
Should I start Caleb Williams or J.J. McCarthy this week? Week 9 Standard (2026)
THE FF CALL
Start Caleb Williams
+2.4 projected edge ยท Standard
Start Caleb Williams over J.J. McCarthy for Week 9 Standard: 17.5 projected points versus 15.1.
- Caleb Williams: 17.5 FP recent scoring average; 7.5% matchup reduction against TB.
- J.J. McCarthy: 13.3 FP recent scoring average.
Forecast updated ยท Standard



J.J. McCarthy
QB ยท NYGStats & schedule โบWhy this pick?
Caleb Williams
Caleb Williams faces TB in Week 9. Recent scoring average: 17.5 fantasy points. The position-specific defensive matchup adjusts the forecast down 7.5%.
J.J. McCarthy
J.J. McCarthy faces PHI in Week 9. Recent scoring average: 13.3 fantasy points.
Your next decision
Scoring & lineup notes
FORTIFIED RANKINGS ยท ยท WEEK 9 ยท Standard
QB. The bigger picture.
Ranked by FF expected points. Displayed ties favor the higher FF-minus-ESPN margin. Medians and ranges add context.
- 1
Joe BurrowQB ยท CIN vs ATLSun 9:30 AM ETRange unavailableMean 23.3Range unavailableMedian unavailableESPN 21.4Sleeper 20.3FantasyPros 21.323.3Expected FP - 2
Brock PurdyQB ยท SF vs LVSun 4:25 PM ETRange unavailableMean 22.8Range unavailableMedian unavailableESPN 22.1Sleeper 21.7FantasyPros 22.322.8Expected FP - 3
Jared GoffQB ยท DET vs MIASun 1:00 PM ETRange unavailableMean 20.9Range unavailableMedian unavailableESPN 19.4Sleeper 19.4FantasyPros 19.820.9Expected 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.
More Week 9 decisions
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Caleb Williams17.5projected FP
Josh Allen18.1projected FP
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Tyler Shough16.5projected FP
Caleb Williams17.5projected FP
Jordan Love16.5projected FP
Joe Burrow23.3projected FP
Brock Purdy22.8projected FP
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Jared Goff20.9projected FP
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Dak Prescott20.0projected FP
Dak Prescott20.0projected FP
Jayden Daniels19.4projected FP
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Patrick Mahomes II19.4projected FP
Patrick Mahomes II19.4projected FP
Malik Willis19.3projected FP