Bryce Young · Michael Penix Jr. · 2026 week 9

Bryce Young or Michael Penix Jr.?

Wondering who you should start this week — Bryce Young or Michael Penix Jr.? The start/sit call and the numbers behind it are below, plus who wins a straight-up trade. Rebuilt nightly.

Start Bryce Young — barelyThis one is a coin flip — the projections are within 0.1 points. The matchup leans Bryce Young (DEN allow the 19th-most QB points), but you can defend either call.

Player	Wk 9	Proj (PPR)	Matchup	Form L3	Trade value	Status
Bryce Young START	vs DEN	17.0	19th	12.9	314	healthy
Michael Penix Jr.	vs CIN	16.9	14th	15.2	178	healthy

QBs vs DEN recently: Sam Darnold 13 pts (W6) · Jacoby Brissett 16.5 pts (W7) · Patrick Mahomes 25.4 pts (W8).

QBs vs CIN recently: Malik Willis 20.9 pts (W5) · Tyler Huntley 16.1 pts (W7) · Cam Ward 26.3 pts (W8).

🎓 The coach's read

Projections are 0.1 apart — too close to call on projection alone.
Michael Penix Jr. has the higher floor (6.3) — the safer start if you are favoured.
Bryce Young has the higher ceiling (27) — the play if you need points.
Bryce Young faces DEN, 19th most generous to QBs.
Michael Penix Jr. faces CIN, 14th most generous to QBs.

Who wins a straight-up trade?

Bryce Young carries the higher trade value — 314 against 178 (a 43% gap). In a one-for-one, the side receiving Bryce Young gets the most. Momentum: Bryce Young -908 and Michael Penix Jr. +4 over the last 30 days.

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

More QB decisions

Bryce Young or Matthew Stafford?Bryce Young or Tyler Shough?Bryce Young or Kirk Cousins?Michael Penix Jr. or Kyler Murray?Michael Penix Jr. or Justin Herbert?

All numbers are the 2026 season, refreshed nightly.