Brandin Podziemski vs Nikola Vučević: who to start in Week 2
Brandin Podziemski plays 4 games in Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1), Nikola Vučević 3. For that week alone, start Brandin Podziemski: 114.1 projected fantasy points to 85.3 for Nikola Vučević. Over the season, Brandin Podziemski leads in points leagues (28.5 fantasy points a game to 28.4) and Nikola Vučević in 9-cat leagues (81st against 87th). 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 27, 2:32 PM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
Parlae may earn a commission from price links.
- Points leagues
- #97
- 28.5 FP/G, slot 9.01, $10
- 9-cat leagues
- #87
- -1.0 z, slot 8.03, $10
The pick in points leagues.
- Points leagues
- #98
- 28.4 FP/G, slot 9.02, $9
- 9-cat leagues
- #81
- -0.9 z, slot 7.09, $10
The pick in 9-cat leagues.
The call
Points leagues: Brandin Podziemski. 28.5 fantasy points per game against 28.4, 97th on our board to 98th.
9-cat leagues: Nikola Vučević instead, -0.9 in summed z-scores against -1.0 (81st to 87th), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Category by category, Brandin Podziemski is ahead in 4 (PTS, AST, STL and 3PM) and Nikola Vučević in 4 (REB, BLK, FG% and TO).
Per 36 minutes, Nikola Vučević produces more: 40.9 fantasy points to 35.4, on 25.0 minutes a night against 29.0. He does it in fewer minutes, so a bigger role would widen the gap.
Brandin Podziemski plays 4 games in Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1), Nikola Vučević 3. For that week alone, start Brandin Podziemski: 114.1 projected fantasy points to 85.3 for Nikola Vučević.
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 | Brandin Podziemski | Nikola Vučević |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 28.5 | 28.4 |
| Minutes | 29.0 | 25.0 |
| PointsPTS | 14.3 | 12.8 |
| ReboundsREB | 5.0 | 7.3 |
| AssistsAST | 3.7 | 3.0 |
| StealsSTL | 1.2 | 0.5 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.2 | 0.6 |
| Threes3PM | 1.9 | 1.4 |
| Field goal %FG% | 45.4% | 48.6% |
| Free throw %FT% | 81.0% | 82.8% |
| TurnoversTO | 1.6 | 1.2 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 82 | 64 |
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 | Brandin Podziemski | Nikola Vučević |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 35.4 | 40.9 |
| Points | 17.8 | 18.5 |
| Rebounds | 6.3 | 10.5 |
| Assists | 4.6 | 4.3 |
| Steals | 1.5 | 0.7 |
| Blocks | 0.3 | 0.9 |
| Threes | 2.4 | 2.0 |
| Turnovers | 2.0 | 1.7 |
Each per-game number divided by minutes and scaled to 36: the rate a bigger role would carry.
Advertisement
9-category z-scores
| Category | Brandin Podziemski | Nikola Vučević |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | -0.4 | -0.6 |
| ReboundsREB | -0.3 | +0.8 |
| AssistsAST | +0.1 | -0.3 |
| StealsSTL | +0.4 | -1.4 |
| BlocksBLK | -0.9 | -0.1 |
| Threes3PM | +0.3 | -0.3 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | -0.6 | +0.0 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | +0.1 | +0.1 |
| TurnoversTO | +0.3 | +0.9 |
| Total | -1.0 | -0.9 |
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, blocks, field goal percentage and turnovers flips the 9-cat answer to Brandin Podziemski.
| Punt | Brandin Podziemski | Nikola Vučević |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | -0.7 (#86) | -0.3 (#70) |
| REB | -0.8 (#84) | -1.7 (#124) |
| AST | -1.2 (#109) | -0.6 (#79) |
| STL | -1.5 (#121) | +0.4 (#50) |
| BLK | -0.2 (#63) | -1.0 (#92) |
| 3PM | -1.4 (#109) | -0.7 (#84) |
| FG% | -0.5 (#74) | -1.1 (#91) |
| FT% | -1.2 (#104) | -1.1 (#100) |
| TO | -1.3 (#92) | -1.9 (#109) |
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 392 ranked players.
Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1)
- Brandin Podziemski: 4 games (Mon @DEN, Wed @MIN, Fri LAL, Sun LAC).
- Nikola Vučević: 3 games (Wed @TOR, Fri @TOR, Sun BOS).
Recent games
- Brandin Podziemski: 34.9 fantasy points a game over his last 2 of 2026-27, against 28.5 on the board.
- Nikola Vučević: 7.7 fantasy points a game over his last 3 of 2026-27, against 28.4 on the board.
Advertisement
Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Brandin Podziemski playing tonight? · Is Nikola Vučević playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Brandin Podziemski
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Brandin Podziemski or Nikola Vučević?
Points leagues: Brandin Podziemski. 28.5 fantasy points per game against 28.4, 97th on our board to 98th. 9-cat leagues: Nikola Vučević instead, -0.9 in summed z-scores against -1.0 (81st to 87th), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Brandin Podziemski or Nikola Vučević?
Category by category, Brandin Podziemski is ahead in 4 (PTS, AST, STL and 3PM) and Nikola Vučević in 4 (REB, BLK, FG% and TO).
Who should I start in Week 2, Brandin Podziemski or Nikola Vučević?
Brandin Podziemski plays 4 games in Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1), Nikola Vučević 3. For that week alone, start Brandin Podziemski: 114.1 projected fantasy points to 85.3 for Nikola Vučević.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 27, 2026 at 2:32 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number