
Should I start Alvin Kamara or Dylan Sampson this week? Week 9 Standard (2026)
THE FF CALL
Slight lean: Alvin Kamara
+0.8 projected edge ยท Standard
Start Alvin Kamara over Dylan Sampson for Week 9 Standard: 7.2 projected points versus 6.4.
- Alvin Kamara: 9.6 FP recent scoring average.
- Dylan Sampson: 7.3 FP recent scoring average.
Forecast updated ยท Standard

FORTIFIED FANTASY ยท TRADE DEADLINE
Before you make the deal.
What could Dylan Sampson get you? Compare the bye weeks, the replacement options, and the playoff payoff.
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Dylan Sampson
RB ยท CLEStats & schedule โบWhy this pick?
Alvin Kamara
- FF projection
- 7.2 FP -0.6vs ESPN
- ESPN
- 7.8 FP
- Sleeper
- 6.7 FP
- FantasyPros
- 7.3 FP
- Boosted Trees
- 3.7 FP
- Experimental ยท saved Oct 27, 12:03 AM ET
Alvin Kamara faces CLE in Week 9. Recent scoring average: 9.6 fantasy points.
Dylan Sampson
- FF projection
- 6.4 FP +0.9vs ESPN
- ESPN
- 5.5 FP
- Sleeper
- 6.2 FP
- FantasyPros
- 5.9 FP
- Boosted Trees
- 3.8 FP
- Experimental ยท saved Oct 27, 12:03 AM ET
Dylan Sampson faces NO in Week 9. Recent scoring average: 7.3 fantasy points. The position-specific defensive matchup adjusts the forecast up 10%.
Your next decision
Scoring & lineup notes
FORTIFIED RANKINGS ยท
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 22.5Range unavailableMedian unavailableESPN 21.8Sleeper 20.3FantasyPros 21.122.5Expected FP - 2
Kenneth Walker IIIRB ยท KC vs NYJSun 1:00 PM ETRange unavailableMean 18.9Range unavailableMedian unavailableESPN 20.0Sleeper 18.4FantasyPros 18.218.9Expected FP - 3
Jonathan TaylorRB ยท IND vs DALSun 1:00 PM ETRange unavailableMean 18.0Range unavailableMedian unavailableESPN 16.9Sleeper 15.8FantasyPros 15.418.0Expected 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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Alvin Kamara7.2projected FP
Blake Corum8.4projected FP
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Aaron Jones Sr.7.0projected FP
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Kaelon Black6.8projected FP
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Jordan Mason7.6projected FP
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Kenneth Walker III18.9projected FP
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Christian McCaffrey18.0projected FP
Christian McCaffrey18.0projected FP
Jonathan Taylor18.0projected FP
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Bijan Robinson17.1projected FP
Bijan Robinson17.1projected FP
Javonte Williams15.9projected FP
Javonte Williams15.9projected FP
James Cook III14.9projected FP