Brandon McManus · Chad Ryland · 2026 week 8

Brandon McManus or Chad Ryland?

Wondering who you should start this week — Brandon McManus or Chad Ryland? The start/sit call and the numbers behind it are below, plus who wins a straight-up trade. Rebuilt nightly.

Start Chad Ryland — barelyThis one is a coin flip — the projections are within 0.6 points. The matchup leans Chad Ryland (DAL allow the 13th-most K points), but you can defend either call.

Player	Wk 8	Proj (PPR)	Matchup	Form L3	Trade value	Status
Brandon McManus	vs LAC	7.5	11th	5	–	healthy
Chad Ryland START	@ DAL	8.1	13th	10.7	–	healthy

Ks vs LAC recently: Jason Myers 5 pts (W4) · Wil Lutz 10 pts (W5) · Harrison Butker 11 pts (W6).

Ks vs DAL recently: Chase McLaughlin 7 pts (W5) · Trey Smack 12 pts (W6) · Jake Elliott 3 pts (W7).

🎓 The coach's read

Projections are 0.6 apart — too close to call on projection alone.
Brandon McManus has the higher floor (3.1) — the safer start if you are favoured.
Chad Ryland has the higher ceiling (14.6) — the play if you need points.
Chad Ryland is boom-or-bust — about 14% more volatile week to week than a typical K projected here — wider range in both directions.
Brandon McManus faces LAC, 11th most generous to Ks.
Chad Ryland faces DAL, 13th most generous to Ks.

Who wins a straight-up trade?

Their trade values are effectively even — a one-for-one is a fair swap on the numbers.

Open in Start/Sit (any scoring) Open in the Trade Analyzer

More K decisions

Brandon McManus or Jason Sanders?Brandon McManus or Jake Elliott?Brandon McManus or Joey Slye?Chad Ryland or Andre Szmyt?Chad Ryland or Wil Lutz?

All numbers are the 2026 season, refreshed nightly.