Jalen Suggs vs LaMelo Ball: who to start in Week 3
Jalen Suggs plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), LaMelo Ball 4. For that week alone, start LaMelo Ball: 141.6 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for Jalen Suggs. Over the season, LaMelo Ball leads in both formats: 35.4 fantasy points a game to 30.7, and 60th against 61st 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
- #87
- 30.7 FP/G, slot 8.03, $11
- 9-cat leagues
- #61
- -0.0 z, slot 6.01, $15
Out (Knee)
- Points leagues
- #53
- 35.4 FP/G, slot 5.05, $19
- 9-cat leagues
- #60
- -0.0 z, slot 5.12, $15
The pick in points and 9-cat leagues.
The call
Points leagues: LaMelo Ball. 35.4 fantasy points per game against 30.7, 53rd on our board to 87th.
9-cat leagues: LaMelo Ball again, -0.0 in summed z-scores against -0.0 (60th to 61st).
Category by category, Jalen Suggs is ahead in 4 (STL, BLK, FG% and TO) and LaMelo Ball in 5 (PTS, REB, AST, 3PM and FT%).
Per 36 minutes, LaMelo Ball produces more: 47.0 fantasy points to 38.7, on 27.1 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 3 (Nov 2-8), LaMelo Ball 4. For that week alone, start LaMelo Ball: 141.6 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.
Per game, side by side
| Per game | Jalen Suggs | LaMelo Ball |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 30.7 | 35.4 |
| Minutes | 28.6 | 27.1 |
| PointsPTS | 12.8 | 18.3 |
| ReboundsREB | 4.0 | 4.3 |
| AssistsAST | 5.5 | 6.9 |
| StealsSTL | 1.9 | 1.4 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.6 | 0.2 |
| Threes3PM | 1.8 | 3.5 |
| Field goal %FG% | 42.4% | 40.3% |
| Free throw %FT% | 84.3% | 85.2% |
| TurnoversTO | 2.7 | 3.1 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 57 | 72 |
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 | LaMelo Ball |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 38.7 | 47.0 |
| Points | 16.2 | 24.3 |
| Rebounds | 5.1 | 5.8 |
| Assists | 6.9 | 9.1 |
| Steals | 2.4 | 1.9 |
| Blocks | 0.8 | 0.2 |
| Threes | 2.3 | 4.6 |
| Turnovers | 3.4 | 4.1 |
Each per-game number divided by minutes and scaled to 36: the rate a bigger role would carry.
9-category z-scores
| Category | Jalen Suggs | LaMelo Ball |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | -0.7 | +0.3 |
| ReboundsREB | -0.8 | -0.6 |
| AssistsAST | +0.9 | +1.6 |
| StealsSTL | +2.1 | +0.9 |
| BlocksBLK | -0.1 | -1.0 |
| Threes3PM | +0.2 | +1.9 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | -1.0 | -1.9 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | +0.3 | +0.4 |
| TurnoversTO | -0.9 | -1.4 |
| 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, threes and free throw percentage flips the 9-cat answer to Jalen Suggs.
| Punt | Jalen Suggs | LaMelo Ball |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | +0.5 (#42) | -0.4 (#78) |
| REB | +0.7 (#41) | +0.8 (#39) |
| AST | -1.1 (#100) | -1.7 (#137) |
| STL | -2.2 (#155) | -0.9 (#91) |
| BLK | +0.0 (#61) | +1.1 (#35) |
| 3PM | -0.3 (#66) | -2.0 (#148) |
| FG% | +1.0 (#42) | +2.2 (#26) |
| FT% | -0.4 (#68) | -0.6 (#78) |
| TO | +0.9 (#48) | +1.5 (#39) |
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)
- Jalen Suggs: 3 games (Mon WAS, Thu @PHX, Sat @GSW), 1 back-to-back, listed Out.
- LaMelo Ball: 4 games (Mon MIL, Wed @HOU, Fri @NOP, Sun UTA).
Recent games
- Jalen Suggs: 26.5 fantasy points a game over his last 3 of 2026-27, against 30.7 on the board.
- LaMelo Ball: 31.7 fantasy points a game over his last 8 of 2026-27, against 35.4 on the board.
Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Jalen Suggs playing tonight? · Is LaMelo Ball playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Jalen Suggs, LaMelo Ball
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Jalen Suggs or LaMelo Ball?
Points leagues: LaMelo Ball. 35.4 fantasy points per game against 30.7, 53rd on our board to 87th. 9-cat leagues: LaMelo Ball again, -0.0 in summed z-scores against -0.0 (60th to 61st).
Who wins more categories, Jalen Suggs or LaMelo Ball?
Category by category, Jalen Suggs is ahead in 4 (STL, BLK, FG% and TO) and LaMelo Ball in 5 (PTS, REB, AST, 3PM and FT%).
Who should I start in Week 3, Jalen Suggs or LaMelo Ball?
Jalen Suggs plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), LaMelo Ball 4. For that week alone, start LaMelo Ball: 141.6 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for Jalen Suggs.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Nov 3, 2026 at 12:36 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number