Wondering who you should start this week — Kirk Cousins 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 Willis — barelyThis one is a coin flip — the projections are within 0.4 points. The matchup leans Malik Willis (DET allow the 1st-most QB points), but you can defend either call.
Player
Wk 9
Proj (PPR)
Matchup
Form L3
Trade value
Status
Kirk Cousins
@ SF
17.4
23rd
22.7
605
healthy
Malik WillisSTART
vs DET
17.8
1st · soft
20.8
163
healthy
QBs vs SF recently: Sam Darnold 10.3 pts (W5) · Jayden Daniels 21 pts (W6) · Michael Penix Jr. 20.4 pts (W7).
QBs vs DET recently: Jacoby Brissett 25.3 pts (W5) · Jordan Love 18 pts (W7) · Kyler Murray 20.9 pts (W8).
🎓 The coach's read
Projections are 0.4 apart — too close to call on projection alone.
Kirk Cousins has the higher floor (5.8) — the safer start if you are favoured.
Malik Willis has the higher ceiling (30) — the play if you need points.
Kirk Cousins is boom-or-bust — about 12% more volatile week to week than a typical QB projected here — wider range in both directions.
Malik Willis is boom-or-bust — about 24% more volatile week to week than a typical QB projected here — wider range in both directions.
Kirk Cousins faces SF, 23rd most generous to QBs.
Who wins a straight-up trade?
Kirk Cousins carries the higher trade value — 605 against 163 (a 73% gap). In a one-for-one, the side receiving Kirk Cousins gets the most.
Momentum: Kirk Cousins +211 and Malik Willis +97 over the last 30 days.