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Brandin Podziemski or Grayson Allen? Week 1

Who to start in fantasy basketball in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), PGs ranked 18th and 22nd at the position, compared on 2025-26 and 2026-27 per-game production.

Updated Oct 24, 12:27 PM ET.

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FP/G
28.0
9-cat
#106
Last 1 FP
32.9

Out (Back)

3 games in Week 1, 1 back-to-back

Week 1 pick in 9-cat leagues.

FP/G
28.1
9-cat
#72
Last 2 FP
21.3

3 games in Week 1, 1 back-to-back

Week 1 pick in points leagues.

The Week 1 call

Brandin Podziemski is listed Out (Back) on Sleeper, so his projection counts no games while that stands.

Points leagues, Week 1 (Oct 19-25): start Grayson Allen. Grayson Allen has 1 game counted to 0 for Brandin Podziemski, for 28.1 projected fantasy points against 0.0.

9-cat leagues: Brandin Podziemski instead, 0.0 category value for the week to -0.6, because his category mix is worth more there.

Grayson Allen has 1 back-to-back in Week 1, the nights rest days tend to land on.

Brandin Podziemski's minutes are up: 32.9 a game over his last 1 game of 2026-27, against 28.7 on the board.

Grayson Allen's minutes are down: 24.2 a game over his last 2 games of 2026-27, against 28.2 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.

Brandin Podziemski rookie cards

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Week 1 (Oct 19-25), side by side

This weekBrandin PodziemskiGrayson Allen
Games, Week 133
Games counted (left this week)01
Back-to-backs11
Games, Week 244
Minutes, last games32.9 (last 1)24.2 (last 2)
Minutes, board28.728.2
Shots per 36, last games18.612.6
InjuryOut (Back)None listed
Projected fantasy points0.028.1
Projected 9-cat value0.0-0.6

Schedule: Brandin Podziemski Wed @LAL, Fri MEM, Sat @PHX. Grayson Allen Wed @BKN, Fri ATL, Sat MIA.

Projected totals for the games counted

StatBrandin PodziemskiGrayson Allen
Points0.016.4
Rebounds0.03.0
Assists0.03.8
Steals0.01.2
Blocks0.00.2
Threes0.03.2
Turnovers0.01.8

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: Grayson Allen, 28.1 fantasy points per game to 28.0.

9-cat leagues: Grayson Allen again, 72nd overall against 106th.

Brandin Podziemski vs Grayson Allen: the full comparison, per 36 and by punt build

Per game, side by side

StatBrandin PodziemskiGrayson Allen
Fantasy points per game28.028.1
Minutes28.728.2
PointsPTS14.116.4
ReboundsREB4.93.0
AssistsAST3.73.8
StealsSTL1.21.2
BlocksBLK0.20.2
Threes3PM1.93.2
Field goal %FG%45.1%41.3%
Free throw %FT%80.6%87.3%
TurnoversTO1.71.8

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 Brandin Podziemski playing tonight? · Is Grayson Allen playing tonight?

Your next move

Common questions

  • Should I start Brandin Podziemski or Grayson Allen in Week 1?

    Brandin Podziemski is listed Out (Back) on Sleeper, so his projection counts no games while that stands. Points leagues, Week 1 (Oct 19-25): start Grayson Allen. Grayson Allen has 1 game counted to 0 for Brandin Podziemski, for 28.1 projected fantasy points against 0.0. 9-cat leagues: Brandin Podziemski instead, 0.0 category value for the week to -0.6, because his category mix is worth more there. Grayson Allen has 1 back-to-back in Week 1, the nights rest days tend to land on. Brandin Podziemski's minutes are up: 32.9 a game over his last 1 game of 2026-27, against 28.7 on the board. Grayson Allen's minutes are down: 24.2 a game over his last 2 games of 2026-27, against 28.2 on the board.

  • Who is better for the season, Brandin Podziemski or Grayson Allen?

    Points leagues: Grayson Allen, 28.1 fantasy points per game to 28.0. 9-cat leagues: Grayson Allen again, 72nd overall against 106th.

  • Who wins more categories, Brandin Podziemski or Grayson Allen?

    Brandin Podziemski is ahead in 3 (rebounds, field goal percentage, turnovers); Grayson Allen in 4 (points, assists, threes, free throw percentage), per game.

By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 24, 2026 at 12:27 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number