Bam Adebayo vs Nickeil Alexander-Walker: who to start in Week 3
Bam Adebayo plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Nickeil Alexander-Walker 4. For that week alone, start Bam Adebayo: 159.3 projected fantasy points to 133.9 for Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Over the season, Bam Adebayo leads in points leagues (39.8 fantasy points a game to 33.5) and Nickeil Alexander-Walker in 9-cat leagues (29th against 30th). 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, 6:36 AM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
Parlae may earn a commission from price links.
- Points leagues
- #26
- 39.8 FP/G, slot 3.02, $25
- 9-cat leagues
- #30
- +1.7 z, slot 3.06, $25
The pick in points leagues.
- Points leagues
- #63
- 33.5 FP/G, slot 6.03, $16
- 9-cat leagues
- #29
- +1.8 z, slot 3.05, $25
The pick in 9-cat leagues.
The call
Points leagues: Bam Adebayo. 39.8 fantasy points per game against 33.5, 26th on our board to 63rd.
9-cat leagues: Nickeil Alexander-Walker instead, +1.8 in summed z-scores against +1.7 (29th to 30th), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Category by category, Bam Adebayo is ahead in 5 (REB, STL, BLK, FG% and TO) and Nickeil Alexander-Walker in 3 (PTS, 3PM and FT%).
Per 36 minutes, Bam Adebayo produces more: 44.7 fantasy points to 37.3, on 32.1 minutes a night against 32.3. He does it in fewer minutes, so a bigger role would widen the gap.
Bam Adebayo plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Nickeil Alexander-Walker 4. For that week alone, start Bam Adebayo: 159.3 projected fantasy points to 133.9 for Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
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 | Bam Adebayo | Nickeil Alexander-Walker |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 39.8 | 33.5 |
| Minutes | 32.1 | 32.3 |
| PointsPTS | 18.9 | 20.9 |
| ReboundsREB | 9.4 | 3.4 |
| AssistsAST | 3.3 | 3.3 |
| StealsSTL | 1.5 | 1.4 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.7 | 0.4 |
| Threes3PM | 1.4 | 3.4 |
| Field goal %FG% | 45.6% | 45.1% |
| Free throw %FT% | 77.4% | 87.1% |
| TurnoversTO | 1.8 | 2.1 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 73 | 78 |
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 | Bam Adebayo | Nickeil Alexander-Walker |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 44.7 | 37.3 |
| Points | 21.2 | 23.3 |
| Rebounds | 10.5 | 3.8 |
| Assists | 3.7 | 3.7 |
| Steals | 1.7 | 1.6 |
| Blocks | 0.8 | 0.5 |
| Threes | 1.5 | 3.8 |
| Turnovers | 2.1 | 2.3 |
Each per-game number divided by minutes and scaled to 36: the rate a bigger role would carry.
9-category z-scores
| Category | Bam Adebayo | Nickeil Alexander-Walker |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | +0.4 | +0.8 |
| ReboundsREB | +1.5 | -1.1 |
| AssistsAST | -0.3 | -0.2 |
| StealsSTL | +1.2 | +0.9 |
| BlocksBLK | +0.0 | -0.5 |
| Threes3PM | -0.3 | +1.8 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | -0.5 | -0.7 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | -0.5 | +0.9 |
| TurnoversTO | +0.1 | -0.2 |
| Total | +1.7 | +1.8 |
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 Bam Adebayo.
| Punt | Bam Adebayo | Nickeil Alexander-Walker |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | +1.2 (#30) | +0.9 (#35) |
| REB | +0.0 (#62) | +2.9 (#15) |
| AST | +1.9 (#25) | +1.7 (#26) |
| STL | +0.4 (#45) | +0.7 (#42) |
| BLK | +1.5 (#30) | +2.2 (#22) |
| 3PM | +2.0 (#25) | -0.3 (#65) |
| FG% | +2.0 (#32) | +2.7 (#19) |
| FT% | +2.1 (#24) | +0.6 (#43) |
| TO | +1.6 (#39) | +1.9 (#34) |
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 438 ranked players.
Week 3 (Nov 2-8)
- Bam Adebayo: 4 games (Mon @LAL, Wed @LAC, Thu @GSW, Sun @SAC), 1 back-to-back.
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker: 4 games (Mon @IND, Wed @WAS, Fri WAS, Sat BKN), 1 back-to-back.
Recent games
- Bam Adebayo: 37.7 fantasy points a game over his last 7 of 2026-27, against 39.8 on the board.
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker: 32.6 fantasy points a game over his last 8 of 2026-27, against 33.5 on the board.
Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Bam Adebayo playing tonight? · Is Nickeil Alexander-Walker playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Bam Adebayo or Nickeil Alexander-Walker?
Points leagues: Bam Adebayo. 39.8 fantasy points per game against 33.5, 26th on our board to 63rd. 9-cat leagues: Nickeil Alexander-Walker instead, +1.8 in summed z-scores against +1.7 (29th to 30th), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Bam Adebayo or Nickeil Alexander-Walker?
Category by category, Bam Adebayo is ahead in 5 (REB, STL, BLK, FG% and TO) and Nickeil Alexander-Walker in 3 (PTS, 3PM and FT%).
Who should I start in Week 3, Bam Adebayo or Nickeil Alexander-Walker?
Bam Adebayo plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Nickeil Alexander-Walker 4. For that week alone, start Bam Adebayo: 159.3 projected fantasy points to 133.9 for Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Nov 3, 2026 at 6:36 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number