Anthony Black vs Brandin Podziemski: who to start in Week 3
Anthony Black plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Brandin Podziemski 3. For that week alone, start Brandin Podziemski: 88.1 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for Anthony Black. Over the season, Anthony Black leads in points leagues (30.0 fantasy points a game to 29.4) and Brandin Podziemski in 9-cat leagues (99th against 101st). 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
- #94
- 30.0 FP/G, slot 8.10, $10
- 9-cat leagues
- #101
- -1.3 z, slot 9.05, $8
Out (Rest)
The pick in points leagues.
- Points leagues
- #99
- 29.4 FP/G, slot 9.03, $9
- 9-cat leagues
- #99
- -1.3 z, slot 9.03, $8
The pick in 9-cat leagues.
The call
Points leagues: Anthony Black. 30.0 fantasy points per game against 29.4, 94th on our board to 99th.
9-cat leagues: Brandin Podziemski instead, -1.3 in summed z-scores against -1.3 (99th to 101st), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Category by category, Anthony Black is ahead in 4 (PTS, STL, BLK and FG%) and Brandin Podziemski in 5 (REB, AST, 3PM, FT% and TO).
Per 36 minutes, Anthony Black produces more: 36.7 fantasy points to 35.6, on 29.5 minutes a night against 29.7. He does it in fewer minutes, so a bigger role would widen the gap.
Anthony Black plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Brandin Podziemski 3. For that week alone, start Brandin Podziemski: 88.1 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for Anthony Black.
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 | Anthony Black | Brandin Podziemski |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 30.0 | 29.4 |
| Minutes | 29.5 | 29.7 |
| PointsPTS | 15.3 | 14.5 |
| ReboundsREB | 4.0 | 5.2 |
| AssistsAST | 3.9 | 4.2 |
| StealsSTL | 1.4 | 1.1 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.7 | 0.2 |
| Threes3PM | 1.7 | 1.9 |
| Field goal %FG% | 46.1% | 45.7% |
| Free throw %FT% | 74.7% | 76.8% |
| TurnoversTO | 2.1 | 1.6 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 64 | 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 | Anthony Black | Brandin Podziemski |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 36.7 | 35.6 |
| Points | 18.7 | 17.5 |
| Rebounds | 4.9 | 6.3 |
| Assists | 4.8 | 5.1 |
| Steals | 1.7 | 1.3 |
| Blocks | 0.8 | 0.3 |
| Threes | 2.1 | 2.4 |
| Turnovers | 2.6 | 1.9 |
Each per-game number divided by minutes and scaled to 36: the rate a bigger role would carry.
9-category z-scores
| Category | Anthony Black | Brandin Podziemski |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | -0.2 | -0.4 |
| ReboundsREB | -0.8 | -0.3 |
| AssistsAST | +0.1 | +0.2 |
| StealsSTL | +0.9 | +0.1 |
| BlocksBLK | -0.1 | -0.9 |
| Threes3PM | +0.0 | +0.3 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | -0.4 | -0.4 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | -0.7 | -0.3 |
| TurnoversTO | -0.2 | +0.4 |
| Total | -1.3 | -1.3 |
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 rebounds, assists, threes, free throw percentage and turnovers flips the 9-cat answer to Anthony Black.
| Punt | Anthony Black | Brandin Podziemski |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | -1.2 (#116) | -0.9 (#102) |
| REB | -0.7 (#89) | -1.1 (#98) |
| AST | -1.6 (#130) | -1.6 (#132) |
| STL | -2.3 (#159) | -1.5 (#115) |
| BLK | -1.4 (#109) | -0.5 (#80) |
| 3PM | -1.4 (#110) | -1.5 (#121) |
| FG% | -1.3 (#101) | -1.0 (#91) |
| FT% | -0.7 (#82) | -1.0 (#96) |
| TO | -1.2 (#92) | -1.8 (#107) |
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)
- Anthony Black: 3 games (Mon WAS, Thu @PHX, Sat @GSW), 1 back-to-back, listed Out.
- Brandin Podziemski: 3 games (Mon PHX, Thu MIA, Sat ORL), 1 back-to-back.
Recent games
- Anthony Black: 32.3 fantasy points a game over his last 4 of 2026-27, against 30.0 on the board.
- Brandin Podziemski: 31.6 fantasy points a game over his last 6 of 2026-27, against 29.4 on the board.
Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Anthony Black playing tonight? · Is Brandin Podziemski playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Anthony Black, Brandin Podziemski
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Anthony Black or Brandin Podziemski?
Points leagues: Anthony Black. 30.0 fantasy points per game against 29.4, 94th on our board to 99th. 9-cat leagues: Brandin Podziemski instead, -1.3 in summed z-scores against -1.3 (99th to 101st), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Anthony Black or Brandin Podziemski?
Category by category, Anthony Black is ahead in 4 (PTS, STL, BLK and FG%) and Brandin Podziemski in 5 (REB, AST, 3PM, FT% and TO).
Who should I start in Week 3, Anthony Black or Brandin Podziemski?
Anthony Black plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Brandin Podziemski 3. For that week alone, start Brandin Podziemski: 88.1 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for Anthony Black.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Nov 3, 2026 at 12:36 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number