Wondering who you should start this week — Kirk Cousins or Matthew Stafford? The start/sit call and the numbers behind it are below, plus who wins a straight-up trade. Rebuilt nightly.
Start Kirk Cousins — barelyThis one is a coin flip — the projections are within 0.7 points. The matchup leans Kirk Cousins (NYJ allow the 19th-most QB points), but you can defend either call.
Player
Wk 8
Proj (PPR)
Matchup
Form L3
Trade value
Status
Kirk CousinsSTART
@ NYJ
16.8
19th
17.9
404
healthy
Matthew Stafford
vs LAC
16.1
26th · tough
20.9
1,110
healthy
QBs vs NYJ recently: Deshaun Watson 12.2 pts (W5) · Drake Maye 23.8 pts (W6) · Malik Willis 26 pts (W7).
QBs vs LAC recently: Sam Darnold 14.3 pts (W4) · Bo Nix 7.9 pts (W5) · Patrick Mahomes 11.5 pts (W6).
🎓 The coach's read
Projections are 0.7 apart — too close to call on projection alone.
Matthew Stafford has the higher floor (8.2) — the safer start if you are favoured.
Kirk Cousins has the higher ceiling (27.1) — 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.
Matthew Stafford is steady — about 16% less volatile week to week than a typical QB projected here — higher floor, lower ceiling.
Kirk Cousins faces NYJ, 19th most generous to QBs.
Who wins a straight-up trade?
Matthew Stafford carries the higher trade value — 1,110 against 404 (a 64% gap). In a one-for-one, the side receiving Matthew Stafford gets the most.
Momentum: Kirk Cousins +220 and Matthew Stafford +189 over the last 30 days.