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Cooper Flagg or Jamal Murray? Week 1

Who to start in fantasy basketball in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), SGs ranked 3rd and 5th at the position, compared on 2025-26 and 2026-27 per-game production.

Updated Oct 24, 2:27 PM ET.

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Cooper Flagg
SGDALOUT
FP/G
40.3
9-cat
#24
Last 2 FP
43.5

Out (Shoulder)

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

FP/G
41.4
9-cat
#18
Last 1 FP
19.5

2 games in Week 1

Week 1 pick in points and 9-cat leagues.

The Week 1 call

Cooper Flagg is listed Out (Shoulder) on Sleeper, so his projection counts no games while that stands.

Points leagues, Week 1 (Oct 19-25): start Jamal Murray. Jamal Murray has 1 game counted to 0 for Cooper Flagg, for 41.4 projected fantasy points against 0.0.

9-cat leagues: Jamal Murray again, 3.0 category value for the week to 0.0.

Cooper Flagg's minutes are down: 25.0 a game over his last 2 games of 2026-27, against 32.5 on the board.

Jamal Murray played 36.8 minutes a game over his last 1 game of 2026-27, in line with his 35.5 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.

Cooper Flagg rookie cardsJamal Murray rookie cards

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

This weekCooper FlaggJamal Murray
Games, Week 132
Games counted (left this week)01
Back-to-backs10
Games, Week 233
Minutes, last games25.0 (last 2)36.8 (last 1)
Minutes, board32.535.5
Shots per 36, last games16.610.8
InjuryOut (Shoulder)None listed
Projected fantasy points0.041.4
Projected 9-cat value0.03.0

Schedule: Cooper Flagg Wed @HOU, Fri @IND, Sat SAS. Jamal Murray Thu @OKC, Sat NOP.

Projected totals for the games counted

StatCooper FlaggJamal Murray
Points0.024.2
Rebounds0.04.8
Assists0.06.9
Steals0.00.9
Blocks0.00.4
Threes0.03.1
Turnovers0.02.5

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: Jamal Murray, 41.4 fantasy points per game to 40.3.

9-cat leagues: Jamal Murray again, 18th overall against 24th.

Per game, side by side

StatCooper FlaggJamal Murray
Fantasy points per game40.341.4
Minutes32.535.5
PointsPTS21.324.2
ReboundsREB6.54.8
AssistsAST4.56.9
StealsSTL1.40.9
BlocksBLK0.90.4
Threes3PM1.13.1
Field goal %FG%48.0%47.1%
Free throw %FT%83.8%86.8%
TurnoversTO2.42.5

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 Cooper Flagg playing tonight? · Is Jamal Murray playing tonight?

Your next move

Common questions

  • Should I start Cooper Flagg or Jamal Murray in Week 1?

    Cooper Flagg is listed Out (Shoulder) on Sleeper, so his projection counts no games while that stands. Points leagues, Week 1 (Oct 19-25): start Jamal Murray. Jamal Murray has 1 game counted to 0 for Cooper Flagg, for 41.4 projected fantasy points against 0.0. 9-cat leagues: Jamal Murray again, 3.0 category value for the week to 0.0. Cooper Flagg's minutes are down: 25.0 a game over his last 2 games of 2026-27, against 32.5 on the board. Jamal Murray played 36.8 minutes a game over his last 1 game of 2026-27, in line with his 35.5 on the board.

  • Who is better for the season, Cooper Flagg or Jamal Murray?

    Points leagues: Jamal Murray, 41.4 fantasy points per game to 40.3. 9-cat leagues: Jamal Murray again, 18th overall against 24th.

  • Who wins more categories, Cooper Flagg or Jamal Murray?

    Cooper Flagg is ahead in 5 (rebounds, steals, blocks, field goal percentage, turnovers); Jamal Murray in 4 (points, assists, threes, free throw percentage), per game.

By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 24, 2026 at 2:27 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number