Matas Buzelis vs Santi Aldama: who to start in Week 2
Matas Buzelis plays 3 games in Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1), Santi Aldama 3. For that week alone, start Matas Buzelis: 87.7 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for Santi Aldama. Over the season, Santi Aldama leads in points leagues (29.9 fantasy points a game to 29.2) and Matas Buzelis in 9-cat leagues (96th against 97th). 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, 6:32 PM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
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- Points leagues
- #92
- 29.2 FP/G, slot 8.08, $11
- 9-cat leagues
- #96
- -1.2 z, slot 8.12, $9
The pick in 9-cat leagues.
- Points leagues
- #83
- 29.9 FP/G, slot 7.11, $12
- 9-cat leagues
- #97
- -1.2 z, slot 9.01, $9
Out (Knee)
The pick in points leagues.
The call
Points leagues: Santi Aldama. 29.9 fantasy points per game against 29.2, 83rd on our board to 92nd.
9-cat leagues: Matas Buzelis instead, -1.2 in summed z-scores against -1.2 (96th to 97th), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Category by category, Matas Buzelis is ahead in 4 (PTS, BLK, 3PM and FT%) and Santi Aldama in 5 (REB, AST, STL, FG% and TO).
Per 36 minutes, Santi Aldama produces more: 38.6 fantasy points to 37.3, on 27.9 minutes a night against 28.3. He does it in fewer minutes, so a bigger role would widen the gap.
Matas Buzelis plays 3 games in Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1), Santi Aldama 3. For that week alone, start Matas Buzelis: 87.7 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.
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Per game, side by side
| Per game | Matas Buzelis | Santi Aldama |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 29.2 | 29.9 |
| Minutes | 28.3 | 27.9 |
| PointsPTS | 15.8 | 14.0 |
| ReboundsREB | 5.5 | 6.7 |
| AssistsAST | 2.0 | 2.9 |
| StealsSTL | 0.7 | 0.9 |
| BlocksBLK | 1.3 | 0.7 |
| Threes3PM | 2.0 | 1.6 |
| Field goal %FG% | 45.1% | 47.9% |
| Free throw %FT% | 80.2% | 66.7% |
| TurnoversTO | 2.2 | 1.3 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 77 | 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 | Matas Buzelis | Santi Aldama |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 37.3 | 38.6 |
| Points | 20.1 | 18.1 |
| Rebounds | 7.0 | 8.6 |
| Assists | 2.5 | 3.8 |
| Steals | 0.9 | 1.1 |
| Blocks | 1.7 | 0.9 |
| Threes | 2.5 | 2.1 |
| Turnovers | 2.7 | 1.7 |
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 | Matas Buzelis | Santi Aldama |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | -0.1 | -0.4 |
| ReboundsREB | -0.1 | +0.5 |
| AssistsAST | -0.8 | -0.3 |
| StealsSTL | -1.0 | -0.5 |
| BlocksBLK | +1.4 | +0.1 |
| Threes3PM | +0.3 | -0.0 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | -0.7 | -0.1 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | +0.1 | -1.1 |
| TurnoversTO | -0.3 | +0.7 |
| Total | -1.2 | -1.2 |
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, blocks, threes and free throw percentage flips the 9-cat answer to Santi Aldama.
| Punt | Matas Buzelis | Santi Aldama |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | -1.1 (#111) | -0.8 (#92) |
| REB | -1.3 (#105) | -1.9 (#128) |
| AST | -0.4 (#69) | -0.9 (#85) |
| STL | -0.3 (#66) | -0.8 (#85) |
| BLK | -2.8 (#161) | -1.5 (#113) |
| 3PM | -1.6 (#118) | -1.1 (#95) |
| FG% | -0.6 (#76) | -1.4 (#104) |
| FT% | -1.3 (#107) | -0.1 (#61) |
| TO | -0.9 (#77) | -1.9 (#111) |
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)
- Matas Buzelis: 3 games (Mon @BOS, Wed NYK, Fri @BOS).
- Santi Aldama: 3 games (Mon @MIA, Wed OKC, Fri HOU), listed Out.
Recent games
- Matas Buzelis: 23.0 fantasy points a game over his last 4 of 2026-27, against 29.2 on the board.
- Santi Aldama: 27.8 fantasy points a game over his last 10 of 2025-26, against 29.9 on the board.
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Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Matas Buzelis playing tonight? · Is Santi Aldama playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Matas Buzelis, Santi Aldama
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Matas Buzelis or Santi Aldama?
Points leagues: Santi Aldama. 29.9 fantasy points per game against 29.2, 83rd on our board to 92nd. 9-cat leagues: Matas Buzelis instead, -1.2 in summed z-scores against -1.2 (96th to 97th), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Matas Buzelis or Santi Aldama?
Category by category, Matas Buzelis is ahead in 4 (PTS, BLK, 3PM and FT%) and Santi Aldama in 5 (REB, AST, STL, FG% and TO).
Who should I start in Week 2, Matas Buzelis or Santi Aldama?
Matas Buzelis plays 3 games in Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1), Santi Aldama 3. For that week alone, start Matas Buzelis: 87.7 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for Santi Aldama.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 27, 2026 at 6:32 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number