Jake Bates · Nick Folk · 2026 week 8
Jake Bates or Nick Folk?
Wondering who you should start this week — Jake Bates or Nick Folk? The start/sit call and the numbers behind it are below, plus who wins a straight-up trade. Rebuilt nightly.
Start Jake Bates — barely This one is a coin flip — the projections are within 0.9 points. The matchup leans Jake Bates (MIN allow the 23rd-most K points), but you can defend either call.
Player Wk 8 Proj (PPR) Matchup Form L3 Trade value Status
Jake Bates START vs MIN
8.4 23rd 12.3
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healthy Nick Folk @ TB
7.5 1st · soft 7.7
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healthy
Ks vs MIN recently: Chase McLaughlin 12 pts (W3) · Riley Patterson 4 pts (W4) · Spencer Shrader 3 pts (W7).
Ks vs TB recently: Trey Smack 7 pts (W4) · Brandon Aubrey 5 pts (W5) · Chris Boswell 17 pts (W6).
🎓 The coach's read
Projections are 0.9 apart — too close to call on projection alone. Jake Bates has the higher floor (3.9) — the safer start if you are favoured. Jake Bates has the higher ceiling (13.4) — the play if you need points. Jake Bates is steady — about 15% less volatile week to week than a typical K projected here — higher floor, lower ceiling. Nick Folk is steady — about 12% less volatile week to week than a typical K projected here — higher floor, lower ceiling. Jake Bates faces MIN, 23rd most generous to Ks. 🔔 Ping me if Jake Bates or Nick Folk 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.