Week 9 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: FLEX
Peppers & Picks' Week 9 FLEX start 'em, sit 'em call for the 2026 NFL season: start Kenneth Walker III (KC), our RB1 at 13.1 projected points, and sit Jake Ferguson (DAL) at 1.6 projected points. Every call below comes from our own weekly projection, position rank, roster and start rates, opponent and injury designation, with Sally's and Tina's reasoning attached.
Data on this page is as of November 10, 2026 at 6:55 PM ET and refreshes automatically every 30 minutes.
Sally's and Tina's Week 9 FLEX picks
Sally's pick
Kenneth Walker III RB · KC
Sally's Week 9 FLEX pick: Kenneth Walker III. He's our RB1 at 13.1 projected points vs NYJ · Final, and the Pepper Meter has him at 3 of 5.
Tina's pick
Ja'Marr Chase WR · CIN
Tina's Week 9 FLEX pick: Ja'Marr Chase. 12.5 projected points at ATL · Final, started in 98% of leagues — she'll take the cheaper version of the same production.
Start 'em: FLEXs to start in Week 9
Kenneth Walker III RB · KC · vs NYJ · Final
13.1 proj · #1 RB3 of 5 peppers, HotStart Kenneth Walker III in Week 9: our RB1 projects for 13.1 points, 2.1 above a typical starting RB.
Rostered 100% · started 98%
Full outlook for Kenneth Walker IIIWhy?
FINAL — his game is over; this was our pre-game read. Peppers & Picks lists Kenneth Walker III (KC RB) as a start in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season vs NYJ, with 13.1 projected fantasy points and a hot Pepper Meter rating, our RB1 this week. For Sally this is a volume bet, and the volume is there: 2.1 points clear of the starter baseline. 13.1 projected points is roughly 19% more than the RB baseline, and that gap is the entire argument for the spot at RB1. Facing NYJ in front of his own crowd, the script reads neutral to friendly, not scary. Sally keeps the Pepper Meter at Hot here because the ceiling is capped, not the role.
Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Game is final — numbers above are the pre-game projection.
Ja'Marr Chase WR · CIN · at ATL · Final
12.5 proj · #1 WR3 of 5 peppers, HotStart Ja'Marr Chase in Week 9: our WR1 projects for 12.5 points, 2.5 above a typical starting WR.
Rostered 100% · started 98%
Full outlook for Ja'Marr ChaseWhy?
FINAL — his game is over; this was our pre-game read. Peppers & Picks lists Ja'Marr Chase (CIN WR) as a start in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season at ATL, with 12.5 projected fantasy points and a hot Pepper Meter rating, our WR1 this week. Tina's pushback: 98% of leagues start him, so you gain nothing on your opponent here — the edge is elsewhere. 98% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. I have him at WR1 because the projection lands about 25% clear of what a typical WR banks in a week. Hot on the Pepper Meter reflects a steady weekly floor rather than a boom week — that's still a start.
Tina's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Game is final — numbers above are the pre-game projection.
Jahmyr Gibbs RB · DET · at MIA · Final
12.3 proj · #2 RB2 of 5 peppers, SpicyStart Jahmyr Gibbs in Week 9: our RB2 projects for 12.3 points, 1.3 above a typical starting RB.
Rostered 100% · started 98%
Full outlook for Jahmyr GibbsWhy?
FINAL — his game is over; this was our pre-game read. Peppers & Picks lists Jahmyr Gibbs (DET RB) as a start in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season at MIA, with 12.3 projected fantasy points and a spicy Pepper Meter rating, our RB2 this week. Sally doesn't overthink it — that's 1.3 points of upside over the position line, so he plays. 98% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. 12.3 projected points is roughly 12% more than the RB baseline, and that gap is the entire argument for the spot at RB2. Spicy on the Pepper Meter reflects a steady weekly floor rather than a boom week — that's still a start.
Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Game is final — numbers above are the pre-game projection.
Christian McCaffrey RB · SF · vs LV · Final
10.5 proj · #3 RB2 of 5 peppers, SpicyStart Christian McCaffrey in Week 9: our RB3 projects for 10.5 points, 0.5 below a typical starting RB.
Rostered 100% · started 93%
Full outlook for Christian McCaffreyWhy?
FINAL — his game is over; this was our pre-game read. Peppers & Picks lists Christian McCaffrey (SF RB) as a start in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season vs LV, with 10.5 projected fantasy points and a spicy Pepper Meter rating, our RB3 this week. Tina's pushback: 93% of leagues start him, so you gain nothing on your opponent here — the edge is elsewhere. He's still in 93% of lineups at 100% rostered, which is exactly the trap I'm trying to talk you out of. He grades 5% below the average weekly RB number, which is a floor problem more than a ceiling one. Spicy on the Pepper Meter reflects a steady weekly floor rather than a boom week — that's still a start.
Tina's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Game is final — numbers above are the pre-game projection.
James Cook III RB · BUF · at MIN · Final
10.1 proj · #4 RB2 of 5 peppers, SpicyStart James Cook III in Week 9: our RB4 projects for 10.1 points, 0.9 below a typical starting RB.
Rostered 100% · started 96%
Full outlook for James Cook IIIWhy?
FINAL — his game is over; this was our pre-game read. Peppers & Picks lists James Cook III (BUF RB) as a start in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season at MIN, with 10.1 projected fantasy points and a spicy Pepper Meter rating, our RB4 this week. Sally's angle is simple: he's a top-six RB on our board, and she never benches the guys who win weeks. He's still in 96% of lineups at 100% rostered, which is exactly the trap I'm trying to talk you out of. The projection sits about 8% under what a startable RB returns, so I can't pretend the price tag matches the output. Spicy on the Pepper Meter reflects a steady weekly floor rather than a boom week — that's still a start.
Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Game is final — numbers above are the pre-game projection.
Sit 'em: FLEXs to bench in Week 9
Jake Ferguson TE · DAL · at IND · Final
1.6 proj · #40 TE1 of 5 peppers, MildSit Jake Ferguson in Week 9 if you have an alternative — 1.6 projected points lands 5.4 under the TE starter line, and he carries a OUT designation.
Rostered 41% · started 7% · OUT
See his full outlook for Jake FergusonWhy?
FINAL — his game is over; this was our pre-game read. Peppers & Picks lists Jake Ferguson (DAL TE) as a sit in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season at IND, with only 1.6 projected fantasy points and a mild Pepper Meter rating, our TE40 this week. Tina calls it a floor problem: 5.4 points under the starter line is a lot of risk for a lineup spot. 7% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. The out designation on the timestamp below is the one variable that could blow this up — confirm it Sunday morning. The Pepper Meter cools him to Mild, and that reading is doing its job.
Tina's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Game is final — numbers above are the pre-game projection.
Travis Hunter WR · JAX · at BAL · Final
1.9 proj · #89 WR1 of 5 peppers, MildSit Travis Hunter in Week 9 if you have an alternative — 1.9 projected points lands 8.1 under the WR starter line.
Rostered 26% · started 4%
See his full outlook for Travis HunterWhy?
FINAL — his game is over; this was our pre-game read. Peppers & Picks lists Travis Hunter (JAX WR) as a sit in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season at BAL, with only 1.9 projected fantasy points and a mild Pepper Meter rating, our WR89 this week. Sally's honest about it: 8.1 points under the starter line isn't the ceiling she chases. On the road against BAL, I expect the game to stay competitive enough that his usage holds. 4% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. Sally keeps him at Mild until the usage says otherwise.
Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Game is final — numbers above are the pre-game projection.
MarShawn Lloyd RB · GB · at NE · Final
2.4 proj · #59 RB1 of 5 peppers, MildSit MarShawn Lloyd in Week 9 if you have an alternative — 2.4 projected points lands 8.6 under the RB starter line, and he carries a QUESTIONABLE designation.
Rostered 32% · started 4% · QUESTIONABLE
See his full outlook for MarShawn LloydWhy?
FINAL — his game is over; this was our pre-game read. Peppers & Picks lists MarShawn Lloyd (GB RB) as a sit in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season at NE, with only 2.4 projected fantasy points and a mild Pepper Meter rating, our RB59 this week. Tina would rather take the cheaper, steadier option than 8.6 points of shortfall. 2.4 points is roughly 78% short of the RB baseline, and I honestly rank on output, not name recognition. He's listed questionable as of the update below; my rank assumes he plays, and designations move fast. Mild on the Pepper Meter is generous, honestly.
Tina's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Game is final — numbers above are the pre-game projection.
TreVeyon Henderson RB · NE · vs GB · Final
2.6 proj · #57 RB1 of 5 peppers, MildSit TreVeyon Henderson in Week 9 if you have an alternative — 2.6 projected points lands 8.4 under the RB starter line, and he carries a QUESTIONABLE designation.
Rostered 61% · started 6% · QUESTIONABLE
See his full outlook for TreVeyon HendersonWhy?
FINAL — his game is over; this was our pre-game read. Peppers & Picks lists TreVeyon Henderson (NE RB) as a sit in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season vs GB, with only 2.6 projected fantasy points and a mild Pepper Meter rating, our RB57 this week. Sally wants fireworks, and 8.4 points below a typical starter isn't fireworks. Nothing in the projection defends him — 76% below positional par is a bench line for me. He's listed questionable as of the update below; my rank assumes he plays, and designations move fast. Mild on the Pepper Meter is generous, honestly.
Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Game is final — numbers above are the pre-game projection.
Makai Lemon WR · PHI · vs NYG · Final
2.7 proj · #81 WR1 of 5 peppers, MildSit Makai Lemon in Week 9 if you have an alternative — 2.7 projected points lands 7.3 under the WR starter line.
Rostered 55% · started 13%
See his full outlook for Makai LemonWhy?
FINAL — his game is over; this was our pre-game read. Peppers & Picks lists Makai Lemon (PHI WR) as a sit in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season vs NYG, with only 2.7 projected fantasy points and a mild Pepper Meter rating, our WR81 this week. Tina would rather take the cheaper, steadier option than 7.3 points of shortfall. The vs NYG draw matters here — home snaps against NYG shape how often he's asked to do something. 13% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. Tina keeps him at Mild until the usage says otherwise.
Tina's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Game is final — numbers above are the pre-game projection.
This article is rebuilt automatically every week from our own Week 9 projections, position ranks, roster and start rates, opponent data, injury designations and Pepper Meter heat ratings. Commentary is written in-house by Sally and Tina.