Chase McLaughlin · Trey Smack · 2026 week 8
Chase McLaughlin or Trey Smack?
Wondering who you should start this week — Chase McLaughlin or Trey Smack? The start/sit call and the numbers behind it are below, plus who wins a straight-up trade. Rebuilt nightly.
Start Chase McLaughlin — barely This one is a coin flip — the projections are within 0 points. The matchup leans Chase McLaughlin (ATL allow the 28th-most K points), but you can defend either call.
Player Wk 8 Proj (PPR) Matchup Form L3 Trade value Status
Chase McLaughlin START vs ATL
8.7 28th · tough 12
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healthy Trey Smack vs CAR
8.7 9th 6
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healthy
Ks vs ATL recently: Tyler Loop 14 pts (W5) · Cairo Santos 8 pts (W6) · Eddy Pineiro 1 pts (W7).
Ks vs CAR recently: Jake Bates 18 pts (W4) · Jake Elliott 2 pts (W6) · Chase McLaughlin 12 pts (W7).
🎓 The coach's read
They carry identical projections — projection alone cannot separate them. Chase McLaughlin has the higher floor (2.9) — the safer start if you are favoured. Trey Smack has the higher ceiling (15.5) — the play if you need points. Trey Smack is boom-or-bust — about 12% more volatile week to week than a typical K projected here — wider range in both directions. Chase McLaughlin faces ATL, 28th most generous to Ks. Trey Smack faces CAR, 9th most generous to Ks. 🔔 Ping me if Chase McLaughlin or Trey Smack is ruled out
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
All numbers are the 2026 season, refreshed nightly.