Donovan Clingan vs Nickeil Alexander-Walker: who to start in Week 1
Donovan Clingan plays 2 games in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), Nickeil Alexander-Walker 3. For that week alone, start Nickeil Alexander-Walker: 102.7 projected fantasy points to 67.8 for Donovan Clingan. Over the season, Nickeil Alexander-Walker leads in both formats: 34.2 fantasy points a game to 33.9, and 27th against 31st 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 24, 8:26 AM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
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- Points leagues
- #55
- 33.9 FP/G, slot 5.07, $18
- 9-cat leagues
- #31
- +1.5 z, slot 3.07, $24
- Points leagues
- #54
- 34.2 FP/G, slot 5.06, $18
- 9-cat leagues
- #27
- +2.3 z, slot 3.03, $29
The pick in points and 9-cat leagues.
The call
Points leagues: Nickeil Alexander-Walker. 34.2 fantasy points per game against 33.9, 54th on our board to 55th.
9-cat leagues: Nickeil Alexander-Walker again, +2.3 in summed z-scores against +1.5 (27th to 31st).
Category by category, Donovan Clingan is ahead in 4 (REB, BLK, FG% and TO) and Nickeil Alexander-Walker in 5 (PTS, AST, STL, 3PM and FT%).
Per 36 minutes, Donovan Clingan produces more: 46.2 fantasy points to 37.6, on 26.4 minutes a night against 32.8. He does it in fewer minutes, so a bigger role would widen the gap.
Donovan Clingan plays 2 games in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), Nickeil Alexander-Walker 3. For that week alone, start Nickeil Alexander-Walker: 102.7 projected fantasy points to 67.8 for Donovan Clingan.
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.
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Per game, side by side
| Per game | Donovan Clingan | Nickeil Alexander-Walker |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 33.9 | 34.2 |
| Minutes | 26.4 | 32.8 |
| PointsPTS | 11.8 | 21.0 |
| ReboundsREB | 11.2 | 3.4 |
| AssistsAST | 2.1 | 3.7 |
| StealsSTL | 0.5 | 1.3 |
| BlocksBLK | 1.7 | 0.5 |
| Threes3PM | 1.1 | 3.3 |
| Field goal %FG% | 51.9% | 46.1% |
| Free throw %FT% | 68.6% | 88.2% |
| TurnoversTO | 1.1 | 2.1 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 77 | 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 | Donovan Clingan | Nickeil Alexander-Walker |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 46.2 | 37.6 |
| Points | 16.1 | 23.1 |
| Rebounds | 15.3 | 3.8 |
| Assists | 2.9 | 4.1 |
| Steals | 0.7 | 1.5 |
| Blocks | 2.3 | 0.6 |
| Threes | 1.5 | 3.6 |
| Turnovers | 1.6 | 2.3 |
Each per-game number divided by minutes and scaled to 36: the rate a bigger role would carry.
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9-category z-scores
| Category | Donovan Clingan | Nickeil Alexander-Walker |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | -0.8 | +0.8 |
| ReboundsREB | +2.5 | -1.1 |
| AssistsAST | -0.7 | +0.1 |
| StealsSTL | -1.4 | +0.8 |
| BlocksBLK | +2.0 | -0.3 |
| Threes3PM | -0.6 | +1.7 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | +0.5 | -0.6 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | -0.9 | +1.2 |
| TurnoversTO | +0.9 | -0.3 |
| Total | +1.5 | +2.3 |
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 points, assists, steals, threes and free throw percentage flips the 9-cat answer to Donovan Clingan.
| Punt | Donovan Clingan | Nickeil Alexander-Walker |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | +2.3 (#15) | +1.4 (#29) |
| REB | -1.2 (#106) | +3.5 (#13) |
| AST | +2.2 (#22) | +2.2 (#23) |
| STL | +2.9 (#15) | +1.4 (#29) |
| BLK | -0.9 (#87) | +2.7 (#20) |
| 3PM | +2.1 (#24) | +0.5 (#47) |
| FG% | +0.6 (#50) | +3.4 (#19) |
| FT% | +2.5 (#20) | +1.0 (#39) |
| TO | +0.5 (#52) | +2.6 (#31) |
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 1 (Oct 19-25)
- Donovan Clingan: 2 games (Wed PHX, Fri @SAC).
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker: 3 games (Wed @ORL, Fri @CHA, Sat HOU), 1 back-to-back.
Recent games
- Donovan Clingan: 27.4 fantasy points a game over his last 2 of 2026-27, against 33.9 on the board.
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker: 36.7 fantasy points a game over his last 2 of 2026-27, against 34.2 on the board.
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Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Donovan Clingan playing tonight? · Is Nickeil Alexander-Walker playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Donovan Clingan, Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Donovan Clingan or Nickeil Alexander-Walker?
Points leagues: Nickeil Alexander-Walker. 34.2 fantasy points per game against 33.9, 54th on our board to 55th. 9-cat leagues: Nickeil Alexander-Walker again, +2.3 in summed z-scores against +1.5 (27th to 31st).
Who wins more categories, Donovan Clingan or Nickeil Alexander-Walker?
Category by category, Donovan Clingan is ahead in 4 (REB, BLK, FG% and TO) and Nickeil Alexander-Walker in 5 (PTS, AST, STL, 3PM and FT%).
Who should I start in Week 1, Donovan Clingan or Nickeil Alexander-Walker?
Donovan Clingan plays 2 games in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), Nickeil Alexander-Walker 3. For that week alone, start Nickeil Alexander-Walker: 102.7 projected fantasy points to 67.8 for Donovan Clingan.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 24, 2026 at 8:26 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number