Geno Smith · Shedeur Sanders · 2026 week 9

Geno Smith or Shedeur Sanders?

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

Start Geno Smith — barelyThis one is a coin flip — the projections are within 0.9 points. The matchup leans Geno Smith (KC allow the 28th-most QB points), but you can defend either call.

Player	Wk 9	Proj (PPR)	Matchup	Form L3	Trade value	Status
Geno Smith START	@ KC	14.6	28th · tough	18.8	135	healthy
Shedeur Sanders	@ NO	13.7	17th	0.1	14	healthy

QBs vs KC recently: Justin Herbert 9.8 pts (W6) · Sam Darnold 15 pts (W7) · Bo Nix 19.3 pts (W8).

QBs vs NO recently: Kyler Murray 18.3 pts (W5) · J.J. McCarthy 17.3 pts (W6) · Aaron Rodgers 13.1 pts (W7).

🎓 The coach's read

Projections are 0.9 apart — too close to call on projection alone.
Geno Smith has the higher floor (5.3) — the safer start if you are favoured.
Shedeur Sanders has the higher ceiling (29.3) — the play if you need points.
Shedeur Sanders is boom-or-bust — about 37% more volatile week to week than a typical QB projected here — wider range in both directions.
Geno Smith faces KC, 28th most generous to QBs.
Shedeur Sanders faces NO, 17th most generous to QBs.

Who wins a straight-up trade?

Geno Smith carries the higher trade value — 135 against 14 (a 90% gap). In a one-for-one, the side receiving Geno Smith gets the most. Momentum: Geno Smith +19 and Shedeur Sanders +14 over the last 30 days.

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

More QB decisions

Geno Smith or Justin Herbert?Geno Smith or Malik Willis?Geno Smith or J.J. McCarthy?Shedeur Sanders or Drew Lock?Shedeur Sanders or Joe Milton?Shedeur Sanders or Tanner McKee?

All numbers are the 2026 season, refreshed nightly.