Caleb Wilson vs Joel Embiid: who to start in Week 3
Caleb Wilson plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Joel Embiid 4. For that week alone, start Joel Embiid: 170.4 projected fantasy points to 122.5 for Caleb Wilson. Over the season, Joel Embiid leads in both formats: 42.6 fantasy points a game to 40.8, and 33rd against 34th 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, 2:36 AM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
Parlae may earn a commission from price links.
- Points leagues
- #24
- 40.8 FP/G, slot 2.12, $27
- 9-cat leagues
- #34
- +1.3 z, slot 3.10, $23
- Points leagues
- #17
- 42.6 FP/G, slot 2.05, $29
- 9-cat leagues
- #33
- +1.4 z, slot 3.09, $23
The pick in points and 9-cat leagues.
The call
Points leagues: Joel Embiid. 42.6 fantasy points per game against 40.8, 17th on our board to 24th.
9-cat leagues: Joel Embiid again, +1.4 in summed z-scores against +1.3 (33rd to 34th).
Category by category, Caleb Wilson is ahead in 4 (STL, BLK, 3PM and TO) and Joel Embiid in 5 (PTS, REB, AST, FG% and FT%).
Per 36 minutes, Joel Embiid produces more: 47.8 fantasy points to 43.1, on 32.1 minutes a night against 34.1. He does it in fewer minutes, so a bigger role would widen the gap.
Caleb Wilson plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Joel Embiid 4. For that week alone, start Joel Embiid: 170.4 projected fantasy points to 122.5 for Caleb Wilson.
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 | Caleb Wilson | Joel Embiid |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 40.8 | 42.6 |
| Minutes | 34.1 | 32.1 |
| PointsPTS | 21.6 | 24.5 |
| ReboundsREB | 6.7 | 8.1 |
| AssistsAST | 2.7 | 4.2 |
| StealsSTL | 2.0 | 0.6 |
| BlocksBLK | 1.3 | 1.1 |
| Threes3PM | 2.6 | 1.1 |
| Field goal %FG% | 43.2% | 46.9% |
| Free throw %FT% | 69.4% | 85.3% |
| TurnoversTO | 2.7 | 3.0 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 0 | 38 |
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 | Caleb Wilson | Joel Embiid |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 43.1 | 47.8 |
| Points | 22.7 | 27.5 |
| Rebounds | 7.1 | 9.1 |
| Assists | 2.9 | 4.7 |
| Steals | 2.1 | 0.7 |
| Blocks | 1.4 | 1.2 |
| Threes | 2.7 | 1.3 |
| Turnovers | 2.9 | 3.4 |
Each per-game number divided by minutes and scaled to 36: the rate a bigger role would carry.
9-category z-scores
| Category | Caleb Wilson | Joel Embiid |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | +0.9 | +1.4 |
| ReboundsREB | +0.4 | +1.0 |
| AssistsAST | -0.5 | +0.2 |
| StealsSTL | +2.5 | -1.3 |
| BlocksBLK | +1.2 | +0.9 |
| Threes3PM | +0.9 | -0.6 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | -1.3 | -0.3 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | -1.7 | +1.4 |
| TurnoversTO | -0.9 | -1.3 |
| Total | +1.3 | +1.4 |
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, rebounds, assists, field goal percentage and free throw percentage flips the 9-cat answer to Caleb Wilson.
| Punt | Caleb Wilson | Joel Embiid |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | +0.2 (#53) | +0.0 (#59) |
| REB | +0.7 (#36) | +0.3 (#53) |
| AST | +1.5 (#28) | +1.2 (#33) |
| STL | -1.3 (#109) | +2.6 (#16) |
| BLK | -0.0 (#63) | +0.3 (#48) |
| 3PM | +0.2 (#48) | +1.8 (#26) |
| FG% | +2.2 (#27) | +1.6 (#35) |
| FT% | +2.8 (#16) | -0.1 (#60) |
| TO | +2.3 (#30) | +2.7 (#24) |
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)
- Caleb Wilson: 3 games (Mon @PHI, Wed @NYK, Sun PHI).
- Joel Embiid: 4 games (Mon CHI, Wed @DET, Fri @CLE, Sun @CHI).
Recent games
- Caleb Wilson: 40.8 fantasy points a game over his last 7 of 2026-27, against 40.8 on the board.
- Joel Embiid: 37.9 fantasy points a game over his last 6 of 2026-27, against 42.6 on the board.
Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Caleb Wilson playing tonight? · Is Joel Embiid playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Caleb Wilson, Joel Embiid
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Caleb Wilson or Joel Embiid?
Points leagues: Joel Embiid. 42.6 fantasy points per game against 40.8, 17th on our board to 24th. 9-cat leagues: Joel Embiid again, +1.4 in summed z-scores against +1.3 (33rd to 34th).
Who wins more categories, Caleb Wilson or Joel Embiid?
Category by category, Caleb Wilson is ahead in 4 (STL, BLK, 3PM and TO) and Joel Embiid in 5 (PTS, REB, AST, FG% and FT%).
Who should I start in Week 3, Caleb Wilson or Joel Embiid?
Caleb Wilson plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Joel Embiid 4. For that week alone, start Joel Embiid: 170.4 projected fantasy points to 122.5 for Caleb Wilson.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Nov 3, 2026 at 2:36 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number