Alex Sarr vs Jalen Brunson: who to start in Week 1
Alex Sarr plays 3 games in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), Jalen Brunson 3. For that week alone, start Jalen Brunson: 119.5 projected fantasy points to 104.7 for Alex Sarr. Over the season, Jalen Brunson leads in both formats: 39.8 fantasy points a game to 34.9, and 52nd against 53rd 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, 6:57 AM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
Parlae may earn a commission from price links.
- Points leagues
- #49
- 34.9 FP/G, slot 5.01, $19
- 9-cat leagues
- #53
- +0.3 z, slot 5.05, $17
- Points leagues
- #30
- 39.8 FP/G, slot 3.06, $26
- 9-cat leagues
- #52
- +0.4 z, slot 5.04, $17
The pick in points and 9-cat leagues.
The call
Points leagues: Jalen Brunson. 39.8 fantasy points per game against 34.9, 30th on our board to 49th.
9-cat leagues: Jalen Brunson again, +0.4 in summed z-scores against +0.3 (52nd to 53rd).
Category by category, Alex Sarr is ahead in 5 (REB, STL, BLK, FG% and TO) and Jalen Brunson in 4 (PTS, AST, 3PM and FT%).
Per 36 minutes, Alex Sarr produces more: 46.6 fantasy points to 41.0, on 27.0 minutes a night against 34.9. He does it in fewer minutes, so a bigger role would widen the gap.
Alex Sarr plays 3 games in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), Jalen Brunson 3. For that week alone, start Jalen Brunson: 119.5 projected fantasy points to 104.7 for Alex Sarr.
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 | Alex Sarr | Jalen Brunson |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 34.9 | 39.8 |
| Minutes | 27.0 | 34.9 |
| PointsPTS | 15.7 | 25.7 |
| ReboundsREB | 7.5 | 3.4 |
| AssistsAST | 2.7 | 6.6 |
| StealsSTL | 0.8 | 0.7 |
| BlocksBLK | 1.9 | 0.1 |
| Threes3PM | 1.0 | 2.5 |
| Field goal %FG% | 47.5% | 45.8% |
| Free throw %FT% | 69.2% | 85.4% |
| TurnoversTO | 1.6 | 2.3 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 48 | 74 |
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 | Alex Sarr | Jalen Brunson |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 46.6 | 41.0 |
| Points | 20.9 | 26.5 |
| Rebounds | 10.0 | 3.5 |
| Assists | 3.6 | 6.8 |
| Steals | 1.0 | 0.7 |
| Blocks | 2.5 | 0.1 |
| Threes | 1.3 | 2.6 |
| Turnovers | 2.1 | 2.4 |
Each per-game number divided by minutes and scaled to 36: the rate a bigger role would carry.
Advertisement
9-category z-scores
| Category | Alex Sarr | Jalen Brunson |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | -0.1 | +1.6 |
| ReboundsREB | +0.8 | -1.1 |
| AssistsAST | -0.5 | +1.5 |
| StealsSTL | -0.7 | -0.8 |
| BlocksBLK | +2.4 | -1.2 |
| Threes3PM | -0.7 | +0.9 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | -0.3 | -1.0 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | -0.9 | +1.0 |
| TurnoversTO | +0.3 | -0.6 |
| Total | +0.3 | +0.4 |
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, threes and free throw percentage flips the 9-cat answer to Alex Sarr.
| Punt | Alex Sarr | Jalen Brunson |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | +0.4 (#49) | -1.3 (#121) |
| REB | -0.7 (#80) | +1.5 (#30) |
| AST | +0.7 (#40) | -1.3 (#115) |
| STL | +0.9 (#35) | +1.1 (#31) |
| BLK | -2.4 (#146) | +1.6 (#30) |
| 3PM | +0.9 (#40) | -0.8 (#90) |
| FG% | +0.2 (#58) | +1.4 (#38) |
| FT% | +1.2 (#35) | -0.9 (#90) |
| TO | -0.1 (#62) | +1.0 (#48) |
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)
- Alex Sarr: 3 games (Wed MIL, Fri TOR, Sat @CHI), 1 back-to-back.
- Jalen Brunson: 3 games (Tue PHI, Fri @BOS, Sun ORL).
Recent games
- Alex Sarr: 19.8 fantasy points a game over his last 1 of 2026-27, against 34.9 on the board.
- Jalen Brunson: 29.5 fantasy points a game over his last 1 of 2026-27, against 39.8 on the board.
Advertisement
Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Alex Sarr playing tonight? · Is Jalen Brunson playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Alex Sarr, Jalen Brunson
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Alex Sarr or Jalen Brunson?
Points leagues: Jalen Brunson. 39.8 fantasy points per game against 34.9, 30th on our board to 49th. 9-cat leagues: Jalen Brunson again, +0.4 in summed z-scores against +0.3 (52nd to 53rd).
Who wins more categories, Alex Sarr or Jalen Brunson?
Category by category, Alex Sarr is ahead in 5 (REB, STL, BLK, FG% and TO) and Jalen Brunson in 4 (PTS, AST, 3PM and FT%).
Who should I start in Week 1, Alex Sarr or Jalen Brunson?
Alex Sarr plays 3 games in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), Jalen Brunson 3. For that week alone, start Jalen Brunson: 119.5 projected fantasy points to 104.7 for Alex Sarr.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 22, 2026 at 6:57 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number