With each and every passing week, the margin for error with Close Calls becomes that much slimmer.
We still have a lot of season left, but for many fantasy managers it's getting late early. Starting the fantasy campaign with a rocky first half isn't the end of the world. But while teams with, say, three wins through eight weeks have time to turn things around, that time is running out—like sand through an hourglass.
I know, that was deep. But it's true.
Odds are, those managers are also facing multiple difficult lineup decisions. 6-2 squads have a Close Call here and there. 3-5 teams have a starting lineup filled with them. Sometimes it's because a no-brainer start got hurt. Other times, the guy who was supposed to be that no-brainer start loses that status due to the situation or poor performance.
The "why" doesn't really matter. All that does is make the lineup a muddy mess, and you can't afford to keep stacking setbacks, and fantasy football is stupid, and you are freaking out.
Chill. We got you, boo—with another edition of Close Calls here at Footballguys.
Every week, we're going to look at some of the closest calls. Make the case for both players. And then offer up this analyst's take on which player is the correct play.
For the sake of this exercise, we'll only consider quarterbacks and tight ends outside the top 10, running backs outside the top 20, and wide receivers outside the top 30 in Footballguys' Weekly Rankings. If you are trying to decide between Puka Nacua and Ja'Marr Chase at wideout, I hope someone brains you with an hourglass.
Not really.
OK, really.
Week 9 Close Calls
Malik Willis, Miami (QB12) vs. Jordan Love, Green Bay (QB13)
The Case for Willis: The Dolphins have been far more competitive since the bye week, notching their first win of the season and giving the Patriots all they could handle last week. Like the team, Willis has played better over the past couple of weeks, and as Kurt Mullen wrote at The Fantasy Footballers, that sets him up well for this week's home date with a struggling Lions defense.
"There was plenty of optimism around Malik Willis being a late-round QB that fantasy managers could rely on heading into the season, but a slow start tempered those expectations greatly," he said. "While Willis didn't really deliver for fantasy managers to start the year, his last three games should give some hope that he can at least take advantage of a good matchup when given the opportunity. What is most appealing about Willis this week is a juicy matchup against the Lions, who have allowed opposing QBs to score 20+ fantasy points in six of their seven games this season."
The Case for Love: There wasn't any early slump for Love—with Green Bay's ground game grounded, it has fallen to the sixth-year veteran to carry the Packers offense. Love has done just that with an NFL-high 2,246 passing yards, and Green Bay quarterbacks coach Luke Getsy told reporters that Love is playing at an MVP level in 2026.
"He has really good command of what we're asking him to do," Getsy said. "All the explosive stuff that they've been able to accomplish for us, I think it's just been something that we've been able to lean on. It's about doing whatever you've got to do to win the game, and that's just kind of where we've found our niche so far."
The Verdict: Love. Yes, his matchup at New England isn't as favorable—the Patriots are allowing the 10th-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season. But we just saw Willis post a decent stat line against the Pats without much in the way of rushing numbers, and Love is a top-five quarterback to this point in the season. Don't overthink it.
Devin Singletary, NY Giants (RB26) vs. Blake Corum, LA Rams (RB27)
The Case for Singletary: Singletary is something of the last man standing for the Giants at running back—Cam Skattebo is the wrong side of questionable with a bad hamstring, and Tyrone Tracy Jr. is on injured reserve. Per SI's Macklin Stern, that should mean a heavy workload Sunday in a plus matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles.
"Consider also that the Giants have run the ball at a roughly 43% clip over the course of the season, but that percentage leapfrogged to 53% in Week 7," he said. "On the one hand, the jump could be an outlier, but on the other, it may be closer to a new norm with J.J. McCarthy at the helm. The Philadelphia Eagles should help New York's cause since they concede the sixth-most rushing yards in the NFL. For these reasons, we see Singletary putting together a productive fantasy week."
The Case for Corum: Corum is technically the No. 2 back in Los Angeles. But he's been playing like a lead back for some time, with double-digit touches and a score in each of the last three games. While talking to reporters, Rams running back Kyren Williams said that he and Corum are less Batman and Robin than equals.
"We have similarities running the ball but also differences too," Williams said. "And I think that's what makes that 1-2 punch everybody keeps talking about. "It's a great vibe, where we're able to play off each other, not just on the football field but also in life."
The Verdict: Singletary—assuming that Skattebo is inactive. Were both backs sharing touches this wouldn't be an especially close call, but Singletary should get as much work as he can handle Sunday against an Eagles team that's allowing more PPR points per game to running backs than the Washington Commanders.
