Ajay Mitchell vs Jakob Poeltl: who to start in Week 1
Ajay Mitchell plays 3 games in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), Jakob Poeltl 3. For that week alone, start Ajay Mitchell: 77.2 projected fantasy points to 75.1 for Jakob Poeltl. Over the season, Ajay Mitchell leads in both formats: 25.7 fantasy points a game to 25.0, and 118th against 120th in 9-cat. The two go close together on our board, which is our own ranking order from 2025-26 and 2026-27 box scores, not ADP.
Updated Oct 22, 9:54 AM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
Parlae may earn a commission from price links.
- Points leagues
- #130
- 25.7 FP/G, slot 11.10, $5
- 9-cat leagues
- #118
- -1.7 z, slot 10.10, $6
The pick in points and 9-cat leagues.
- Points leagues
- #134
- 25.0 FP/G, slot 12.02, $4
- 9-cat leagues
- #120
- -1.7 z, slot 10.12, $6
The call
Points leagues: Ajay Mitchell. 25.7 fantasy points per game against 25.0, 130th on our board to 134th.
9-cat leagues: Ajay Mitchell again, -1.7 in summed z-scores against -1.7 (118th to 120th).
Category by category, Ajay Mitchell is ahead in 5 (PTS, AST, STL, 3PM and FT%) and Jakob Poeltl in 4 (REB, BLK, FG% and TO).
Per 36 minutes, Jakob Poeltl produces more: 36.4 fantasy points to 36.1, on 24.8 minutes a night against 25.7. He does it in fewer minutes, so a bigger role would widen the gap.
Ajay Mitchell plays 3 games in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), Jakob Poeltl 3. For that week alone, start Ajay Mitchell: 77.2 projected fantasy points to 75.1 for Jakob Poeltl.
Slots are where our board's order lands in a 12-team snake draft (round.pick), and dollars are auction value over replacement for 12 teams with $200 each. Neither is ADP: no free draft-position feed lets us republish it.
Advertisement
Per game, side by side
| Per game | Ajay Mitchell | Jakob Poeltl |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 25.7 | 25.0 |
| Minutes | 25.7 | 24.8 |
| PointsPTS | 13.0 | 10.2 |
| ReboundsREB | 3.4 | 7.0 |
| AssistsAST | 3.8 | 1.9 |
| StealsSTL | 1.2 | 0.9 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.3 | 0.7 |
| Threes3PM | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Field goal %FG% | 47.3% | 70.3% |
| Free throw %FT% | 87.0% | 57.9% |
| TurnoversTO | 1.4 | 1.2 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 57 | 46 |
Bold is the better number. The line blends 2025-26 with 2026-27 games as they are played, the same numbers the rankings use.
Per 36 minutes
| Per 36 | Ajay Mitchell | Jakob Poeltl |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 36.1 | 36.4 |
| Points | 18.2 | 14.9 |
| Rebounds | 4.8 | 10.1 |
| Assists | 5.3 | 2.8 |
| Steals | 1.6 | 1.3 |
| Blocks | 0.4 | 1.0 |
| Threes | 1.4 | 0.0 |
| Turnovers | 2.0 | 1.7 |
Each per-game number divided by minutes and scaled to 36: the rate a bigger role would carry.
Advertisement
9-category z-scores
| Category | Ajay Mitchell | Jakob Poeltl |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | -0.6 | -1.1 |
| ReboundsREB | -1.1 | +0.5 |
| AssistsAST | +0.1 | -0.9 |
| StealsSTL | +0.4 | -0.4 |
| BlocksBLK | -0.8 | +0.1 |
| Threes3PM | -0.6 | -1.7 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | -0.2 | +2.3 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | +0.6 | -1.5 |
| TurnoversTO | +0.6 | +0.9 |
| Total | -1.7 | -1.7 |
Each number is standard deviations above or below the top 156 players (a 12-team league's rosters). Field goal and free throw percentage are weighted by attempts, and turnovers count against.
If you punt a category
Punting points, assists, steals, threes and free throw percentage flips the 9-cat answer to Jakob Poeltl.
| Punt | Ajay Mitchell | Jakob Poeltl |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | -1.1 (#112) | -0.7 (#92) |
| REB | -0.7 (#78) | -2.6 (#175) |
| AST | -1.8 (#140) | -0.9 (#91) |
| STL | -2.2 (#150) | -1.4 (#117) |
| BLK | -1.0 (#86) | -2.1 (#135) |
| 3PM | -1.1 (#99) | -0.1 (#66) |
| FG% | -1.6 (#105) | -4.8 (#247) |
| FT% | -2.3 (#150) | -0.2 (#70) |
| TO | -2.3 (#119) | -2.8 (#133) |
Value is the sum of the other eight z-scores, recomputed with the punted category left out of the pool that sets them; the rank is among all 391 ranked players.
Week 1 (Oct 19-25)
- Ajay Mitchell: 3 games (Tue @SAS, Thu DEN, Sun LAC).
- Jakob Poeltl: 3 games (Wed CHI, Fri @WAS, Sun @MIN).
Recent games
- Ajay Mitchell: 18.0 fantasy points a game over his last 1 of 2026-27, against 25.7 on the board.
- Jakob Poeltl: 16.2 fantasy points a game over his last 1 of 2026-27, against 25.0 on the board.
Advertisement
Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Ajay Mitchell playing tonight? · Is Jakob Poeltl playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Ajay Mitchell
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Ajay Mitchell or Jakob Poeltl?
Points leagues: Ajay Mitchell. 25.7 fantasy points per game against 25.0, 130th on our board to 134th. 9-cat leagues: Ajay Mitchell again, -1.7 in summed z-scores against -1.7 (118th to 120th).
Who wins more categories, Ajay Mitchell or Jakob Poeltl?
Category by category, Ajay Mitchell is ahead in 5 (PTS, AST, STL, 3PM and FT%) and Jakob Poeltl in 4 (REB, BLK, FG% and TO).
Who should I start in Week 1, Ajay Mitchell or Jakob Poeltl?
Ajay Mitchell plays 3 games in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), Jakob Poeltl 3. For that week alone, start Ajay Mitchell: 77.2 projected fantasy points to 75.1 for Jakob Poeltl.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 22, 2026 at 9:54 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number