoring average is 6.0 FP, putting this forecast 0.8 points above that average.

Compare the saved forecasts side by side

Source	Aaron Jones Sr.	Kimani Vidal	Projected edge
ESPN	8.2 FP	8.8 FP	Kimani Vidal +0.6
Sleeper	9.6 FP	7.5 FP	Aaron Jones Sr. +2.0
FantasyPros	9.6 FP	6.4 FP	Aaron Jones Sr. +3.2

Model save times and conditional-input notes are listed in Why this pick. These forecasts use the selected scoring preset; they do not replace custom league rules.

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.

This is a lineup choice, not an instruction to drop the other player. For bye coverage, roster moves and your league’s actual playoff weeks, build your GamePlan ↗.

Your next decision

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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.

FORTIFIED RANKINGS · Rankings position · WEEK 9 · PPR

RB. The bigger picture.

Ranked by FF expected points. Displayed ties favor the higher FF-minus-ESPN margin. Medians and ranges add context.

FF expected pointsMedian · when availableWindow: experimental middle 80%● ESPN● Sleeper● FantasyPros

3 shown · common FP scale

20.627.9

FF MEAN

1
Jahmyr GibbsRB · DET vs MIASun 1:00 PM ETRange unavailable
Mean 27.9Range unavailable
Median unavailable
ESPN 26.5Sleeper 25.8FantasyPros 26.1
27.9Expected FP
2
Christian McCaffreyRB · SF vs LVSun 4:25 PM ETCheck availability · Range unavailable
Mean 22.4Range unavailable
Median unavailable
ESPN 22.8Sleeper 22.7FantasyPros 20.6
22.4Expected FP
3
Kenneth Walker IIIRB · KC vs NYJSun 1:00 PM ETRange unavailable
Mean 22.3Range unavailable
Median unavailable
ESPN 23.0Sleeper 21.6FantasyPros 21.2
22.3Expected 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% (P10–P90), 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 · A CLOSER LOOK

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RB · Week 9