Should I start Ladd McConkey or Zach Charbonnet this week? Week 9 PPR (2026)

THE FF CALL

Start Ladd McConkey

+2.0 projected edge · PPR

Start Ladd McConkey over Zach Charbonnet for Week 9 PPR: 11.7 projected points versus 9.8.

Ladd McConkey: 7.7 FP recent scoring average.
Ladd McConkey: 5% matchup lift against HOU.

Forecast updated Nov 5, 2026, 3:12 PM ET · PPR

FF PICK

Ladd McConkey

WR · LACStats & schedule

11.7FF projected

↑ +0.9 vs ESPN

vs HOU

Sun 4:05 PM ET

THE ALTERNATIVE

Zach Charbonnet

RB · SEAStats & schedule

9.8FF projected

↓ -1.0 vs ESPN

vs ARI

Sun 4:25 PM ET

Why this pick?

Ladd McConkey

Fortified11.7

ESPN10.8

Sleeper13.3

FantasyPros11.2

Ladd McConkey faces HOU in Week 9. Recent scoring average: 7.7 fantasy points. The position-specific defensive matchup adjusts the forecast up 5%.

Zach Charbonnet

Fortified9.8

ESPN10.8

Sleeper10.0

FantasyPros10.4

Zach Charbonnet faces ARI in Week 9. Recent scoring average: 5.9 fantasy points.

Ladd McConkey projects for 11.7 points in PPR scoring, 2.0 more than Zach Charbonnet. This is a projection-based recommendation, not a guarantee. Verify the latest injury report and active status before kickoff.

Updated Nov 5, 2026, 3:12 PM ET. Projections can change before kickoff.

THE MATCHUP, IN CONTEXT

What separates Ladd McConkey and Zach Charbonnet?

Ladd McConkey holds a 2.0 FP projected edge over Zach Charbonnet. Read that as an expected-points preference, not a promise that he will finish higher.

Sleeper, FantasyPros project Ladd McConkey higher. Agreement across these available estimates is supporting context; the models can share inputs and are not independent confirmations.

Ladd McConkey

Ladd McConkey has a 11.7 FP forecast in PPR against HOU. His recorded recent scoring average is 7.7 FP, putting this forecast 4.1 points above that average. The position-specific defensive adjustment raises the FF estimate by 5%; it is already included in the projection.

Zach Charbonnet

Zach Charbonnet has a 9.8 FP forecast in PPR against ARI. His recorded recent scoring average is 5.9 FP, putting this forecast 3.9 points above that average.

Compare the saved forecasts side by side

Source	Ladd McConkey	Zach Charbonnet	Projected edge
ESPN	10.8 FP	10.8 FP	Effectively level
Sleeper	13.3 FP	10.0 FP	Ladd McConkey +3.3
FantasyPros	11.2 FP	10.4 FP	Ladd McConkey +0.8

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. Ladd McConkey: Sun 4:05 PM ET. Zach Charbonnet: Sun 4:25 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

FLEX. 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

22.127.9

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
Jaxon Smith-NjigbaWR · SEA vs ARISun 4:25 PM ETRange unavailable
Mean 24.8Range unavailable
Median unavailable
ESPN 22.1Sleeper 24.0FantasyPros 23.1
24.8Expected FP
3
Puka NacuaWR · LAR vs WASSun 1:00 PM ETRange unavailable
Mean 24.6Range unavailable
Median unavailable
ESPN 24.1Sleeper 23.2FantasyPros 24.1
24.6Expected 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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Flex · Week 9