Ajay Mitchell or Payton Pritchard? Week 3
Who to start in fantasy basketball in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), PGs ranked 28th and 30th at the position, compared on 2025-26 and 2026-27 per-game production.
Updated Nov 3, 4:36 AM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
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- FP/G
- 27.8
- 9-cat
- #71
- Last 7 FP
- 31.4
4 games in Week 3, 1 back-to-back
Week 3 pick in 9-cat leagues.
- FP/G
- 28.6
- 9-cat
- #93
- Last 7 FP
- 24.0
4 games in Week 3, 1 back-to-back
Week 3 pick in points leagues.
The Week 3 call
Points leagues, Week 3 (Nov 2-8): start Payton Pritchard. Both have 3 games left in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), so it comes down to per game: 28.6 fantasy points to 27.8.
9-cat leagues: Ajay Mitchell instead, -1.4 category value for the week to -3.4, because his category mix is worth more there.
Ajay Mitchell has 1 back-to-back and Payton Pritchard has 1 back-to-back in Week 3, the nights rest days tend to land on.
Ajay Mitchell's minutes are up: 28.5 a game over his last 5 games of 2026-27, against 26.2 on the board.
Payton Pritchard's minutes are down: 27.7 a game over his last 5 games of 2026-27, against 31.0 on the board.
This is the call for one lineup slot across the week, the way weekly-lock leagues play it. In a daily-lineup league, start whichever of the two plays that night, and both when they fit.
Ajay Mitchell rookie cardsPayton Pritchard rookie cards
Week 3 (Nov 2-8), side by side
| This week | Ajay Mitchell | Payton Pritchard |
|---|---|---|
| Games, Week 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Games counted (left this week) | 3 | 3 |
| Back-to-backs | 1 | 1 |
| Games, Week 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Minutes, last games | 28.5 (last 5) | 27.7 (last 5) |
| Minutes, board | 26.2 | 31.0 |
| Shots per 36, last games | 18.9 | 15.1 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 83.3 | 85.8 |
| Projected 9-cat value | -1.4 | -3.4 |
Schedule: Ajay Mitchell Mon @CLE, Wed CLE, Fri @MEM, Sat WAS. Payton Pritchard Mon @HOU, Wed MIL, Fri @CHA, Sun @MIL.
Projected totals for the games counted
| Stat | Ajay Mitchell | Payton Pritchard |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 44.0 | 47.6 |
| Rebounds | 10.2 | 10.9 |
| Assists | 10.7 | 13.8 |
| Steals | 3.9 | 2.3 |
| Blocks | 1.2 | 0.5 |
| Threes | 2.7 | 7.3 |
| Turnovers | 4.3 | 4.3 |
Each projection is the board's per-game line times the games counted; a player listed Out counts none. 9-cat value is the per-game category score (z-scores against the top 156) times games. Minutes and shots per 36 come from the last 5 games of 2026-27. Schedule from the NBA's published slate via ESPN.
The season-long call
Points leagues: Payton Pritchard, 28.6 fantasy points per game to 27.8.
9-cat leagues: Ajay Mitchell instead, 71st overall against 93rd, because the categories reward a different mix.
Ajay Mitchell vs Payton Pritchard: the full comparison, per 36 and by punt build
Per game, side by side
| Stat | Ajay Mitchell | Payton Pritchard |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 27.8 | 28.6 |
| Minutes | 26.2 | 31.0 |
| PointsPTS | 14.7 | 15.9 |
| ReboundsREB | 3.4 | 3.6 |
| AssistsAST | 3.6 | 4.6 |
| StealsSTL | 1.3 | 0.8 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.4 | 0.2 |
| Threes3PM | 0.9 | 2.4 |
| Field goal %FG% | 49.0% | 44.8% |
| Free throw %FT% | 89.9% | 87.0% |
| TurnoversTO | 1.4 | 1.4 |
Bold is the better number. Per-game lines blend last season with this one, the same numbers the rankings use.
Other close calls
Week 3 streamers · NBA waiver wire · Games per team this week
Is Ajay Mitchell playing tonight? · Is Payton Pritchard playing tonight?
Your next move
Common questions
Should I start Ajay Mitchell or Payton Pritchard in Week 3?
Points leagues, Week 3 (Nov 2-8): start Payton Pritchard. Both have 3 games left in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), so it comes down to per game: 28.6 fantasy points to 27.8. 9-cat leagues: Ajay Mitchell instead, -1.4 category value for the week to -3.4, because his category mix is worth more there. Ajay Mitchell has 1 back-to-back and Payton Pritchard has 1 back-to-back in Week 3, the nights rest days tend to land on. Ajay Mitchell's minutes are up: 28.5 a game over his last 5 games of 2026-27, against 26.2 on the board. Payton Pritchard's minutes are down: 27.7 a game over his last 5 games of 2026-27, against 31.0 on the board.
Who is better for the season, Ajay Mitchell or Payton Pritchard?
Points leagues: Payton Pritchard, 28.6 fantasy points per game to 27.8. 9-cat leagues: Ajay Mitchell instead, 71st overall against 93rd, because the categories reward a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Ajay Mitchell or Payton Pritchard?
Ajay Mitchell is ahead in 4 (steals, blocks, field goal percentage, free throw percentage); Payton Pritchard in 4 (points, rebounds, assists, threes), per game.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Nov 3, 2026 at 4:36 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number