Nickeil Alexander-Walker vs RJ Barrett: who to start in Week 3
Nickeil Alexander-Walker plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), RJ Barrett 3. For that week alone, start Nickeil Alexander-Walker: 133.9 projected fantasy points to 99.7 for RJ Barrett. Over the season, Nickeil Alexander-Walker leads in both formats: 33.5 fantasy points a game to 33.2, and 29th against 161st 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, 6:36 AM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
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- Points leagues
- #63
- 33.5 FP/G, slot 6.03, $16
- 9-cat leagues
- #29
- +1.8 z, slot 3.05, $25
The pick in points and 9-cat leagues.
- Points leagues
- #66
- 33.2 FP/G, slot 6.06, $15
- 9-cat leagues
- #161
- -2.7 z, slot 14.05
The call
Points leagues: Nickeil Alexander-Walker. 33.5 fantasy points per game against 33.2, 63rd on our board to 66th.
9-cat leagues: Nickeil Alexander-Walker again, +1.8 in summed z-scores against -2.7 (29th to 161st).
Category by category, Nickeil Alexander-Walker is ahead in 5 (PTS, STL, BLK, 3PM and FT%) and RJ Barrett in 4 (REB, AST, FG% and TO).
Per 36 minutes, RJ Barrett produces more: 38.6 fantasy points to 37.3, on 31.0 minutes a night against 32.3. He does it in fewer minutes, so a bigger role would widen the gap.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), RJ Barrett 3. For that week alone, start Nickeil Alexander-Walker: 133.9 projected fantasy points to 99.7 for RJ Barrett.
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 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker | RJ Barrett |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 33.5 | 33.2 |
| Minutes | 32.3 | 31.0 |
| PointsPTS | 20.9 | 19.7 |
| ReboundsREB | 3.4 | 5.5 |
| AssistsAST | 3.3 | 3.5 |
| StealsSTL | 1.4 | 0.7 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Threes3PM | 3.4 | 1.6 |
| Field goal %FG% | 45.1% | 49.1% |
| Free throw %FT% | 87.1% | 67.6% |
| TurnoversTO | 2.1 | 1.7 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 78 | 57 |
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 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker | RJ Barrett |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 37.3 | 38.6 |
| Points | 23.3 | 22.9 |
| Rebounds | 3.8 | 6.4 |
| Assists | 3.7 | 4.1 |
| Steals | 1.6 | 0.8 |
| Blocks | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Threes | 3.8 | 1.9 |
| Turnovers | 2.3 | 2.0 |
Each per-game number divided by minutes and scaled to 36: the rate a bigger role would carry.
9-category z-scores
| Category | Nickeil Alexander-Walker | RJ Barrett |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | +0.8 | +0.6 |
| ReboundsREB | -1.1 | -0.1 |
| AssistsAST | -0.2 | -0.1 |
| StealsSTL | +0.9 | -1.0 |
| BlocksBLK | -0.5 | -0.5 |
| Threes3PM | +1.8 | -0.0 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | -0.7 | +0.3 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | +0.9 | -1.9 |
| TurnoversTO | -0.2 | +0.3 |
| Total | +1.8 | -2.7 |
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
No punt changes the answer: Nickeil Alexander-Walker stays ahead whichever category you give up.
| Punt | Nickeil Alexander-Walker | RJ Barrett |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | +0.9 (#35) | -3.3 (#244) |
| REB | +2.9 (#15) | -2.8 (#185) |
| AST | +1.7 (#26) | -2.7 (#190) |
| STL | +0.7 (#42) | -1.9 (#141) |
| BLK | +2.2 (#22) | -2.3 (#146) |
| 3PM | -0.3 (#65) | -2.7 (#176) |
| FG% | +2.7 (#19) | -3.6 (#191) |
| FT% | +0.6 (#43) | -0.8 (#87) |
| TO | +1.9 (#34) | -3.0 (#143) |
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 438 ranked players.
Week 3 (Nov 2-8)
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker: 4 games (Mon @IND, Wed @WAS, Fri WAS, Sat BKN), 1 back-to-back.
- RJ Barrett: 3 games (Mon @LAC, Wed @DEN, Fri @MIL), 1 back-to-back.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker or RJ Barrett: the Week 3 start/sit call
Recent games
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker: 32.6 fantasy points a game over his last 8 of 2026-27, against 33.5 on the board.
- RJ Barrett: 35.8 fantasy points a game over his last 7 of 2026-27, against 33.2 on the board.
Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Nickeil Alexander-Walker playing tonight? · Is RJ Barrett playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, RJ Barrett
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Nickeil Alexander-Walker or RJ Barrett?
Points leagues: Nickeil Alexander-Walker. 33.5 fantasy points per game against 33.2, 63rd on our board to 66th. 9-cat leagues: Nickeil Alexander-Walker again, +1.8 in summed z-scores against -2.7 (29th to 161st).
Who wins more categories, Nickeil Alexander-Walker or RJ Barrett?
Category by category, Nickeil Alexander-Walker is ahead in 5 (PTS, STL, BLK, 3PM and FT%) and RJ Barrett in 4 (REB, AST, FG% and TO).
Who should I start in Week 3, Nickeil Alexander-Walker or RJ Barrett?
Nickeil Alexander-Walker plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), RJ Barrett 3. For that week alone, start Nickeil Alexander-Walker: 133.9 projected fantasy points to 99.7 for RJ Barrett.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Nov 3, 2026 at 6:36 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number