Malachi Fields · Zachariah Branch · 2026 week 1

Malachi Fields or Zachariah Branch?

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

Start Malachi FieldsMalachi Fields projects 4.2 PPR points clear of Zachariah Branch in week 1, drawing DAL — the 1st-ranked matchup for WRs. The numbers behind the call are below; overrule them with your eyes open.

Player	Wk 1	Proj (PPR)	Matchup	Form L3	Trade value	Status
Malachi Fields START	vs DAL	6.8	1st · soft	–	50	healthy
Zachariah Branch	@ PIT	2.6	8th · soft	–	12	healthy

WRs vs DAL recently: Quentin Johnston 16.4 pts (W16) · Deebo Samuel 9.3 pts (W17) · Gunner Olszewski 10.2 pts (W18).

WRs vs PIT recently: Kalif Raymond 12.2 pts (W16) · Jerry Jeudy 5.4 pts (W17) · Zay Flowers 25.8 pts (W18).

Who wins a straight-up trade?

Malachi Fields carries the higher trade value — 50 against 12 (a 76% gap). In a one-for-one, the side receiving Malachi Fields gets the most. Momentum: Malachi Fields +23 and Zachariah Branch -4 over the last 30 days.

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

More WR decisions

Malachi Fields or Cyrus Allen?Malachi Fields or Malik Washington?Malachi Fields or Tank Dell?Zachariah Branch or Jerry Jeudy?Zachariah Branch or Chris Bell?Zachariah Branch or Cooper Kupp?

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.