LaMelo Ball vs Zach Edey: who to start in Week 3
LaMelo Ball plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Zach Edey 3. For that week alone, start LaMelo Ball: 141.6 projected fantasy points to 89.2 for Zach Edey. Over the season, LaMelo Ball leads in points leagues (35.4 fantasy points a game to 29.7) and Zach Edey in 9-cat leagues (59th against 60th). 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
- #53
- 35.4 FP/G, slot 5.05, $19
- 9-cat leagues
- #60
- -0.0 z, slot 5.12, $15
The pick in points leagues.
- Points leagues
- #96
- 29.7 FP/G, slot 8.12, $10
- 9-cat leagues
- #59
- +0.1 z, slot 5.11, $16
The pick in 9-cat leagues.
The call
Points leagues: LaMelo Ball. 35.4 fantasy points per game against 29.7, 53rd on our board to 96th.
9-cat leagues: Zach Edey instead, +0.1 in summed z-scores against -0.0 (59th to 60th), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Category by category, LaMelo Ball is ahead in 5 (PTS, AST, STL, 3PM and FT%) and Zach Edey in 4 (REB, BLK, FG% and TO).
Per 36 minutes, LaMelo Ball produces more: 47.0 fantasy points to 44.5, on 27.1 minutes a night against 24.1. He already plays as much or more, so the gap is not a role waiting to grow.
LaMelo Ball plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Zach Edey 3. For that week alone, start LaMelo Ball: 141.6 projected fantasy points to 89.2 for Zach Edey.
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 | LaMelo Ball | Zach Edey |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 35.4 | 29.7 |
| Minutes | 27.1 | 24.1 |
| PointsPTS | 18.3 | 11.6 |
| ReboundsREB | 4.3 | 9.8 |
| AssistsAST | 6.9 | 1.1 |
| StealsSTL | 1.4 | 0.5 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.2 | 1.8 |
| Threes3PM | 3.5 | 0.1 |
| Field goal %FG% | 40.3% | 62.1% |
| Free throw %FT% | 85.2% | 78.4% |
| TurnoversTO | 3.1 | 1.9 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 72 | 11 |
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 | LaMelo Ball | Zach Edey |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 47.0 | 44.5 |
| Points | 24.3 | 17.3 |
| Rebounds | 5.8 | 14.7 |
| Assists | 9.1 | 1.6 |
| Steals | 1.9 | 0.7 |
| Blocks | 0.2 | 2.6 |
| Threes | 4.6 | 0.2 |
| Turnovers | 4.1 | 2.9 |
Each per-game number divided by minutes and scaled to 36: the rate a bigger role would carry.
9-category z-scores
| Category | LaMelo Ball | Zach Edey |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | +0.3 | -0.9 |
| ReboundsREB | -0.6 | +1.7 |
| AssistsAST | +1.6 | -1.4 |
| StealsSTL | +0.9 | -1.5 |
| BlocksBLK | -1.0 | +2.1 |
| Threes3PM | +1.9 | -1.6 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | -1.9 | +1.7 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | +0.4 | -0.1 |
| TurnoversTO | -1.4 | +0.0 |
| Total | -0.0 | +0.1 |
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 rebounds, blocks, field goal percentage and turnovers flips the 9-cat answer to LaMelo Ball.
| Punt | LaMelo Ball | Zach Edey |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | -0.4 (#78) | +1.0 (#31) |
| REB | +0.8 (#39) | -1.9 (#132) |
| AST | -1.7 (#137) | +1.5 (#29) |
| STL | -0.9 (#91) | +1.4 (#31) |
| BLK | +1.1 (#35) | -2.4 (#149) |
| 3PM | -2.0 (#148) | +1.7 (#31) |
| FG% | +2.2 (#26) | -2.0 (#128) |
| FT% | -0.6 (#78) | +0.2 (#49) |
| TO | +1.5 (#39) | -0.2 (#68) |
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)
- LaMelo Ball: 4 games (Mon MIL, Wed @HOU, Fri @NOP, Sun UTA).
- Zach Edey: 3 games (Mon NOP, Wed IND, Fri OKC).
Recent games
- LaMelo Ball: 31.7 fantasy points a game over his last 8 of 2026-27, against 35.4 on the board.
- Zach Edey: 21.1 fantasy points a game over his last 6 of 2026-27, against 29.7 on the board.
Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is LaMelo Ball playing tonight? · Is Zach Edey playing tonight?
Rookie cards: LaMelo Ball, Zach Edey
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, LaMelo Ball or Zach Edey?
Points leagues: LaMelo Ball. 35.4 fantasy points per game against 29.7, 53rd on our board to 96th. 9-cat leagues: Zach Edey instead, +0.1 in summed z-scores against -0.0 (59th to 60th), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Who wins more categories, LaMelo Ball or Zach Edey?
Category by category, LaMelo Ball is ahead in 5 (PTS, AST, STL, 3PM and FT%) and Zach Edey in 4 (REB, BLK, FG% and TO).
Who should I start in Week 3, LaMelo Ball or Zach Edey?
LaMelo Ball plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Zach Edey 3. For that week alone, start LaMelo Ball: 141.6 projected fantasy points to 89.2 for Zach Edey.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Nov 3, 2026 at 12:36 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number