Free tool · Week 9 · Nov 3 – Nov 9 · No signup
Week 9 start/sit: who to start this week
The players this week's schedule lifts, the ones it drags down, and how many points the matchup is actually worth — so a flex decision stops being a guess.
Week 9 · Nov 3 – Nov 9
Start them — week 9
Ranked by how much the matchup adds to a normal week for that player.
| Player | Matchup | Proj | Swing | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick MahomesQB · KC | vs NYJ | 25 | +3.5 | vs NYJ grades smash spot — worth about 3.5 points above his normal week. |
| Jalen HurtsQB · PHI | vs NYG | 24.1 | +2.1 | vs NYG grades good matchup — worth about 2.1 points above his normal week. |
| Bijan RobinsonRB · ATL | vs CIN | 20.9 | +2.2 | vs CIN grades smash spot — worth about 2.2 points above his normal week. |
| Joe BurrowQB · CIN | @ ATL | 22.4 | +1.2 | @ ATL grades neutral — worth about 1.2 points above his normal week. |
| Saquon BarkleyRB · PHI | vs NYG | 19.7 | +1.8 | vs NYG grades good matchup — worth about 1.8 points above his normal week. |
| Ja'Marr ChaseWR · CIN | @ ATL | 20.5 | +1 | @ ATL grades neutral — worth about 1 points above his normal week. |
| Baker MayfieldQB · TB | @ CHI | 21.1 | +0.6 | @ CHI grades neutral — worth about 0.6 points above his normal week. |
| Brock PurdyQB · SF | vs LV | 19.3 | +1.5 | vs LV grades good matchup — worth about 1.5 points above his normal week. |
| Jahmyr GibbsRB · DET | @ MIA | 18.8 | +1.4 | @ MIA grades neutral — worth about 1.4 points above his normal week. |
| Puka NacuaWR · LAR | @ WAS | 18 | +1.3 | @ WAS grades good matchup — worth about 1.3 points above his normal week. |
| Amon-Ra St. BrownWR · DET | @ MIA | 17.8 | +1.3 | @ MIA grades neutral — worth about 1.3 points above his normal week. |
| Caleb WilliamsQB · CHI | vs TB | 18.6 | +0.4 | vs TB grades neutral — worth about 0.4 points above his normal week. |
Sit them — week 9
Names the schedule works against. Elite players still start; treat this as the tiebreaker for a flex spot.
| Player | Matchup | Proj | Swing | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyler MurrayQB · ARI | @ SEA | 17.1 | -2.5 | @ SEA grades nightmare — about 2.5 points below his normal week. |
| Jordan LoveQB · GB | @ NE | 18 | -2 | @ NE grades nightmare — about 2 points below his normal week. |
| Justin HerbertQB · LAC | vs HOU | 14.7 | -2 | vs HOU grades nightmare — about 2 points below his normal week. |
| Justin FieldsQB · NYJ | @ KC | 17 | -1.9 | @ KC grades nightmare — about 1.9 points below his normal week. |
| Malik NabersWR · NYG | @ PHI | 14.5 | -1.7 | @ PHI grades nightmare — about 1.7 points below his normal week. |
| Nico CollinsWR · HOU | @ LAC | 13.9 | -1.7 | @ LAC grades nightmare — about 1.7 points below his normal week. |
| Trey McBrideTE · ARI | @ SEA | 11.5 | -1.7 | @ SEA grades nightmare — about 1.7 points below his normal week. |
| Ladd McConkeyWR · LAC | vs HOU | 11.9 | -1.6 | vs HOU grades nightmare — about 1.6 points below his normal week. |
| Marvin Harrison Jr.WR · ARI | @ SEA | 11 | -1.6 | @ SEA grades nightmare — about 1.6 points below his normal week. |
| Josh AllenQB · BUF | @ MIN | 21.8 | -1.5 | @ MIN grades nightmare — about 1.5 points below his normal week. |
| Omarion HamptonRB · LAC | vs HOU | 10.4 | -1.4 | vs HOU grades nightmare — about 1.4 points below his normal week. |
| Garrett WilsonWR · NYJ | @ KC | 12 | -1.3 | @ KC grades nightmare — about 1.3 points below his normal week. |
On bye in week 9
PIT
DK Metcalf, Jaylen Warren
TEN
Tony Pollard
Reading the swing column
Swing is the honest version of a start/sit call. It says how much better or worse this week is than a normal week for that specific player, in points. A plus two is real but small; it breaks a tie between two similar flex options and nothing more. A minus three on a fringe starter is the reason to play the other guy.
What it will never tell you to do is bench a player who is simply better. Matchup moves the margins. Talent and volume decide the week.
Start or sit by position
Full matchup-adjusted rankings for one position at a time.
Start/sit for every week this season
Each week keeps its own board, so a week 9 call stays readable after the games are played and next week's rebuilds on Tuesday.
FAQ
- How are start and sit calls made?
- Each player's season projection is converted to a weekly baseline, then adjusted for the defense he faces and the strength of his own offense. The swing column is the difference from his normal week, so you can see how much the matchup is actually worth.
- Should I ever bench a star because of a matchup?
- Rarely. The matchup swing is a few points either way, which is smaller than the gap between an elite player and a replacement. Use this board to settle flex spots and close calls, not to bench a first-round pick.
- Does it update every week?
- Yes. The week rolls over on Tuesday and every call is recalculated from the schedule automatically.
- Can I compare two specific players?
- Yes — the start/sit optimizer takes any two players in your scoring format and returns a head-to-head call with the reasoning.