
Should I start Josh Downs or Khalil Shakir this week? Week 9 Standard (2026)
THE FF CALL
Start Josh Downs
+1.4 projected edge ยท Standard
Start Josh Downs over Khalil Shakir for Week 9 Standard: 6.8 projected points versus 5.4.
- Josh Downs: 4.9 FP recent scoring average.
- Josh Downs: 6.25% matchup lift against DAL.
Forecast updated ยท Standard

FORTIFIED FANTASY ยท TRADE DEADLINE
Before you make the deal.
What could Khalil Shakir get you? Compare the bye weeks, the replacement options, and the playoff payoff.
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Khalil Shakir
WR ยท BUFStats & schedule โบWhy this pick?
Josh Downs
- FF projection
- 6.8 FP +1.5vs ESPN
- ESPN
- 5.3 FP
- Sleeper
- 6.8 FP
- FantasyPros
- 6.2 FP
- Boosted Trees
- 5.9 FP
- Experimental ยท saved Oct 27, 12:03 AM ET
Josh Downs faces DAL in Week 9. Recent scoring average: 4.9 fantasy points. The position-specific defensive matchup adjusts the forecast up 6.25%.
Khalil Shakir
- FF projection
- 5.4 FP -0.1vs ESPN
- ESPN
- 5.5 FP
- Sleeper
- 5.7 FP
- FantasyPros
- 5.7 FP
- Boosted Trees
- 4.4 FP
- Experimental ยท saved Oct 27, 12:03 AM ET
Khalil Shakir faces MIN in Week 9. Recent scoring average: 7.9 fantasy points. The position-specific defensive matchup adjusts the forecast down 7.5%.
Your next decision
Scoring & lineup notes
FORTIFIED RANKINGS ยท
WR. The bigger picture.
Ranked by FF expected points. Displayed ties favor the higher FF-minus-ESPN margin. Medians and ranges add context.
- 1
Jaxon Smith-NjigbaWR ยท SEA vs ARISun 4:25 PM ETRange unavailableMean 17.6Range unavailableMedian unavailableESPN 15.4Sleeper 17.3FantasyPros 16.117.6Expected FP - 2
Puka NacuaWR ยท LAR vs WASSun 1:00 PM ETRange unavailableMean 16.0Range unavailableMedian unavailableESPN 15.7Sleeper 15.3FantasyPros 15.516.0Expected FP - 3
Tee HigginsWR ยท CIN vs ATLSun 9:30 AM ETRange unavailableMean 14.1Range unavailableMedian unavailableESPN 10.8Sleeper 11.6FantasyPros 11.514.1Expected 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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