Jaden McDaniels vs Santi Aldama: who to start in Week 3
Jaden McDaniels plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Santi Aldama 4. For that week alone, start Jaden McDaniels: 120.3 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for Santi Aldama. Over the season, Jaden McDaniels leads in both formats: 30.1 fantasy points a game to 29.9, and 49th against 105th 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, 12:36 AM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
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- Points leagues
- #93
- 30.1 FP/G, slot 8.09, $10
- 9-cat leagues
- #49
- +0.4 z, slot 5.01, $18
The pick in points and 9-cat leagues.
- Points leagues
- #95
- 29.9 FP/G, slot 8.11, $10
- 9-cat leagues
- #105
- -1.4 z, slot 9.09, $7
Out (Knee)
The call
Points leagues: Jaden McDaniels. 30.1 fantasy points per game against 29.9, 93rd on our board to 95th.
9-cat leagues: Jaden McDaniels again, +0.4 in summed z-scores against -1.4 (49th to 105th).
Category by category, Jaden McDaniels is ahead in 5 (PTS, STL, BLK, FG% and FT%) and Santi Aldama in 3 (REB, 3PM and TO).
Per 36 minutes, Santi Aldama produces more: 38.6 fantasy points to 33.6, on 27.9 minutes a night against 32.2. He does it in fewer minutes, so a bigger role would widen the gap.
Jaden McDaniels plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Santi Aldama 4. For that week alone, start Jaden McDaniels: 120.3 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for Santi Aldama.
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 | Jaden McDaniels | Santi Aldama |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 30.1 | 29.9 |
| Minutes | 32.2 | 27.9 |
| PointsPTS | 15.6 | 14.0 |
| ReboundsREB | 4.8 | 6.7 |
| AssistsAST | 3.0 | 2.9 |
| StealsSTL | 1.0 | 0.9 |
| BlocksBLK | 1.0 | 0.7 |
| Threes3PM | 1.4 | 1.6 |
| Field goal %FG% | 52.9% | 47.9% |
| Free throw %FT% | 82.4% | 66.7% |
| TurnoversTO | 1.8 | 1.3 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 73 | 43 |
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 | Jaden McDaniels | Santi Aldama |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 33.6 | 38.6 |
| Points | 17.5 | 18.1 |
| Rebounds | 5.4 | 8.6 |
| Assists | 3.3 | 3.8 |
| Steals | 1.1 | 1.1 |
| Blocks | 1.1 | 0.9 |
| Threes | 1.6 | 2.1 |
| Turnovers | 2.0 | 1.7 |
Each per-game number divided by minutes and scaled to 36: the rate a bigger role would carry.
9-category z-scores
| Category | Jaden McDaniels | Santi Aldama |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | -0.2 | -0.5 |
| ReboundsREB | -0.4 | +0.4 |
| AssistsAST | -0.4 | -0.4 |
| StealsSTL | -0.1 | -0.5 |
| BlocksBLK | +0.5 | +0.1 |
| Threes3PM | -0.3 | -0.1 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | +0.9 | -0.0 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | +0.1 | -1.1 |
| TurnoversTO | +0.2 | +0.8 |
| Total | +0.4 | -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
No punt changes the answer: Jaden McDaniels stays ahead whichever category you give up.
| Punt | Jaden McDaniels | Santi Aldama |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | +0.6 (#40) | -1.0 (#106) |
| REB | +0.8 (#37) | -1.9 (#134) |
| AST | +0.7 (#37) | -1.1 (#101) |
| STL | +0.4 (#46) | -1.0 (#94) |
| BLK | -0.2 (#73) | -1.7 (#122) |
| 3PM | +0.6 (#44) | -1.3 (#109) |
| FG% | -0.6 (#78) | -1.7 (#117) |
| FT% | +0.2 (#51) | -0.3 (#63) |
| TO | +0.1 (#64) | -2.3 (#121) |
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 432 ranked players.
Week 3 (Nov 2-8)
- Jaden McDaniels: 4 games (Mon MIL, Wed @HOU, Fri @NOP, Sun UTA).
- Santi Aldama: 4 games (Mon SAC, Wed @SAS, Fri UTA, Sun BKN), listed Out.
Recent games
- Jaden McDaniels: 31.9 fantasy points a game over his last 8 of 2026-27, against 30.1 on the board.
- Santi Aldama: 27.8 fantasy points a game over his last 10 of 2025-26, against 29.9 on the board.
Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Jaden McDaniels playing tonight? · Is Santi Aldama playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Santi Aldama
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Jaden McDaniels or Santi Aldama?
Points leagues: Jaden McDaniels. 30.1 fantasy points per game against 29.9, 93rd on our board to 95th. 9-cat leagues: Jaden McDaniels again, +0.4 in summed z-scores against -1.4 (49th to 105th).
Who wins more categories, Jaden McDaniels or Santi Aldama?
Category by category, Jaden McDaniels is ahead in 5 (PTS, STL, BLK, FG% and FT%) and Santi Aldama in 3 (REB, 3PM and TO).
Who should I start in Week 3, Jaden McDaniels or Santi Aldama?
Jaden McDaniels plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Santi Aldama 4. For that week alone, start Jaden McDaniels: 120.3 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for Santi Aldama.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Nov 3, 2026 at 12:36 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number