Brandin Podziemski vs Saddiq Bey: who to start in Week 2
Brandin Podziemski plays 4 games in Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1), Saddiq Bey 3. For that week alone, start Brandin Podziemski: 114.1 projected fantasy points to 87.1 for Saddiq Bey. Over the season, Saddiq Bey leads in both formats: 29.0 fantasy points a game to 28.5, and 78th against 87th 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 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
- Points leagues
- #95
- 29.0 FP/G, slot 8.11, $10
- 9-cat leagues
- #78
- -0.8 z, slot 7.06, $11
The pick in points and 9-cat leagues.
The call
Points leagues: Saddiq Bey. 29.0 fantasy points per game against 28.5, 95th on our board to 97th.
9-cat leagues: Saddiq Bey again, -0.8 in summed z-scores against -1.0 (78th to 87th).
Category by category, Brandin Podziemski is ahead in 3 (AST, STL and BLK) and Saddiq Bey in 5 (PTS, REB, 3PM, FT% and TO).
Per 36 minutes, Brandin Podziemski produces more: 35.4 fantasy points to 34.9, on 29.0 minutes a night against 29.9. 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), Saddiq Bey 3. For that week alone, start Brandin Podziemski: 114.1 projected fantasy points to 87.1 for Saddiq Bey.
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 | Saddiq Bey |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 28.5 | 29.0 |
| Minutes | 29.0 | 29.9 |
| PointsPTS | 14.3 | 17.3 |
| ReboundsREB | 5.0 | 5.3 |
| AssistsAST | 3.7 | 2.3 |
| StealsSTL | 1.2 | 0.8 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.2 | 0.1 |
| Threes3PM | 1.9 | 2.1 |
| Field goal %FG% | 45.4% | 45.7% |
| Free throw %FT% | 81.0% | 83.9% |
| TurnoversTO | 1.6 | 1.1 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 82 | 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 | Brandin Podziemski | Saddiq Bey |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 35.4 | 34.9 |
| Points | 17.8 | 20.8 |
| Rebounds | 6.3 | 6.4 |
| Assists | 4.6 | 2.8 |
| Steals | 1.5 | 1.0 |
| Blocks | 0.3 | 0.2 |
| Threes | 2.4 | 2.6 |
| Turnovers | 2.0 | 1.3 |
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 | Saddiq Bey |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | -0.4 | +0.2 |
| ReboundsREB | -0.3 | -0.2 |
| AssistsAST | +0.1 | -0.6 |
| StealsSTL | +0.4 | -0.5 |
| BlocksBLK | -0.9 | -1.1 |
| Threes3PM | +0.3 | +0.5 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | -0.6 | -0.6 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | +0.1 | +0.6 |
| TurnoversTO | +0.3 | +1.0 |
| Total | -1.0 | -0.8 |
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, threes, free throw percentage and turnovers flips the 9-cat answer to Brandin Podziemski.
| Punt | Brandin Podziemski | Saddiq Bey |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | -0.7 (#86) | -1.1 (#107) |
| REB | -0.8 (#84) | -0.7 (#82) |
| AST | -1.2 (#109) | -0.3 (#59) |
| STL | -1.5 (#121) | -0.4 (#70) |
| BLK | -0.2 (#63) | +0.2 (#53) |
| 3PM | -1.4 (#109) | -1.4 (#113) |
| FG% | -0.5 (#74) | -0.2 (#70) |
| FT% | -1.2 (#104) | -1.5 (#117) |
| TO | -1.3 (#92) | -1.8 (#108) |
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).
- Saddiq Bey: 3 games (Wed DEN, Thu SAC, Sat ATL), 1 back-to-back.
Recent games
- Brandin Podziemski: 34.9 fantasy points a game over his last 2 of 2026-27, against 28.5 on the board.
- Saddiq Bey: 22.8 fantasy points a game over his last 3 of 2026-27, against 29.0 on the board.
Advertisement
Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Brandin Podziemski playing tonight? · Is Saddiq Bey playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Brandin Podziemski
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Brandin Podziemski or Saddiq Bey?
Points leagues: Saddiq Bey. 29.0 fantasy points per game against 28.5, 95th on our board to 97th. 9-cat leagues: Saddiq Bey again, -0.8 in summed z-scores against -1.0 (78th to 87th).
Who wins more categories, Brandin Podziemski or Saddiq Bey?
Category by category, Brandin Podziemski is ahead in 3 (AST, STL and BLK) and Saddiq Bey in 5 (PTS, REB, 3PM, FT% and TO).
Who should I start in Week 2, Brandin Podziemski or Saddiq Bey?
Brandin Podziemski plays 4 games in Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1), Saddiq Bey 3. For that week alone, start Brandin Podziemski: 114.1 projected fantasy points to 87.1 for Saddiq Bey.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 27, 2026 at 2:32 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number