Dylan Sampson · Kimani Vidal · 2026 week 8

Dylan Sampson or Kimani Vidal?

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

Start Kimani Vidal — barelyThis one is a coin flip — the projections are within 0.4 points. The matchup leans Kimani Vidal (LAR allow the 22nd-most RB points), but you can defend either call.

Player	Wk 8	Proj (PPR)	Matchup	Form L3	Trade value	Status
Dylan Sampson	@ PIT	6.5	25th · tough	10.7	57	healthy
Kimani Vidal START	@ LAR	6.9	22nd	10.4	46	healthy

RBs vs PIT recently: Jonathan Taylor 8.2 pts (W5) · Bucky Irving 4.9 pts (W6) · Alvin Kamara 6.2 pts (W7).

RBs vs LAR recently: James Cook III 21.8 pts (W5) · Zonovan Knight 9.8 pts (W6) · Ashton Jeanty 13.6 pts (W7).

🎓 The coach's read

Projections are 0.4 apart — too close to call on projection alone.
Kimani Vidal has the higher ceiling (14.6) — the play if you need points.
Dylan Sampson faces PIT, 25th most generous to RBs.
Kimani Vidal faces LAR, 22nd most generous to RBs.

Who wins a straight-up trade?

Dylan Sampson carries the higher trade value — 57 against 46 (a 19% gap). In a one-for-one, the side receiving Dylan Sampson gets the most. Momentum: Dylan Sampson +57 and Kimani Vidal +46 over the last 30 days.

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

More RB decisions

Dylan Sampson or Kenny Gainwell?Dylan Sampson or MarShawn Lloyd?Dylan Sampson or Zonovan Knight?Kimani Vidal or MarShawn Lloyd?Kimani Vidal or Zonovan Knight?

All numbers are the 2026 season, refreshed nightly.