Evan McPherson or Jason Sanders: Who Should You Start?

2026 Week 1 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Start Evan McPherson over Jason Sanders

McPherson benefits from Cincinnati's stronger scoring environment, while the similar field-goal volume keeps this from being a runaway call. His big-leg range and calm, open-roof conditions add confidence when drives stall, and the extra-point path is meaningfully better. Sanders does have more red-zone stalls to work with, but New York's lower scoring outlook leaves less room for error if those chances do not become field goals. McPherson's risk is that Cincinnati finishes drives with touchdowns, trimming his field-goal ceiling.

What flips it: A major Cincinnati scoring downgrade or a late change to McPherson's availability.

Sources: newyorkjets.com · Sep 12, 2026

AI editor

Evan McPherson

Evan McPherson

K13CINvs TB

Projected Points

Start· medium
Jason Sanders

Jason Sanders

K17NYJvs TEN

Projected Points

Sit
TB@
CINSun, Sep 13, 1:00 PM ETView the game →
NYJ@
TENSun, Sep 13, 1:00 PM ETView the game →

Why Evan McPherson

Start· medium

Starting placekicker with big-leg range. Proven clutch postseason performer.

27.0 implied total, calm open-roof conditions and an 89% (25/28) leg make McPherson a clean K13 play with 1.7 FGs and 2.7 XPs projected.

  • Cincinnati's scoring outlook supports both field goals and a steadier extra-point floor.
  • His big-leg range is better supported by a calm, open-roof forecast.

The call

  • Cincinnati's 27.0 implied total is the driver here — that volume of scoring means 2.7 projected extra points on top of 1.7 made field goals, giving him a high floor for the K slot.
  • He's the locked-in PK1 with no designation and elite accuracy at 89% (25/28) this season, plus 50-plus range shown in 4 games and a 63-yard long, so the upside on long tries is real.
  • Calm forecast in an open-roof stadium removes the wind/weather variable that separates kickers most weeks.
  • Mild caution: only 1.9 attempts projected and 1.1 red-zone stalls per game means he's leaning on touchdown-drive extra points rather than stalled-drive field goals, so a low-scoring script would cap him.

Why Jason Sanders

Sit

Sit — K17 by consensus, projects K28 this week: 1.3 red-zone stalls a game, and 7.5 pts projected vs TEN.

  • More frequent red-zone stalls give Sanders a useful field-goal path despite the weaker offense.
  • His active-roster elevation keeps the option viable; newyorkjets.com 2026-09-12 confirms it.

Latest on Sanders

Jets Elevate K Jason Sanders to Active Roster

Green & White Place WR Tim Patrick on Reserve/Injured List

newyorkjets.com · Sep 12, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Head-to-head stats

MetricEvan McPhersonJason Sanders
Projected points
Consensus rankK13K17
Projected FG attempts1.91.9
Red-zone stalls / game1.1(2025)1.3(2025)
Kicking conditionsCalm forecast at kickoffCalm forecast at kickoff
Implied total · spread27.0-3.518.3+3.0
Field-goal %89.3%(2025)—
Depth chartK1K1

Signal breakdown

  • 8.5 vs 7.5 projected PPR pointsEvan McPherson +
  • Rank 13 vs 17Evan McPherson +
  • 1.9 vs 1.9 projected attemptsEvan McPherson +
  • 1.1 vs 1.3 red-zone stalls per gameJason Sanders +
  • 6 mph, 87°F, overcast vs 3 mph, 91°F, cleareven
  • Implied 27.0 vs 18.3 team pointsEvan McPherson +
  • No injury designationseven

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