Anthony Edwards or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander? Week 1
Who to start in fantasy basketball in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), SGs ranked 2nd and 2nd at the position, compared on 2025-26 and 2026-27 per-game production.
Updated Oct 24, 4:27 PM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
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- FP/G
- 49.7
- 9-cat
- #3
- Last 2 FP
- 44.0
3 games in Week 1
Week 1 pick in points and 9-cat leagues.
The Week 1 call
Points leagues, Week 1 (Oct 19-25): start Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Both have 1 game left in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), so it comes down to per game: 49.7 fantasy points to 44.8.
9-cat leagues: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander again, 8.3 category value for the week to 4.1.
Anthony Edwards played 32.9 minutes a game over his last 2 games of 2026-27, in line with his 34.8 on the board.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander played 35.4 minutes a game over his last 2 games of 2026-27, in line with his 33.5 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.
Anthony Edwards rookie cardsShai Gilgeous-Alexander rookie cards
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Week 1 (Oct 19-25), side by side
| This week | Anthony Edwards | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander |
|---|---|---|
| Games, Week 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Games counted (left this week) | 1 | 1 |
| Back-to-backs | 0 | 0 |
| Games, Week 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Minutes, last games | 32.9 (last 2) | 35.4 (last 2) |
| Minutes, board | 34.8 | 33.5 |
| Shots per 36, last games | 28.4 | 23.4 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 44.8 | 49.7 |
| Projected 9-cat value | 4.1 | 8.3 |
Schedule: Anthony Edwards Wed @MIA, Fri @ORL, Sun TOR. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Tue @SAS, Thu DEN, Sun LAC.
Projected totals for the games counted
| Stat | Anthony Edwards | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 28.9 | 30.4 |
| Rebounds | 5.2 | 4.3 |
| Assists | 3.7 | 6.2 |
| Steals | 1.6 | 1.4 |
| Blocks | 0.8 | 0.9 |
| Threes | 3.6 | 1.8 |
| Turnovers | 2.9 | 2.1 |
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 2 games of 2026-27. Schedule from the NBA's published slate via ESPN.
The season-long call
Points leagues: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, 49.7 fantasy points per game to 44.8.
9-cat leagues: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander again, 3rd overall against 9th.
Per game, side by side
| Stat | Anthony Edwards | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 44.8 | 49.7 |
| Minutes | 34.8 | 33.5 |
| PointsPTS | 28.9 | 30.4 |
| ReboundsREB | 5.2 | 4.3 |
| AssistsAST | 3.7 | 6.2 |
| StealsSTL | 1.6 | 1.4 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.8 | 0.9 |
| Threes3PM | 3.6 | 1.8 |
| Field goal %FG% | 47.7% | 53.4% |
| Free throw %FT% | 79.5% | 87.8% |
| TurnoversTO | 2.9 | 2.1 |
Bold is the better number. Per-game lines blend last season with this one, the same numbers the rankings use.
Other close calls
Week 1 streamers · NBA waiver wire · Games per team this week
Is Anthony Edwards playing tonight? · Is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander playing tonight?
Your next move
Common questions
Should I start Anthony Edwards or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in Week 1?
Points leagues, Week 1 (Oct 19-25): start Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Both have 1 game left in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), so it comes down to per game: 49.7 fantasy points to 44.8. 9-cat leagues: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander again, 8.3 category value for the week to 4.1. Anthony Edwards played 32.9 minutes a game over his last 2 games of 2026-27, in line with his 34.8 on the board. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander played 35.4 minutes a game over his last 2 games of 2026-27, in line with his 33.5 on the board.
Who is better for the season, Anthony Edwards or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander?
Points leagues: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, 49.7 fantasy points per game to 44.8. 9-cat leagues: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander again, 3rd overall against 9th.
Who wins more categories, Anthony Edwards or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander?
Anthony Edwards is ahead in 3 (rebounds, steals, threes); Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in 6 (points, assists, blocks, field goal percentage, free throw percentage, turnovers), per game.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 24, 2026 at 4:27 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number