Drew Stevens · Jake Bates · 2026 week 8

Drew Stevens or Jake Bates?

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

Start Drew Stevens — barelyThis one is a coin flip — the projections are within 0.3 points. The matchup leans Drew Stevens (PHI allow the 17th-most K points), but you can defend either call.

Player	Wk 8	Proj (PPR)	Matchup	Form L3	Trade value	Status
Drew Stevens START	vs PHI	8.7	17th	7	–	healthy
Jake Bates	vs MIN	8.4	23rd	12.3	–	healthy

Ks vs PHI recently: Cam Little 8 pts (W5) · Ryan Fitzgerald 9 pts (W6) · Brandon Aubrey 14 pts (W7).

Ks vs MIN recently: Chase McLaughlin 12 pts (W3) · Riley Patterson 4 pts (W4) · Spencer Shrader 3 pts (W7).

🎓 The coach's read

Projections are 0.3 apart — too close to call on projection alone.
Drew Stevens has the higher floor (4.2) — the safer start if you are favoured.
Drew Stevens has the higher ceiling (13.7) — the play if you need points.
Drew Stevens is steady — about 18% less volatile week to week than a typical K projected here — higher floor, lower ceiling.
Jake Bates is steady — about 15% less volatile week to week than a typical K projected here — higher floor, lower ceiling.
Drew Stevens faces PHI, 17th 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

Drew Stevens or Tyler Bass?Drew Stevens or Harrison Butker?Drew Stevens or Ka'imi Fairbairn?Jake Bates or Harrison Butker?Jake Bates or Ka'imi Fairbairn?

All numbers are the 2026 season, refreshed nightly.