Neemias Queta vs Zach LaVine: who to start in Week 1
Neemias Queta plays 2 games in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), Zach LaVine 3. For that week alone, start Zach LaVine: 82.3 projected fantasy points to 55.0 for Neemias Queta. Over the season, Neemias Queta leads in both formats: 27.5 fantasy points a game to 27.4, and 57th against 128th 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 22, 8:57 AM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
Parlae may earn a commission from price links.
- Points leagues
- #110
- 27.5 FP/G, slot 10.02, $8
- 9-cat leagues
- #57
- +0.0 z, slot 5.09, $16
The pick in points and 9-cat leagues.
- Points leagues
- #111
- 27.4 FP/G, slot 10.03, $8
- 9-cat leagues
- #128
- -2.0 z, slot 11.08, $4
The call
Points leagues: Neemias Queta. 27.5 fantasy points per game against 27.4, 110th on our board to 111th.
9-cat leagues: Neemias Queta again, +0.0 in summed z-scores against -2.0 (57th to 128th).
Category by category, Neemias Queta is ahead in 5 (REB, STL, BLK, FG% and TO) and Zach LaVine in 4 (PTS, AST, 3PM and FT%).
Per 36 minutes, Neemias Queta produces more: 39.4 fantasy points to 31.3, on 25.1 minutes a night against 31.5. He does it in fewer minutes, so a bigger role would widen the gap.
Neemias Queta plays 2 games in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), Zach LaVine 3. For that week alone, start Zach LaVine: 82.3 projected fantasy points to 55.0 for Neemias Queta.
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.
Advertisement
Per game, side by side
| Per game | Neemias Queta | Zach LaVine |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 27.5 | 27.4 |
| Minutes | 25.1 | 31.5 |
| PointsPTS | 9.8 | 19.7 |
| ReboundsREB | 8.1 | 2.8 |
| AssistsAST | 1.7 | 2.4 |
| StealsSTL | 0.8 | 0.7 |
| BlocksBLK | 1.4 | 0.2 |
| Threes3PM | 0.0 | 2.6 |
| Field goal %FG% | 64.4% | 48.3% |
| Free throw %FT% | 69.2% | 84.8% |
| TurnoversTO | 1.0 | 2.0 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 76 | 39 |
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 | Neemias Queta | Zach LaVine |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 39.4 | 31.3 |
| Points | 14.0 | 22.5 |
| Rebounds | 11.6 | 3.2 |
| Assists | 2.4 | 2.7 |
| Steals | 1.2 | 0.8 |
| Blocks | 1.9 | 0.3 |
| Threes | 0.0 | 2.9 |
| Turnovers | 1.4 | 2.3 |
Each per-game number divided by minutes and scaled to 36: the rate a bigger role would carry.
Advertisement
9-category z-scores
| Category | Neemias Queta | Zach LaVine |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | -1.2 | +0.6 |
| ReboundsREB | +1.0 | -1.3 |
| AssistsAST | -1.0 | -0.6 |
| StealsSTL | -0.6 | -1.0 |
| BlocksBLK | +1.4 | -0.9 |
| Threes3PM | -1.6 | +0.9 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | +1.6 | -0.1 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | -0.8 | +0.6 |
| TurnoversTO | +1.1 | -0.2 |
| Total | +0.0 | -2.0 |
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 rebounds, blocks and field goal percentage flips the 9-cat answer to Zach LaVine.
| Punt | Neemias Queta | Zach LaVine |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | +1.2 (#30) | -2.6 (#200) |
| REB | -1.3 (#108) | -0.7 (#76) |
| AST | +1.0 (#33) | -1.6 (#123) |
| STL | +0.6 (#44) | -1.2 (#98) |
| BLK | -1.7 (#118) | -1.1 (#93) |
| 3PM | +1.7 (#29) | -3.1 (#189) |
| FG% | -2.1 (#125) | -1.9 (#119) |
| FT% | +0.8 (#41) | -2.8 (#168) |
| TO | -1.2 (#91) | -1.9 (#106) |
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 391 ranked players.
Week 1 (Oct 19-25)
- Neemias Queta: 2 games (Tue @DET, Fri NYK).
- Zach LaVine: 3 games (Wed @LAC, Fri POR, Sun MEM).
Recent games
- Neemias Queta: 18.8 fantasy points a game over his last 1 of 2026-27, against 27.5 on the board.
- Zach LaVine: 34.8 fantasy points a game over his last 1 of 2026-27, against 27.4 on the board.
Advertisement
Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Neemias Queta playing tonight? · Is Zach LaVine playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Neemias Queta, Zach LaVine
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Neemias Queta or Zach LaVine?
Points leagues: Neemias Queta. 27.5 fantasy points per game against 27.4, 110th on our board to 111th. 9-cat leagues: Neemias Queta again, +0.0 in summed z-scores against -2.0 (57th to 128th).
Who wins more categories, Neemias Queta or Zach LaVine?
Category by category, Neemias Queta is ahead in 5 (REB, STL, BLK, FG% and TO) and Zach LaVine in 4 (PTS, AST, 3PM and FT%).
Who should I start in Week 1, Neemias Queta or Zach LaVine?
Neemias Queta plays 2 games in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), Zach LaVine 3. For that week alone, start Zach LaVine: 82.3 projected fantasy points to 55.0 for Neemias Queta.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 22, 2026 at 8:57 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number