Alex Sarr vs LaMelo Ball: who to start in Week 3
Alex Sarr plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), LaMelo Ball 4. For that week alone, start LaMelo Ball: 141.6 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for Alex Sarr. Over the season, LaMelo Ball leads in both formats: 35.4 fantasy points a game to 32.5, and 60th against 62nd 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.
Parlae may earn a commission from price links.
- Points leagues
- #72
- 32.5 FP/G, slot 6.12, $14
- 9-cat leagues
- #62
- -0.1 z, slot 6.02, $15
Out (Knee)
- Points leagues
- #53
- 35.4 FP/G, slot 5.05, $19
- 9-cat leagues
- #60
- -0.0 z, slot 5.12, $15
The pick in points and 9-cat leagues.
The call
Points leagues: LaMelo Ball. 35.4 fantasy points per game against 32.5, 53rd on our board to 72nd.
9-cat leagues: LaMelo Ball again, -0.0 in summed z-scores against -0.1 (60th to 62nd).
Category by category, Alex Sarr is ahead in 4 (REB, BLK, FG% and TO) and LaMelo Ball in 5 (PTS, AST, STL, 3PM and FT%).
Per 36 minutes, LaMelo Ball produces more: 47.0 fantasy points to 43.8, on 27.1 minutes a night against 26.7. He already plays as much or more, so the gap is not a role waiting to grow.
Alex Sarr plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), LaMelo Ball 4. For that week alone, start LaMelo Ball: 141.6 projected fantasy points to 0.0 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.
Per game, side by side
| Per game | Alex Sarr | LaMelo Ball |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 32.5 | 35.4 |
| Minutes | 26.7 | 27.1 |
| PointsPTS | 14.3 | 18.3 |
| ReboundsREB | 6.9 | 4.3 |
| AssistsAST | 2.6 | 6.9 |
| StealsSTL | 0.9 | 1.4 |
| BlocksBLK | 1.7 | 0.2 |
| Threes3PM | 0.9 | 3.5 |
| Field goal %FG% | 48.9% | 40.3% |
| Free throw %FT% | 69.9% | 85.2% |
| TurnoversTO | 1.6 | 3.1 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 48 | 72 |
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 | LaMelo Ball |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 43.8 | 47.0 |
| Points | 19.3 | 24.3 |
| Rebounds | 9.3 | 5.8 |
| Assists | 3.4 | 9.1 |
| Steals | 1.2 | 1.9 |
| Blocks | 2.3 | 0.2 |
| Threes | 1.3 | 4.6 |
| Turnovers | 2.2 | 4.1 |
Each per-game number divided by minutes and scaled to 36: the rate a bigger role would carry.
9-category z-scores
| Category | Alex Sarr | LaMelo Ball |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | -0.4 | +0.3 |
| ReboundsREB | +0.4 | -0.6 |
| AssistsAST | -0.6 | +1.6 |
| StealsSTL | -0.5 | +0.9 |
| BlocksBLK | +2.0 | -1.0 |
| Threes3PM | -0.8 | +1.9 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | +0.1 | -1.9 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | -0.9 | +0.4 |
| TurnoversTO | +0.4 | -1.4 |
| Total | -0.1 | -0.0 |
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 Alex Sarr.
| Punt | Alex Sarr | LaMelo Ball |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | +0.2 (#54) | -0.4 (#78) |
| REB | -0.8 (#92) | +0.8 (#39) |
| AST | +0.4 (#46) | -1.7 (#137) |
| STL | +0.2 (#54) | -0.9 (#91) |
| BLK | -2.4 (#147) | +1.1 (#35) |
| 3PM | +0.6 (#43) | -2.0 (#148) |
| FG% | -0.7 (#80) | +2.2 (#26) |
| FT% | +0.7 (#41) | -0.6 (#78) |
| TO | -0.7 (#78) | +1.5 (#39) |
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)
- Alex Sarr: 4 games (Mon @ORL, Wed ATL, Fri @ATL, Sat @OKC), 1 back-to-back, listed Out.
- LaMelo Ball: 4 games (Mon MIL, Wed @HOU, Fri @NOP, Sun UTA).
Recent games
- Alex Sarr: 23.8 fantasy points a game over his last 6 of 2026-27, against 32.5 on the board.
- LaMelo Ball: 31.7 fantasy points a game over his last 8 of 2026-27, against 35.4 on the board.
Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Alex Sarr playing tonight? · Is LaMelo Ball playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Alex Sarr, LaMelo Ball
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Alex Sarr or LaMelo Ball?
Points leagues: LaMelo Ball. 35.4 fantasy points per game against 32.5, 53rd on our board to 72nd. 9-cat leagues: LaMelo Ball again, -0.0 in summed z-scores against -0.1 (60th to 62nd).
Who wins more categories, Alex Sarr or LaMelo Ball?
Category by category, Alex Sarr is ahead in 4 (REB, BLK, FG% and TO) and LaMelo Ball in 5 (PTS, AST, STL, 3PM and FT%).
Who should I start in Week 3, Alex Sarr or LaMelo Ball?
Alex Sarr plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), LaMelo Ball 4. For that week alone, start LaMelo Ball: 141.6 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for Alex Sarr.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Nov 3, 2026 at 12:36 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number