Fernando Mendoza · Malik Willis · 2026 week 1

Fernando Mendoza or Malik Willis?

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

Start Malik WillisMalik Willis projects 2.2 PPR points clear of Fernando Mendoza in week 1, drawing LV — the 18th-ranked matchup for QBs. The numbers behind the call are below; overrule them with your eyes open.

Player	Wk 1	Proj (PPR)	Matchup	Form L3	Trade value	Status
Fernando Mendoza	@ NO	16.6	27th · tough	–	81	healthy
Malik Willis START	@ LV	18.8	18th	15.1	189	healthy

QBs vs NO recently: Brady Cook 4.7 pts (W16) · Cam Ward 17 pts (W17) · Kirk Cousins 10.2 pts (W18).

QBs vs LV recently: C.J. Stroud 11.5 pts (W16) · Jaxson Dart 25.1 pts (W17) · Shane Buechele 3.9 pts (W18).

Who wins a straight-up trade?

Malik Willis carries the higher trade value — 189 against 81 (a 57% gap). In a one-for-one, the side receiving Malik Willis gets the most. Momentum: Fernando Mendoza -41 and Malik Willis -28 over the last 30 days.

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

More QB decisions

Fernando Mendoza or Daniel Jones?Fernando Mendoza or Aaron Rodgers?Fernando Mendoza or Bryce Young?Malik Willis or Sam Darnold?Malik Willis or C.J. Stroud?Malik Willis or Cam Ward?

Game logs, matchup ranks and form are the 2025 season — 2026 hasn’t kicked off. Projections, schedule and trade values are current 2026 numbers, refreshed nightly.