Week 9 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: TE
Peppers & Picks' Week 9 TE start 'em, sit 'em call for the 2026 NFL season: start Brock Bowers (LV), our TE1 at 7.6 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 TE picks
Sally's pick
Brock Bowers TE · LV
Sally's Week 9 TE pick: Brock Bowers. He's our TE1 at 7.6 projected points at SF · Final, and the Pepper Meter has him at 2 of 5.
Tina's pick
George Kittle TE · SF
Tina's Week 9 TE pick: George Kittle. 7.6 projected points vs LV · Final, started in 86% of leagues — she'll take the cheaper version of the same production.
Start 'em: TEs to start in Week 9
Brock Bowers TE · LV · at SF · Final
7.6 proj · #1 TE2 of 5 peppers, SpicyStart Brock Bowers in Week 9: our TE1 projects for 7.6 points, 0.6 above a typical starting TE.
Rostered 100% · started 98%
Full outlook for Brock BowersWhy?
FINAL — his game is over; this was our pre-game read. Peppers & Picks lists Brock Bowers (LV TE) as a start in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season at SF, with 7.6 projected fantasy points and a spicy Pepper Meter rating, our TE1 this week. For Sally this is a volume bet, and the volume is there: 0.6 points clear of the starter baseline. Bowers clears the TE bar by about 9%, which is why he sits this high on my board. The at SF draw matters here — road snaps against SF shape how often he's asked to do something. Sally keeps the Pepper Meter at Spicy 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.
George Kittle TE · SF · vs LV · Final
7.6 proj · #2 TE2 of 5 peppers, SpicyStart George Kittle in Week 9: our TE2 projects for 7.6 points, 0.6 above a typical starting TE.
Rostered 98% · started 86%
Full outlook for George KittleWhy?
FINAL — his game is over; this was our pre-game read. Peppers & Picks lists George Kittle (SF TE) as a start in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season vs LV, with 7.6 projected fantasy points and a spicy Pepper Meter rating, our TE2 this week. Tina's pushback: 86% of leagues start him, so you gain nothing on your opponent here — the edge is elsewhere. 86% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. I have him at TE2 because the projection lands about 9% clear of what a typical TE banks in a week. 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.
Trey McBride TE · ARI · at SEA · Final
7.2 proj · #3 TE2 of 5 peppers, SpicyStart Trey McBride in Week 9: our TE3 projects for 7.2 points, 0.2 above a typical starting TE.
Rostered 100% · started 98%
Full outlook for Trey McBrideWhy?
FINAL — his game is over; this was our pre-game read. Peppers & Picks lists Trey McBride (ARI TE) as a start in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season at SEA, with 7.2 projected fantasy points and a spicy Pepper Meter rating, our TE3 this week. For Sally this is a volume bet, and the volume is there: 0.2 points clear of the starter baseline. 7.2 projected points is roughly 3% more than the TE baseline, and that gap is the entire argument for the spot at TE3. Facing SEA away from home, the script reads neutral to friendly, not scary. Sally keeps the Pepper Meter at Spicy 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.
Isaiah Likely TE · NYG · at PHI · Final
6.6 proj · #4 TE2 of 5 peppers, SpicyStart Isaiah Likely in Week 9: our TE4 projects for 6.6 points, 0.4 below a typical starting TE.
Rostered 96% · started 69%
Full outlook for Isaiah LikelyWhy?
FINAL — his game is over; this was our pre-game read. Peppers & Picks lists Isaiah Likely (NYG TE) as a start in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season at PHI, with 6.6 projected fantasy points and a spicy Pepper Meter rating, our TE4 this week. Tina calls it a floor problem: 0.4 points under the starter line is a lot of risk for a lineup spot. He's still in 69% of lineups at 96% rostered, which is exactly the trap I'm trying to talk you out of. The projection sits about 6% under what a startable TE returns, so I honestly 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.
Tina's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Game is final — numbers above are the pre-game projection.
T.J. Hockenson TE · MIN · vs BUF · Final
6.4 proj · #5 TE2 of 5 peppers, SpicyStart T.J. Hockenson in Week 9: our TE5 projects for 6.4 points, 0.6 below a typical starting TE.
Rostered 81% · started 42%
Full outlook for T.J. HockensonWhy?
FINAL — his game is over; this was our pre-game read. Peppers & Picks lists T.J. Hockenson (MIN TE) as a start in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season vs BUF, with 6.4 projected fantasy points and a spicy Pepper Meter rating, our TE5 this week. Sally's angle is simple: he's a top-six TE on our board, and she never benches the guys who win weeks. He grades 9% below the average weekly TE number, which is a floor problem more than a ceiling one. BUF is the opponent, and that's the part of this I'm least worried about. Sally keeps the Pepper Meter at Spicy 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.
Sit 'em: TEs 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.
Mark Andrews TE · BAL · vs JAX · Final
3 proj · #34 TE1 of 5 peppers, MildSit Mark Andrews in Week 9 if you have an alternative — 3 projected points lands 4 under the TE starter line.
Rostered 60% · started 18%
See his full outlook for Mark AndrewsWhy?
FINAL — his game is over; this was our pre-game read. Peppers & Picks lists Mark Andrews (BAL TE) as a sit in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season vs JAX, with only 3.0 projected fantasy points and a mild Pepper Meter rating, our TE34 this week. Sally wants fireworks, and 4 points below a typical starter isn't fireworks. Facing JAX in front of his own crowd, the script reads neutral to friendly, not scary. 18% 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.
Juwan Johnson TE · NO · vs CLE · Final
3.7 proj · #24 TE1 of 5 peppers, MildSit Juwan Johnson in Week 9 if you have an alternative — 3.7 projected points lands 3.3 under the TE starter line.
Rostered 44% · started 9%
See his full outlook for Juwan JohnsonWhy?
FINAL — his game is over; this was our pre-game read. Peppers & Picks lists Juwan Johnson (NO TE) as a sit in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season vs CLE, with only 3.7 projected fantasy points and a mild Pepper Meter rating, our TE24 this week. Tina would rather take the cheaper, steadier option than 3.3 points of shortfall. Nothing in the projection defends him — 47% below positional par is a bench line for me. The vs CLE draw matters here — home snaps against CLE shape how often he's asked to do something. 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.
Dallas Goedert TE · PHI · vs NYG · Final
3.9 proj · #23 TE1 of 5 peppers, MildSit Dallas Goedert in Week 9 if you have an alternative — 3.9 projected points lands 3.1 under the TE starter line.
Rostered 80% · started 29%
See his full outlook for Dallas GoedertWhy?
FINAL — his game is over; this was our pre-game read. Peppers & Picks lists Dallas Goedert (PHI TE) as a sit in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season vs NYG, with only 3.9 projected fantasy points and a mild Pepper Meter rating, our TE23 this week. Sally's honest about it: 3.1 points under the starter line isn't the ceiling she chases. 29% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. He grades 44% below the average weekly TE number, which is a floor problem more than a ceiling one. The Pepper Meter cools him to Mild, and that reading is doing its job.
Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Game is final — numbers above are the pre-game projection.
Mike Gesicki TE · CIN · at ATL · Final
4.1 proj · #21 TE1 of 5 peppers, MildSit Mike Gesicki in Week 9 if you have an alternative — 4.1 projected points lands 2.9 under the TE starter line.
Rostered 26% · started 12%
See his full outlook for Mike GesickiWhy?
FINAL — his game is over; this was our pre-game read. Peppers & Picks lists Mike Gesicki (CIN TE) as a sit in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season at ATL, with only 4.1 projected fantasy points and a mild Pepper Meter rating, our TE21 this week. Tina would rather take the cheaper, steadier option than 2.9 points of shortfall. Facing ATL away from home, the script reads neutral to friendly, not scary. 12% 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.