Ajay Mitchell vs Reed Sheppard: who to start in Week 3
Ajay Mitchell plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Reed Sheppard 3. For that week alone, start Ajay Mitchell: 110.6 projected fantasy points to 79.4 for Reed Sheppard. Over the season, Ajay Mitchell leads in both formats: 27.6 fantasy points a game to 26.5, and 72nd against 73rd 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 Nov 3, 12:36 AM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
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- Points leagues
- #117
- 27.6 FP/G, slot 10.09, $6
- 9-cat leagues
- #72
- -0.5 z, slot 6.12, $13
The pick in points and 9-cat leagues.
- Points leagues
- #131
- 26.5 FP/G, slot 11.11, $5
- 9-cat leagues
- #73
- -0.5 z, slot 7.01, $12
The call
Points leagues: Ajay Mitchell. 27.6 fantasy points per game against 26.5, 117th on our board to 131st.
9-cat leagues: Ajay Mitchell again, -0.5 in summed z-scores against -0.5 (72nd to 73rd).
Category by category, Ajay Mitchell is ahead in 5 (PTS, REB, FG%, FT% and TO) and Reed Sheppard in 3 (STL, BLK and 3PM).
Per 36 minutes, Ajay Mitchell produces more: 38.7 fantasy points to 37.3, on 25.7 minutes a night against 25.6. He already plays as much or more, so the gap is not a role waiting to grow.
Ajay Mitchell plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Reed Sheppard 3. For that week alone, start Ajay Mitchell: 110.6 projected fantasy points to 79.4 for Reed Sheppard.
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.
Per game, side by side
| Per game | Ajay Mitchell | Reed Sheppard |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 27.6 | 26.5 |
| Minutes | 25.7 | 25.6 |
| PointsPTS | 14.4 | 12.9 |
| ReboundsREB | 3.3 | 2.9 |
| AssistsAST | 3.7 | 3.7 |
| StealsSTL | 1.4 | 1.5 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.4 | 0.5 |
| Threes3PM | 1.0 | 2.7 |
| Field goal %FG% | 49.4% | 42.0% |
| Free throw %FT% | 88.9% | 83.4% |
| TurnoversTO | 1.5 | 1.6 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 57 | 82 |
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 | Reed Sheppard |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 38.7 | 37.3 |
| Points | 20.2 | 18.2 |
| Rebounds | 4.7 | 4.0 |
| Assists | 5.1 | 5.2 |
| Steals | 1.9 | 2.2 |
| Blocks | 0.5 | 0.7 |
| Threes | 1.3 | 3.7 |
| Turnovers | 2.1 | 2.2 |
Each per-game number divided by minutes and scaled to 36: the rate a bigger role would carry.
9-category z-scores
| Category | Ajay Mitchell | Reed Sheppard |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | -0.4 | -0.7 |
| ReboundsREB | -1.1 | -1.3 |
| AssistsAST | -0.0 | -0.1 |
| StealsSTL | +0.8 | +1.3 |
| BlocksBLK | -0.6 | -0.3 |
| Threes3PM | -0.7 | +1.0 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | +0.2 | -1.1 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | +0.8 | +0.1 |
| TurnoversTO | +0.6 | +0.5 |
| Total | -0.5 | -0.5 |
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, rebounds, field goal percentage, free throw percentage and turnovers flips the 9-cat answer to Reed Sheppard.
| Punt | Ajay Mitchell | Reed Sheppard |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | -0.2 (#67) | +0.1 (#59) |
| REB | +0.5 (#45) | +0.8 (#38) |
| AST | -0.6 (#74) | -0.6 (#75) |
| STL | -1.4 (#112) | -1.9 (#138) |
| BLK | +0.0 (#63) | -0.2 (#71) |
| 3PM | +0.1 (#53) | -1.6 (#124) |
| FG% | -0.8 (#86) | +0.7 (#46) |
| FT% | -1.3 (#108) | -0.7 (#80) |
| TO | -1.2 (#91) | -1.1 (#88) |
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 432 ranked players.
Week 3 (Nov 2-8)
- Ajay Mitchell: 4 games (Mon @CLE, Wed CLE, Fri @MEM, Sat WAS), 1 back-to-back.
- Reed Sheppard: 3 games (Mon BOS, Wed MIN, Sat @PHX).
Recent games
- Ajay Mitchell: 31.4 fantasy points a game over his last 7 of 2026-27, against 27.6 on the board.
- Reed Sheppard: 19.8 fantasy points a game over his last 5 of 2026-27, against 26.5 on the board.
Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Ajay Mitchell playing tonight? · Is Reed Sheppard playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Ajay Mitchell, Reed Sheppard
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Ajay Mitchell or Reed Sheppard?
Points leagues: Ajay Mitchell. 27.6 fantasy points per game against 26.5, 117th on our board to 131st. 9-cat leagues: Ajay Mitchell again, -0.5 in summed z-scores against -0.5 (72nd to 73rd).
Who wins more categories, Ajay Mitchell or Reed Sheppard?
Category by category, Ajay Mitchell is ahead in 5 (PTS, REB, FG%, FT% and TO) and Reed Sheppard in 3 (STL, BLK and 3PM).
Who should I start in Week 3, Ajay Mitchell or Reed Sheppard?
Ajay Mitchell plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Reed Sheppard 3. For that week alone, start Ajay Mitchell: 110.6 projected fantasy points to 79.4 for Reed Sheppard.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Nov 3, 2026 at 12:36 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number