RankFantasy

Weekly Ratings

Start Score

How strong a start each NFL QB, RB, WR, TE, and team defense (D/ST) looks this week, scored 0–100 against the others at their own position — 85 means a player projects above roughly 85% of everyone we scored at that position this week, backups included; 50 is the middle of that pool. Every score is computed from open, citable data with the formula published, and the role, efficiency, matchup, and availability behind it sit right beside it.

Week 9, 2026 season · Data through Week 8
#PlayerOppScore0–100RoleusageEffpts/oppMatchupdefenseProjPPR pts
1D'Andre SwiftCHIvs. TB9985473619.8
2Jahmyr GibbsDETvs. MIA991004810028.4
3Christian McCaffreyQSFvs. LV98625910019.6
4Chuba HubbardCARvs. DEN9882455319.4
5Kenneth Walker IIIKCvs. NYJ9778438519.3
6Javonte WilliamsDALvs. IND96774210019.1
7Bhayshul TutenQJAXvs. BAL9664584817.1
8Rhamondre StevensonNEvs. GB9558508916.8
9James CookQBUFvs. MIN9581473416.8
10Bucky IrvingTBvs. CHI948443016.1
11Kyren WilliamsLAvs. WAS9365465715.9
12Chase BrownCINvs. ATL93634110015.5
13Jonathan TaylorINDvs. DAL9263428215.2
14Braelon AllenNYJvs. KC927745015.4
15Emanuel WilsonSEAvs. ARI9170396314.7
16Bijan RobinsonATLvs. CIN9070404414.1
17Quinshon JudkinsCLEvs. NO9058439514.6
18Josh JacobsGBvs. NE8965461814.0
19Jonah ColemanDENvs. CAR8942539813.3
20Ollie Gordon IIMIAvs. DET8871401313.3
21Audric EstiméCLEvs. NO8747479513.1
22Ashton JeantyLVvs. SF8743594213.1
23Tyler AllgeierARIvs. SEA864759012.3
24Zach CharbonnetSEAvs. ARI8649456312.1
25Blake CorumLAvs. WAS8543535712.1
26Woody MarksQHOUvs. LAC8457426111.4
27Cam SkatteboQNYGvs. PHI8462423611.6
28Derrick HenryBALvs. JAX836142011.2
29Aaron JonesMINvs. BUF8349417011.0
30Kenny GainwellTBvs. CHI825445010.8
31Rachaad WhiteWASvs. LA814151189.8
32Devin NealNOvs. CLE8144493610.7
33Alvin KamaraNOvs. CLE803851369.7
34Phil MafahDALvs. IND8024661009.4
35Dylan SampsonCLEvs. NO792953959.1
36J.K. DobbinsDENvs. CAR783641988.8
37Mike Washington Jr.LVvs. SF785035428.7
38Kendre MillerNOvs. CLE774736368.5
39Emmett JohnsonKCvs. NYJ771688858.2
40Saquon BarkleyPHIvs. NYG76365007.9
41Jordan MasonMINvs. BUF753935707.5
42Kaelon BlackSFvs. LV7535371007.7
43Omarion HamptonLACvs. HOU744337177.5
44Miles SandersDALvs. IND7323511007.1
45Jadarian PriceSEAvs. ARI734232637.3
46Devin SingletaryNYGvs. PHI722457366.7
47Chris Rodriguez Jr.QJAXvs. BAL722657486.9
48Kimani VidalLACvs. HOU713244176.6
49Samaje PerineCINvs. ATL7022481006.3
50Elijah MitchellPHIvs. NYG70373706.0
51Kareem HuntKCvs. NYJ692737855.8
52Tyler GoodsonDALvs. IND6927351005.7
53Sione VakiDETvs. MIA6823401005.5
54Jaleel McLaughlinCLEvs. NO671373955.4
55Jaydon BluePHIvs. NYG67235205.3
56Ty JohnsonBUFvs. MIN661763345.2
57Seth McGowanINDvs. DAL662438825.2
58Justice HillQBALvs. JAX65274805.1
59Keaton MitchellLACvs. HOU642740174.9
60Roschon JohnsonCHIvs. TB642342364.9
61Antonio GibsonQNEvs. GB632144894.8
62MarShawn LloydGBvs. NE632541184.8
63Corey KinerNEvs. GB622136894.4
64Austin EkelerWASvs. LA612242184.3
65Jaret PattersonLACvs. HOU612635174.3
66Pierre StrongGBvs. NE602634184.1
67DJ GiddensINDvs. DAL601935823.8
68Khalil HerbertATLvs. CIN591939443.7
69Clyde Edwards-HelaireKCvs. NYJ581734853.4
70George HolaniSEAvs. ARI581740633.6
71Trayveon WilliamsCLEvs. NO571246953.2
72Isaiah DavisNYJvs. KC57164703.2
73Emari DemercadoDALvs. IND5612401002.9
74Jeremy McNicholsQWASvs. LA551642182.9
75Najee HarrisNYGvs. PHI552029362.8
76Sean TuckerTBvs. CHI54115602.7
77Ray DavisBUFvs. MIN541245342.7
78Nate CarterATLvs. CIN531338442.6
79Dare OgunbowaleHOUvs. LAC52757612.1
80Nick ChubbHOUvs. LAC521334612.4
81Jerome FordCLEvs. NO51844952.1
82Zamir WhiteLVvs. SF511039422.0
83Jaylen WrightMIAvs. DET501628132.0
84D'Ernest JohnsonNEvs. GB491327892.0
85Lan LarisonNEvs. GB49743891.7
86Raheem MostertLVvs. SF48652421.5
87Myles GaskinSEAvs. ARI481028631.5
88Anthony Tyus IIICARvs. DEN473100531.5
89Amar JohnsonLACvs. HOU461030171.4
90Jordan JamesSFvs. LV465501001.4
91Ameer AbdullahJAXvs. BAL451026481.3
92Terrell JenningsNEvs. GB45830891.3
93Trevor EtienneCARvs. DEN44928531.3
94Kendall MiltonCINvs. ATL437251001.0
95Kaytron AllenMIAvs. DET43729131.0
96Rasheen AliBALvs. JAX4263200.9
97DJ HermanMIAvs. DET42448130.9
98Patrick RicardNYGvs. PHI41437360.8
99Hunter LuepkeDALvs. IND403421000.8
100Dylan LaubeLVvs. SF40348420.8
101DeeJay DallasMINvs. BUF39354700.8
102Owen WrightTBvs. CHI3962800.8
103Hassan HaskinsLACvs. HOU38434170.7
104Kene NwangwuNYJvs. KC3753200.7
105Carson SteeleQPHIvs. NYG3744200.7
106LeQuint Allen Jr.JAXvs. BAL36427480.6
107Josh WilliamsTBvs. CHI3643000.6
108Frank Gore Jr.BUFvs. MIN35331340.5
109Craig ReynoldsWASvs. LA34427180.5
110Ulysses Bentley IVINDvs. DAL34322820.4
111Cam AkersSEAvs. ARI33231630.4
112Tahj BrooksCINvs. ATL333281000.4
113Zavier ScottCHIvs. TB32141360.3
114Nyheim HinesNOvs. CLE31219360.2
115Max BredesonMINvs. BUF31222700.3
116James ConnerOUTARIvs. SEA0454300.0
117Chase EdmondsWASvs. LA0044180.0
118David MontgomeryOUTHOUvs. LAC03335610.0
119Jakob JohnsonHOUvs. LAC0044610.0
120Reggie GilliamOUTNEvs. GB0547890.0
121AJ DillonOUTCARvs. DEN01634530.0
122Gary BrightwellCINvs. ATL00441000.0
123Avery WilliamsNYJvs. KC004400.0
124Travis EtienneOUTNOvs. CLE05040360.0
125Tyler BadieOUTDENvs. CAR0748980.0
126Bam KnightOUTARIvs. SEA0273800.0
127Isiah PachecoOUTKCvs. NYJ03637850.0
128Dameon PierceOUTPHIvs. NYG0454100.0
129Ty ChandlerOUTMINvs. BUF03134700.0
130Brittain BrownOUTCHIvs. TB0868360.0
131Ronnie RiversOUTLAvs. WAS0937570.0
132Malik DavisOUTDALvs. IND045451000.0
133Velus Jones Jr.OUTSEAvs. ARI01234630.0
134Brian RobinsonOUTATLvs. CIN02844440.0
135Breece HallOUTNYJvs. KC0654100.0
136Eric GrayNYGvs. PHI0044360.0
137Evan HullOUTNOvs. CLE0933360.0
138Brady RussellSEAvs. ARI0044630.0
139Ben VanSumerenOUTKCvs. NYJ0044850.0
140Tank BigsbyOUTPHIvs. NYG0353000.0
141Scott MatlockLACvs. HOU0044170.0
142Chris BrooksOUTGBvs. NE01847180.0
143Jacob SaylorsQDETvs. MIA00441000.0
144De'Von AchaneOUTMIAvs. DET04938130.0
145Jonathon BrooksOUTCARvs. DEN02141530.0
146Isaac GuerendoSFvs. LV00441000.0
147Tyrone Tracy Jr.OUTNYGvs. PHI02155360.0
148Jawhar JordanOUTHOUvs. LAC03148610.0
149British BrooksOUTHOUvs. LAC01136610.0
150Cody SchraderDENvs. CAR0044980.0
151Will ShipleyOUTPHIvs. NYG0214600.0
152Trey BensonOUTARIvs. SEA0424400.0
153Jacardia WrightOUTSEAvs. ARI01733630.0
154Brashard SmithOUTKCvs. NYJ01159850.0
155Kaleb JohnsonOUTGBvs. NE01726180.0
156Kyle MonangaiOUTCHIvs. TB06444360.0
157Jacory Croskey-MerrittOUTWASvs. LA04745180.0
158Raheim SandersOUTCLEvs. NO01447950.0
159Robbie OuztsOUTSEAvs. ARI0044630.0
160RJ HarveyOUTDENvs. CAR02671980.0
161TreVeyon HendersonOUTNEvs. GB02540890.0
162Jaydn OttKCvs. NYJ0044850.0
163Jeremiyah LoveOUTARIvs. SEA0443200.0
164Demond ClaiborneOUTMINvs. BUF0649700.0
165CJ DonaldsonOUTNOvs. CLE01735360.0
166Dean ConnorsQLAvs. WAS0044570.0
85 Strong·55 Average·22 Weak·Q Questionable·OUT Out/IR

No Week 9 score. These players were scored earlier this season but not this week, usually because their team is on a bye: Aaron Rodgers, Adam Thielen, Brandon Allen, Calvin Austin III, Calvin Ridley, Cam Ward, Chimere Dike, Daniel Bellinger, Darnell Washington, DK Metcalf, Elic Ayomanor, Gunnar Helm, Jaylen Warren, Michael Carter, Michael Pittman, Pat Freiermuth, Rico Dowdle, Roman Wilson, Tony Pollard, Travis Hunter, Tyjae Spears, Wan'Dale Robinson, Xavier Restrepo.

How the Start Score works

The formula. Each player's projected PPR points for the upcoming week is estimated as: Role × Efficiency × Matchup × Availability. That projected value is then converted to a 0–100 score by percentile rank within the position — a score of 85 means the player projects above roughly 85% of all players scored at the position that week. That pool includes backups, so it reaches deeper than a fantasy starting lineup.

Role is opportunities per game over the last five regular-season games: pass attempts for quarterbacks, carries plus targets for running backs, receivers and tight ends. Recency weighting is exponential — the most recent game counts 40%, the previous 25%, then 15%, 10%, 10%. Role is the heaviest term because usage is the most stable week-to-week predictor of fantasy output. The 0–100 Role column on the board is a usage index for reading at a glance — for receivers and tight ends it is built from WOPR (1.5 × target share + 0.7 × air yards share) — and is not the number that gets multiplied.

Efficiency is PPR points per opportunity over the same window, regressed 50% toward the positional mean. This prevents small samples from producing noise-driven extremes — a receiver who scored on one target in three weeks doesn't project as a top-10 asset. A quarterback's rushing points count here: the numerator is all of his PPR points, the denominator his pass attempts.

Matchup is a bounded multiplier (0.85–1.15) combining two signals: how many fantasy points the opposing defense has allowed to this position in recent weeks, and the game's Vegas implied team total. A higher implied total means more expected scoring opportunity. The 0.85–1.15 bound ensures matchup adjusts the projection without overpowering role — a great matchup for a low-usage player is still a bad start.

Availability takes the more conservative of nflverse's official injury designation and Sleeper's injury status. Out, IR, or Doubtful → 0 (don't start). Questionable → ×0.9 haircut. Active → ×1.0.

Cold start (Weeks 1–4). When fewer than three current-season weeks exist for a player, the score uses prior-season usage as the Role baseline. These scores are labeled lower-confidence. As current-season data accumulates the prior-season signal decays out — fully phased out by around Week 5.

How well player scores have held up. Replaying every week of 2024 and 2025 using only games completed before each week, the projection's weekly rank correlation with actual PPR points was 0.49 and 0.39 for quarterbacks, 0.62 and 0.72 for running backs, 0.55 and 0.63 for wide receivers, and 0.52 and 0.59 for tight ends. About half of the projected top 12 quarterbacks finished in the actual top 12; for the top 24 running backs it was 65% and 62%, for the top 24 receivers 45% both years. A projected top-24 receiver was off by about seven PPR points in a typical week. It orders running backs well and quarterbacks weakly. A Start Score is a lean, not a forecast.

A correction, 19 September 2026. From launch until this date the scores were computed from each player's recent PPR points × matchup × availability, while this page described Role × Efficiency. We tested both on 2024 and 2025; the formula described here ranked players slightly better in both seasons (mean rank correlation 0.544 vs. 0.533, and 0.583 vs. 0.571), so the code was changed to match the page rather than the other way round. Scores from Week 3 of 2026 onward use it. The typical startable player moved by about four points; players with one efficient game on little usage moved most.

Team defenses (D/ST) use the same shape with different inputs. Form is the defense's fantasy points over its last five regular-season games, weighted the same 40/25/15/10/10 and then regressed 75% toward the league average — defensive scoring is mostly noise, and the backtest preferred heavy regression in both seasons tested. Matchup is a 0.70–1.30 multiplier averaging two signals: how many D/ST points the opposing offense has given up over its own last five games (regressed 50% toward average), and the opponent's Vegas implied total, inverted — a low total is a good spot for a defense. There is no availability term, because a team carries no injury designation. Projected points = Form × Matchup, ranked 0–100 among that week's defenses.

D/ST scoring assumed. Sack 1 · interception 2 · fumble recovery 2 · safety 2 · blocked kick 2 · defensive or special-teams touchdown 6 · points allowed: 0 → 10, 1–6 → 7, 7–13 → 4, 14–20 → 1, 21–27 → 0, 28–34 → −1, 35+ → −4. Points allowed is the opponent's full final score, so points scored against your offense (a pick-six thrown by your quarterback) count against the defense here; some platforms exclude them.

How well D/ST scores have held up. Replaying every week of 2024 and 2025 using only data available before each week, the projection's weekly rank correlation with actual D/ST points averaged 0.32 (2024) and 0.25 (2025), and the projected top 12 contained 49.5% and 46.8% of the actual top 12, against 37.5% by chance. Recent form alone managed correlations of 0.15 and 0.06 — most of the signal comes from the opponent. These are modest numbers and the parameters were chosen on the same two seasons, so treat them as a ceiling. A D/ST score is a lean, not a forecast.

Data provenance. All inputs are computed from nflverse data (CC-BY 4.0) and Sleeper's public, keyless API. No machine-learning model is used. Every weight and assumption is published here; nothing is a black box. PPR scoring is assumed throughout; scores may differ for standard or half-PPR leagues.

Informational only — not betting, DFS, or lineup advice. Projections are estimates, not guarantees. PPR scoring assumed. Data via nflverse (CC-BY 4.0) and Sleeper. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the NFL or Sleeper.