
Should I start Dallas Cowboys or New Orleans Saints this week? Week 9 Standard (2026)
THE FF CALL
Slight lean: New Orleans Saints
Week 9 ยท Standard
New Orleans Saints has the higher current FF forecast: 6.7 FP versus 6.4 FP. The 0.3-point gap is small; saved experimental forecasts provide context, not a separate override.
- New Orleans Saints: 7.5% matchup lift against CLE.
- Dallas Cowboys: 8.75% matchup lift against IND.
Forecast updated ยท Standard

Need a D/ST off waivers?


New Orleans Saints
DST ยท NOStats & schedule โบDallas Cowboys
- The IND defensive matchup changes the FF estimate up 8.75%.
New Orleans Saints
- The CLE defensive matchup changes the FF estimate up 7.5%.
Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys faces IND in Week 9. The position-specific defensive matchup adjusts the forecast up 8.75%.
New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints faces CLE in Week 9. The position-specific defensive matchup adjusts the forecast up 7.5%.
Your next decision
Scoring & lineup notes
FORTIFIED RANKINGS ยท
D/ST. The bigger picture.
Ranked by FF expected points. Displayed ties favor the higher FF-minus-ESPN margin. Medians and ranges add context.
- 1
Seattle SeahawksD/ST ยท SEA vs ARISun 4:25 PM ETRange unavailableMean 8.9Range unavailableMedian unavailableESPN 9.6Sleeper 9.8FantasyPros 7.48.9Expected FP - 2
Houston TexansD/ST ยท HOU vs LACSun 4:05 PM ETRange unavailableMean 8.0Range unavailableMedian unavailableSleeper 6.5FantasyPros 8.08.0Expected FP - 3
Jacksonville JaguarsD/ST ยท JAC vs BALThu 8:15 PM ETP10 -1.5P90 18.8Median 7.5Sleeper 8.8FantasyPros 7.27.8Expected 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
New Orleans Saints6.7projected FP
Houston Texans8.0projected FP
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New York Giants6.7projected FP
New Orleans Saints6.7projected FP
Chicago Bears6.5projected FP
New Orleans Saints6.7projected FP
Detroit Lions6.9projected FP
Seattle Seahawks8.9projected FP
Houston Texans8.0projected FP
Houston Texans8.0projected FP
Jacksonville Jaguars7.8projected FP
Jacksonville Jaguars7.8projected FP
Kansas City Chiefs7.0projected FP
Kansas City Chiefs7.0projected FP
Detroit Lions6.9projected FP
Detroit Lions6.9projected FP
New York Giants6.7projected FP
Chicago Bears6.5projected FP
Dallas Cowboys6.4projected FP