Malik Willis or Rome Odunze: Who Should You Start?
2026 Week 2 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.
Willis edges Odunze on role, but neither option offers a comfortable ceiling
Willis gets the narrow nod because his locked-in starting role outweighs San Francisco's difficult quarterback matchup and Miami's low scoring expectation. The 0.51 edge is meaningful only as a tiebreaker: Odunze has the better game environment, but his 48% Week 1 snap share makes that advantage fragile. Odunze's calf issue and limited involvement remain the clearest risk, while Willis' five-sack debut shows the downside of this call (CBS Sports 2026-09-14; ESPN 2026-09-14).
What flips it: A confirmed return to a full-time route role for Odunze.
Sources: CBS Sports · Sep 14, 2026 · ESPN · Sep 14, 2026 · Yahoo Sports · Sep 17, 2026
AI editor
Malik Willis
14.114.114.1 Projected Points
Rome Odunze
9.110.712.3 Projected Points
Malik Willis’s market
Rome Odunze’s market
Why Malik Willis
SitStarting QB with dual-threat mobility. Strong arm and designed-run value; a career backup signed in free agency to take over the job.
Sit — bench-tier QB at consensus QB21: SF is the 6th-toughest matchup vs QBs, 18.0 implied team total caps the ceiling.
- Designed-run ability gives Willis a path to production even when Miami struggles to score.
- His full Thursday practice removes the immediate toe concern. (Yahoo Sports 2026-09-17)
Latest on Willis
Willis (toe) was a full practice participant on Thursday ahead of the Week 2 game at San Francisco, indicating no game-status concern.
Yahoo Sports · Sep 17, 2026Read the full transcript from QB Malik Willis' postgame media availability on September 16, 2026.
Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley said Willis still has his 'total confidence and faith' after a rough debut for Miami.
Marcel Louis-Jacques breaks down QB Malik Willis' debut with the Dolphins in Week 1.
Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.
Why Rome Odunze
Toss-UpWR1 and primary outside X. Contested-catch winner with red-zone production and high target share.
Toss-up — WR27 by consensus and projection: MIN is the 4th-softest matchup vs WRs, 24.5 implied team total.
- A favorable script and primary-X profile give Odunze a stronger ceiling if his route role expands.
- His red-zone contested-catch skill can convert limited volume into a useful fantasy day.
Latest on Odunze
Odunze played through a calf injury he'd managed all Week 1 prep week and finished with just two catches on three targets for 52 yards, with Kalif Raymond and Luther Burden getting more looks from Caleb Williams instead.
CBS Sports · Sep 14, 2026Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze (calf) says he expects to play Sunday in the season opener at Carolina despite being listed as questionable on the final injury report.
The Bears listed four players as questionable for their Week 1 matchup in Charlotte Sunday, including receiver Rome Odunze. The third-year pro sustained a calf injury last week and was limited in each of the three practices this week.
Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.
Head-to-head stats
| Metric | Malik Willis | Rome Odunze |
|---|---|---|
| Projected points | 14.114.114.1 | 9.110.712.3 |
| Consensus rank | QB21 | WR27 |
| Opponent vs position | SF · 6 of 321-game sample | MIN · 29 of 321-game sample |
| Passing Yards | 8 of 32 | — |
| Passing TDs | 1 of 32 | — |
| Passing Completions | 7 of 32 | — |
| Passing Attempts | 12 of 32 | — |
| Interceptions | 4 of 32 | — |
| Receptions | — | 31 of 32 |
| Receiving Yards | — | 32 of 32 |
| Receiving TDs | — | 25 of 32 |
| Targets | — | 32 of 32 |
| Anytime TD | — | 25 of 32 |
| Target share | — | 12% |
| Reception share | — | 10% |
| Implied total · spread | 18.0+10.5 | 24.5-3.5 |
| Depth chart | QB1 | WR1 |
| Snap share | 100% | 48% |
| Start/Sit record | — | 0–1 |
Recent form
Malik Willis — last 1 week
| Week 1 | vs LV | 16.716.716.7 |
Rome Odunze — last 1 week
| Week 1 | vs CAR | 5.26.27.2 |
Signal breakdown
- 14.1 vs 12.3 projected PPR pointsMalik Willis +
- Rank 21 vs 27Malik Willis +
- Opponent DvP rank 6 vs 29 (32 = softest)even
- Implied 18.0 vs 24.5 team pointsRome Odunze +
- No injury designationseven
- 100% vs 48% snap shareMalik Willis +
Compare different players
Every fantasy-relevant player this week — search or filter by position.
More Willis comparisons
More Odunze comparisons
This week’s toughest calls
- K. WilliamsKyren WilliamsRBLARvs NYG
C. SkatteboCam SkatteboRBNYGvs LAR
- C. SkatteboCam SkatteboRBNYGvs LARD. SwiftD'Andre SwiftRBCHIvs MIN
- D. SwiftD'Andre SwiftRBCHIvs MINB. IrvingBucky IrvingRBTBvs CLE
- B. IrvingBucky IrvingRBTBvs CLED. MontgomeryDavid MontgomeryRBHOUvs CIN
- D. MontgomeryDavid MontgomeryRBHOUvs CINJ. PriceJadarian PriceRBSEAvs ARI
- J. PriceJadarian PriceRBSEAvs ARIR. StevensonRhamondre StevensonRBNEvs PIT
- D. AdamsDavante AdamsWRLARvs NYG
J. WilliamsJameson WilliamsWRDETvs BUF
- J. WilliamsJameson WilliamsWRDETvs BUFL. Burden IIILuther Burden IIIWRCHIvs MIN
- L. Burden IIILuther Burden IIIWRCHIvs MINM. EvansMike EvansWRSFvs MIA
- M. EvansMike EvansWRSFvs MIAC. WatsonChristian WatsonWRGBvs NYJ
- C. WatsonChristian WatsonWRGBvs NYJC. SuttonCourtland SuttonWRDENvs JAX
- C. SuttonCourtland SuttonWRDENvs JAXM. GoldenMatthew GoldenWRGBvs NYJ
- B. BowersBrock BowersTELVvs LAC
K. Pitts Sr.Kyle Pitts Sr.TEATLvs CAR
- K. Pitts Sr.Kyle Pitts Sr.TEATLvs CARG. KittleGeorge KittleTESFvs MIA
- G. KittleGeorge KittleTESFvs MIAS. LaPortaSam LaPortaTEDETvs BUF
- S. LaPortaSam LaPortaTEDETvs BUFT. KraftTucker KraftTEGBvs NYJ
- T. KraftTucker KraftTEGBvs NYJT. KelceTravis KelceTEKCvs IND
- T. KelceTravis KelceTEKCvs INDD. GoedertDallas GoedertTEPHIvs TEN
- D. PrescottDak PrescottQBDALvs WSH
J. DartJaxson DartQBNYGvs LAR
- J. DartJaxson DartQBNYGvs LARJ. HerbertJustin HerbertQBLACvs LV
- J. HerbertJustin HerbertQBLACvs LVC. WilliamsCaleb WilliamsQBCHIvs MIN
- C. WilliamsCaleb WilliamsQBCHIvs MINB. PurdyBrock PurdyQBSFvs MIA
- B. PurdyBrock PurdyQBSFvs MIAP. MahomesPatrick MahomesQBKCvs IND
- P. MahomesPatrick MahomesQBKCvs INDB. NixBo NixQBDENvs JAX
- B. AubreyBrandon AubreyKDALvs WSH
K. FairbairnKa'imi FairbairnKHOUvs CIN
- K. FairbairnKa'imi FairbairnKHOUvs CINH. ButkerHarrison ButkerKKCvs IND
- H. ButkerHarrison ButkerKKCvs INDT. LoopTyler LoopKBALvs NO
- T. LoopTyler LoopKBALvs NOC. SantosCairo SantosKCHIvs MIN
- C. SantosCairo SantosKCHIvs MINC. McLaughlinChase McLaughlinKTBvs CLE
- C. McLaughlinChase McLaughlinKTBvs CLEN. FolkNick FolkKATLvs CAR
- Buccaneers D/STBuccaneers D/STDSTTBvs CLE
Chargers D/STChargers D/STDSTLACvs LV
- Chargers D/STChargers D/STDSTLACvs LVPatriots D/STPatriots D/STDSTNEvs PIT
- Patriots D/STPatriots D/STDSTNEvs PITBroncos D/STBroncos D/STDSTDENvs JAX
- Broncos D/STBroncos D/STDSTDENvs JAXBears D/STBears D/STDSTCHIvs MIN
- Bears D/STBears D/STDSTCHIvs MINPackers D/STPackers D/STDSTGBvs NYJ
- Packers D/STPackers D/STDSTGBvs NYJPanthers D/STPanthers D/STDSTCARvs ATL
- C. HubbardChuba HubbardRBCARvs ATL
B. BowersBrock BowersTELVvs LAC - B. BowersBrock BowersTELVvs LACA. Jones Sr.Aaron Jones Sr.RBMINvs CHI
- D. MontgomeryDavid MontgomeryRBHOUvs CIND. AdamsDavante AdamsWRLARvs NYG
- D. AdamsDavante AdamsWRLARvs NYGD. SwiftD'Andre SwiftRBCHIvs MIN
- J. PriceJadarian PriceRBSEAvs ARIM. EvansMike EvansWRSFvs MIA
- M. EvansMike EvansWRSFvs MIAR. StevensonRhamondre StevensonRBNEvs PIT
- C. SkatteboCam SkatteboRBNYGvs LARC. WatsonChristian WatsonWRGBvs NYJ
- C. SuttonCourtland SuttonWRDENvs JAXJ. DobbinsJ.K. DobbinsRBDENvs JAX
Get a Start/Sit call on your whole roster →
Save your team once and see a Start, Sit, or Toss-Up verdict on every player, every week — with the matchup, usage and game-script evidence behind each call.
Add to My Team — freeOr browse this week’s NFL games or NFL player props.