Yaxel Lendeborg vs Zion Williamson: who to start in Week 3
Yaxel Lendeborg plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Zion Williamson 4. For that week alone, start Zion Williamson: 145.5 projected fantasy points to 109.4 for Yaxel Lendeborg. Over the season, Yaxel Lendeborg leads in points leagues (36.5 fantasy points a game to 36.4) and Zion Williamson in 9-cat leagues (49th against 75th). 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, 2:36 AM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
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- Points leagues
- #45
- 36.5 FP/G, slot 4.09, $20
- 9-cat leagues
- #75
- -0.6 z, slot 7.03, $12
The pick in points leagues.
- Points leagues
- #46
- 36.4 FP/G, slot 4.10, $20
- 9-cat leagues
- #49
- +0.3 z, slot 5.01, $17
The pick in 9-cat leagues.
The call
Points leagues: Yaxel Lendeborg. 36.5 fantasy points per game against 36.4, 45th on our board to 46th.
9-cat leagues: Zion Williamson instead, +0.3 in summed z-scores against -0.6 (49th to 75th), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Category by category, Yaxel Lendeborg is ahead in 5 (PTS, REB, AST, 3PM and FT%) and Zion Williamson in 3 (STL, FG% and TO).
Per 36 minutes, Zion Williamson produces more: 43.0 fantasy points to 41.2, on 30.5 minutes a night against 31.9. He does it in fewer minutes, so a bigger role would widen the gap.
Yaxel Lendeborg plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Zion Williamson 4. For that week alone, start Zion Williamson: 145.5 projected fantasy points to 109.4 for Yaxel Lendeborg.
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 | Yaxel Lendeborg | Zion Williamson |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 36.5 | 36.4 |
| Minutes | 31.9 | 30.5 |
| PointsPTS | 21.5 | 21.1 |
| ReboundsREB | 7.0 | 5.6 |
| AssistsAST | 3.9 | 3.1 |
| StealsSTL | 0.9 | 1.5 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Threes3PM | 2.5 | 0.1 |
| Field goal %FG% | 50.0% | 61.1% |
| Free throw %FT% | 76.9% | 72.3% |
| TurnoversTO | 3.4 | 2.1 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 0 | 62 |
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 | Yaxel Lendeborg | Zion Williamson |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 41.2 | 43.0 |
| Points | 24.3 | 24.9 |
| Rebounds | 7.9 | 6.6 |
| Assists | 4.4 | 3.6 |
| Steals | 1.0 | 1.8 |
| Blocks | 0.6 | 0.6 |
| Threes | 2.8 | 0.2 |
| Turnovers | 3.8 | 2.4 |
Each per-game number divided by minutes and scaled to 36: the rate a bigger role would carry.
9-category z-scores
| Category | Yaxel Lendeborg | Zion Williamson |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | +0.9 | +0.8 |
| ReboundsREB | +0.5 | -0.1 |
| AssistsAST | +0.0 | -0.4 |
| StealsSTL | -0.5 | +1.2 |
| BlocksBLK | -0.4 | -0.3 |
| Threes3PM | +0.8 | -1.6 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | +0.4 | +2.6 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | -0.6 | -1.8 |
| TurnoversTO | -1.8 | -0.1 |
| Total | -0.6 | +0.3 |
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 steals, field goal percentage and turnovers flips the 9-cat answer to Yaxel Lendeborg.
| Punt | Yaxel Lendeborg | Zion Williamson |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | -1.5 (#138) | -0.6 (#87) |
| REB | -1.3 (#110) | +0.1 (#58) |
| AST | -0.8 (#86) | +0.4 (#42) |
| STL | -0.2 (#64) | -1.1 (#99) |
| BLK | -0.4 (#74) | +0.5 (#44) |
| 3PM | -1.5 (#117) | +1.8 (#29) |
| FG% | -1.3 (#103) | -3.1 (#171) |
| FT% | -0.1 (#61) | +2.0 (#26) |
| TO | +1.1 (#44) | +0.4 (#55) |
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)
- Yaxel Lendeborg: 3 games (Mon PHX, Thu MIA, Sat ORL), 1 back-to-back.
- Zion Williamson: 4 games (Mon @MEM, Wed UTA, Fri MIN, Sun @LAC).
Yaxel Lendeborg or Zion Williamson: the Week 3 start/sit call
Recent games
- Yaxel Lendeborg: 35.9 fantasy points a game over his last 8 of 2026-27, against 36.5 on the board.
- Zion Williamson: 39.0 fantasy points a game over his last 7 of 2026-27, against 36.4 on the board.
Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Yaxel Lendeborg playing tonight? · Is Zion Williamson playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Zion Williamson
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Yaxel Lendeborg or Zion Williamson?
Points leagues: Yaxel Lendeborg. 36.5 fantasy points per game against 36.4, 45th on our board to 46th. 9-cat leagues: Zion Williamson instead, +0.3 in summed z-scores against -0.6 (49th to 75th), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Yaxel Lendeborg or Zion Williamson?
Category by category, Yaxel Lendeborg is ahead in 5 (PTS, REB, AST, 3PM and FT%) and Zion Williamson in 3 (STL, FG% and TO).
Who should I start in Week 3, Yaxel Lendeborg or Zion Williamson?
Yaxel Lendeborg plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Zion Williamson 4. For that week alone, start Zion Williamson: 145.5 projected fantasy points to 109.4 for Yaxel Lendeborg.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Nov 3, 2026 at 2:36 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number