Giannis Antetokounmpo vs Jaden McDaniels: who to start in Week 2
Giannis Antetokounmpo plays 3 games in Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1), Jaden McDaniels 4. For that week alone, start Giannis Antetokounmpo: 145.0 projected fantasy points to 117.1 for Jaden McDaniels. Over the season, Giannis Antetokounmpo leads in points leagues (48.3 fantasy points a game to 29.3) and Jaden McDaniels in 9-cat leagues (40th against 42nd). 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 26, 6:30 PM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
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- Points leagues
- #7
- 48.3 FP/G, slot 1.07, $40
- 9-cat leagues
- #42
- +0.5 z, slot 4.06, $18
The pick in points leagues.
- Points leagues
- #89
- 29.3 FP/G, slot 8.05, $11
- 9-cat leagues
- #40
- +0.8 z, slot 4.04, $20
The pick in 9-cat leagues.
The call
Points leagues: Giannis Antetokounmpo. 48.3 fantasy points per game against 29.3, 7th on our board to 89th.
9-cat leagues: Jaden McDaniels instead, +0.8 in summed z-scores against +0.5 (40th to 42nd), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Category by category, Giannis Antetokounmpo is ahead in 4 (PTS, REB, AST and FG%) and Jaden McDaniels in 5 (STL, BLK, 3PM, FT% and TO).
Per 36 minutes, Giannis Antetokounmpo produces more: 60.1 fantasy points to 33.5, on 28.9 minutes a night against 31.4. He does it in fewer minutes, so a bigger role would widen the gap.
Giannis Antetokounmpo plays 3 games in Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1), Jaden McDaniels 4. For that week alone, start Giannis Antetokounmpo: 145.0 projected fantasy points to 117.1 for Jaden McDaniels.
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 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Jaden McDaniels |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 48.3 | 29.3 |
| Minutes | 28.9 | 31.4 |
| PointsPTS | 27.7 | 14.9 |
| ReboundsREB | 9.5 | 4.7 |
| AssistsAST | 5.0 | 2.7 |
| StealsSTL | 1.0 | 1.1 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.6 | 1.1 |
| Threes3PM | 0.4 | 1.4 |
| Field goal %FG% | 61.4% | 52.5% |
| Free throw %FT% | 65.3% | 84.4% |
| TurnoversTO | 3.2 | 1.8 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 36 | 73 |
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 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Jaden McDaniels |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 60.1 | 33.5 |
| Points | 34.5 | 17.1 |
| Rebounds | 11.8 | 5.3 |
| Assists | 6.3 | 3.0 |
| Steals | 1.3 | 1.2 |
| Blocks | 0.8 | 1.3 |
| Threes | 0.5 | 1.6 |
| Turnovers | 3.9 | 2.1 |
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 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Jaden McDaniels |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | +2.0 | -0.3 |
| ReboundsREB | +1.7 | -0.5 |
| AssistsAST | +0.7 | -0.5 |
| StealsSTL | -0.1 | +0.1 |
| BlocksBLK | -0.1 | +0.9 |
| Threes3PM | -1.3 | -0.3 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | +3.8 | +0.8 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | -4.5 | +0.3 |
| TurnoversTO | -1.6 | +0.1 |
| Total | +0.5 | +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 steals, blocks, threes, free throw percentage and turnovers flips the 9-cat answer to Giannis Antetokounmpo.
| Punt | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Jaden McDaniels |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | -1.6 (#146) | +0.9 (#33) |
| REB | -2.0 (#140) | +1.2 (#33) |
| AST | -0.4 (#70) | +1.1 (#38) |
| STL | +0.5 (#42) | +0.5 (#44) |
| BLK | +0.3 (#50) | -0.2 (#63) |
| 3PM | +1.8 (#27) | +0.8 (#40) |
| FG% | -4.9 (#244) | -0.1 (#66) |
| FT% | +4.9 (#6) | +0.3 (#52) |
| TO | +2.2 (#33) | +0.6 (#50) |
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)
- Giannis Antetokounmpo: 3 games (Mon DAL, Wed @ATL, Fri IND).
- Jaden McDaniels: 4 games (Mon @CLE, Wed GSW, Fri LAC, Sat @SAS), 2 back-to-backs.
Recent games
- Giannis Antetokounmpo: 44.4 fantasy points a game over his last 3 of 2026-27, against 48.3 on the board.
- Jaden McDaniels: 32.8 fantasy points a game over his last 3 of 2026-27, against 29.3 on the board.
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Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Giannis Antetokounmpo playing tonight? · Is Jaden McDaniels playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Giannis Antetokounmpo or Jaden McDaniels?
Points leagues: Giannis Antetokounmpo. 48.3 fantasy points per game against 29.3, 7th on our board to 89th. 9-cat leagues: Jaden McDaniels instead, +0.8 in summed z-scores against +0.5 (40th to 42nd), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Giannis Antetokounmpo or Jaden McDaniels?
Category by category, Giannis Antetokounmpo is ahead in 4 (PTS, REB, AST and FG%) and Jaden McDaniels in 5 (STL, BLK, 3PM, FT% and TO).
Who should I start in Week 2, Giannis Antetokounmpo or Jaden McDaniels?
Giannis Antetokounmpo plays 3 games in Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1), Jaden McDaniels 4. For that week alone, start Giannis Antetokounmpo: 145.0 projected fantasy points to 117.1 for Jaden McDaniels.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 26, 2026 at 6:30 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number