Start Efton Chism III or Jalen Royals? Week 9

Our Week 9 call

Start Jalen Royals over Efton Chism III in Week 9.

Market-based projections have Jalen Royals at 6.0 points and Efton Chism III at 4.9, a gap of 1.1. That is inside the noise of a single catch, so treat it as close to a coin flip. No player market is posted for Jalen Royals this week yet, so his 6.0 is the average of his market-based projections in Weeks 6 and 7 (6.2 and 5.7); the call is rebuilt when his market posts. No player market is posted for Efton Chism III this week yet, so his 4.9 is the average of his market-based projections in Weeks 6, 7 and 8 (3.5, 4.4 and 6.8); the call is rebuilt when his market posts.

What the market projects

No Week 9 player market is posted for Jalen Royals yet. His market-based projections were 6.2 and 5.7 points in Weeks 6 and 7, an average of 6.0, which stands in until his Week 9 market posts.

No Week 9 player market is posted for Efton Chism III yet. His market-based projections were 3.5, 4.4 and 6.8 points in Weeks 6, 7 and 8, an average of 4.9, which stands in until his Week 9 market posts.

The market-based projection for Efton Chism III is 0.3 touchdowns (7 market sources).

That puts Jalen Royals 1.1 points ahead of Efton Chism III on these projections.

Week 9 matchups

Jalen Royals and KC host NYJ on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET.

NYJ allowed 28.5 fantasy points a game to WRs this season over 8 games, the 9th fewest in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 121 yards and 1.1 touchdowns a game against NYJ.

Efton Chism III and NE host GB on Sunday at 4:25 PM ET.

GB allowed 34.8 fantasy points a game to WRs this season over 8 games, the 9th most in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 152 yards and 0.9 touchdowns a game against GB.

By points allowed to the position, Efton Chism III has the softer matchup.

Injury status

Jalen Royals is not on the injury report.

Efton Chism III is not on the injury report.

Usage before Week 9

Through Week 8, Jalen Royals played 43 percent of KC snaps, drew 6 percent of the targets, earned 6 percent of the air yards and had 3 percent of the red zone chances.

Jalen Royals, Week 4 against LV: 38 of 60 snaps, 2 targets and 0 catches for 0 yards.

Jalen Royals, Week 6 against LAC: 45 of 61 snaps, 4 targets and 2 catches for 24 yards.

Jalen Royals, Week 7 against SEA: 36 of 53 snaps, 2 targets and 0 catches for 0 yards.

Jalen Royals, Week 8 against DEN: 22 of 69 snaps, 1 target and 1 catch for 4 yards.

Through Week 8, Efton Chism III played 76 percent of NE snaps, drew 12 percent of the targets, earned 6 percent of the air yards and had 22 percent of the red zone chances.

Efton Chism III, Week 7 against CHI: 34 of 54 snaps, 1 target and 1 catch for 16 yards.

Efton Chism III, Week 8 against MIA: 53 of 60 snaps, 5 targets and 5 catches for 37 yards.

Their 2025 seasons

In 2025, Jalen Royals played 7 games for KC and scored 2.4 PPR points, 0.3 a game.

He caught 2 of 3 targets for 4 yards and 0 touchdowns, with 0 red zone targets and 0 air yards.

He was on the field for 9 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

In 2025, Efton Chism III played 8 games for NE and scored 16.5 PPR points, 2.1 a game.

He caught 3 of 3 targets for 75 yards and 1 touchdown, with 1 red zone target and 35 air yards.

He was on the field for 14 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Efton Chism III, Week 18 of 2025 against MIA: 1 target and 1 catch for 35 yards, 4.5 PPR points.

Their other Week 9 calls

• Start Jalen Royals over Adonai Mitchell.
• Start Cooper Kupp over Jalen Royals.
• Start DeMario Douglas over Jalen Royals.
• Start Adonai Mitchell over Efton Chism III.
• Start Efton Chism III over Darnell Mooney.
• Start Isaac TeSlaa over Efton Chism III.