Jalen Suggs vs Kel'el Ware: who to start in Week 2
Jalen Suggs plays 3 games in Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1), Kel'el Ware 3. For that week alone, start Kel'el Ware: 82.4 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for Jalen Suggs. Over the season, Jalen Suggs leads in both formats: 30.7 fantasy points a game to 27.5, and 58th against 59th 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, 8:32 PM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
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- Points leagues
- #77
- 30.7 FP/G, slot 7.05, $13
- 9-cat leagues
- #58
- +0.0 z, slot 5.10, $16
Out (Knee)
The pick in points and 9-cat leagues.
- Points leagues
- #107
- 27.5 FP/G, slot 9.11, $8
- 9-cat leagues
- #59
- -0.0 z, slot 5.11, $15
The call
Points leagues: Jalen Suggs. 30.7 fantasy points per game against 27.5, 77th on our board to 107th.
9-cat leagues: Jalen Suggs again, +0.0 in summed z-scores against -0.0 (58th to 59th).
Category by category, Jalen Suggs is ahead in 5 (PTS, AST, STL, 3PM and FT%) and Kel'el Ware in 4 (REB, BLK, FG% and TO).
Per 36 minutes, Kel'el Ware produces more: 45.9 fantasy points to 38.7, on 21.5 minutes a night against 28.6. He does it in fewer minutes, so a bigger role would widen the gap.
Jalen Suggs plays 3 games in Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1), Kel'el Ware 3. For that week alone, start Kel'el Ware: 82.4 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for Jalen Suggs.
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 | Jalen Suggs | Kel'el Ware |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 30.7 | 27.5 |
| Minutes | 28.6 | 21.5 |
| PointsPTS | 12.8 | 11.5 |
| ReboundsREB | 4.0 | 8.9 |
| AssistsAST | 5.5 | 0.7 |
| StealsSTL | 1.9 | 0.8 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.6 | 1.0 |
| Threes3PM | 1.8 | 1.1 |
| Field goal %FG% | 42.4% | 53.9% |
| Free throw %FT% | 84.3% | 71.1% |
| TurnoversTO | 2.7 | 1.0 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 57 | 77 |
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 | Jalen Suggs | Kel'el Ware |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 38.7 | 45.9 |
| Points | 16.2 | 19.3 |
| Rebounds | 5.1 | 14.9 |
| Assists | 6.9 | 1.1 |
| Steals | 2.4 | 1.3 |
| Blocks | 0.8 | 1.6 |
| Threes | 2.3 | 1.8 |
| Turnovers | 3.4 | 1.6 |
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 | Jalen Suggs | Kel'el Ware |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | -0.6 | -0.9 |
| ReboundsREB | -0.7 | +1.5 |
| AssistsAST | +1.0 | -1.5 |
| StealsSTL | +2.2 | -0.7 |
| BlocksBLK | -0.1 | +0.6 |
| Threes3PM | +0.2 | -0.6 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | -1.2 | +0.8 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | +0.3 | -0.5 |
| TurnoversTO | -1.0 | +1.2 |
| Total | +0.0 | -0.0 |
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 Kel'el Ware.
| Punt | Jalen Suggs | Kel'el Ware |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | +0.6 (#45) | +0.7 (#41) |
| REB | +0.8 (#39) | -1.7 (#122) |
| AST | -1.0 (#98) | +1.4 (#28) |
| STL | -2.3 (#152) | +0.6 (#41) |
| BLK | +0.1 (#57) | -0.9 (#89) |
| 3PM | -0.3 (#70) | +0.5 (#46) |
| FG% | +1.2 (#36) | -1.1 (#92) |
| FT% | -0.3 (#68) | +0.4 (#52) |
| TO | +1.0 (#42) | -1.3 (#90) |
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)
- Jalen Suggs: 3 games (Wed @TOR, Fri @TOR, Sun BOS), listed Out.
- Kel'el Ware: 3 games (Mon IND, Wed HOU, Sat CLE).
Recent games
- Jalen Suggs: 26.5 fantasy points a game over his last 3 of 2026-27, against 30.7 on the board.
- Kel'el Ware: 26.4 fantasy points a game over his last 4 of 2026-27, against 27.5 on the board.
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Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Jalen Suggs playing tonight? · Is Kel'el Ware playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Jalen Suggs, Kel'el Ware
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Jalen Suggs or Kel'el Ware?
Points leagues: Jalen Suggs. 30.7 fantasy points per game against 27.5, 77th on our board to 107th. 9-cat leagues: Jalen Suggs again, +0.0 in summed z-scores against -0.0 (58th to 59th).
Who wins more categories, Jalen Suggs or Kel'el Ware?
Category by category, Jalen Suggs is ahead in 5 (PTS, AST, STL, 3PM and FT%) and Kel'el Ware in 4 (REB, BLK, FG% and TO).
Who should I start in Week 2, Jalen Suggs or Kel'el Ware?
Jalen Suggs plays 3 games in Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1), Kel'el Ware 3. For that week alone, start Kel'el Ware: 82.4 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for Jalen Suggs.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 27, 2026 at 8:32 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number