Skip to main content

Daniel Gafford or Precious Achiuwa? Week 1

Who to start in fantasy basketball in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), Cs ranked 26th and 36th at the position, compared on 2025-26 and 2026-27 per-game production.

Updated Oct 22, 5:55 PM ET.

Parlae may earn a commission from price links.

FP/G
23.7
9-cat
#130
Last 1 FP
15.1

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

Week 1 pick in 9-cat leagues.

FP/G
24.4
9-cat
#163
Last 1 FP
29.0

3 games in Week 1

Week 1 pick in points leagues.

The Week 1 call

Points leagues, Week 1 (Oct 19-25): start Precious Achiuwa. Both have 2 games left in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), so it comes down to per game: 24.4 fantasy points to 23.7.

9-cat leagues: Daniel Gafford instead, -4.2 category value for the week to -5.5, because his category mix is worth more there.

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

Daniel Gafford played 21.5 minutes a game over his last 1 game of 2026-27, in line with his 21.7 on the board.

Precious Achiuwa's minutes are up: 28.7 a game over his last 1 game of 2026-27, against 24.2 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.

Advertisement

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

This weekDaniel GaffordPrecious Achiuwa
Games, Week 133
Games counted (left this week)22
Back-to-backs10
Games, Week 233
Minutes, last games21.5 (last 1)28.7 (last 1)
Minutes, board21.724.2
Shots per 36, last games1.710.0
InjuryNone listedNone listed
Projected fantasy points47.448.8
Projected 9-cat value-4.2-5.5

Schedule: Daniel Gafford Wed @HOU, Fri @IND, Sat SAS. Precious Achiuwa Wed @LAC, Fri POR, Sun MEM.

Projected totals for the games counted

StatDaniel GaffordPrecious Achiuwa
Points18.120.8
Rebounds13.313.3
Assists2.12.8
Steals1.61.9
Blocks2.61.3
Threes0.00.8
Turnovers2.31.8

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 1 games of 2026-27. Schedule from the NBA's published slate via ESPN.

The season-long call

Points leagues: Precious Achiuwa, 24.4 fantasy points per game to 23.7.

9-cat leagues: Daniel Gafford instead, 130th overall against 163rd, because the categories reward a different mix.

Per game, side by side

StatDaniel GaffordPrecious Achiuwa
Fantasy points per game23.724.4
Minutes21.724.2
PointsPTS9.110.4
ReboundsREB6.66.6
AssistsAST1.11.4
StealsSTL0.81.0
BlocksBLK1.30.6
Threes3PM0.00.4
Field goal %FG%64.8%53.4%
Free throw %FT%66.8%59.1%
TurnoversTO1.10.9

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 Daniel Gafford playing tonight? · Is Precious Achiuwa playing tonight?

Your next move

Common questions

  • Should I start Daniel Gafford or Precious Achiuwa in Week 1?

    Points leagues, Week 1 (Oct 19-25): start Precious Achiuwa. Both have 2 games left in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), so it comes down to per game: 24.4 fantasy points to 23.7. 9-cat leagues: Daniel Gafford instead, -4.2 category value for the week to -5.5, because his category mix is worth more there. Daniel Gafford has 1 back-to-back in Week 1, the nights rest days tend to land on. Daniel Gafford played 21.5 minutes a game over his last 1 game of 2026-27, in line with his 21.7 on the board. Precious Achiuwa's minutes are up: 28.7 a game over his last 1 game of 2026-27, against 24.2 on the board.

  • Who is better for the season, Daniel Gafford or Precious Achiuwa?

    Points leagues: Precious Achiuwa, 24.4 fantasy points per game to 23.7. 9-cat leagues: Daniel Gafford instead, 130th overall against 163rd, because the categories reward a different mix.

  • Who wins more categories, Daniel Gafford or Precious Achiuwa?

    Daniel Gafford is ahead in 3 (blocks, field goal percentage, free throw percentage); Precious Achiuwa in 5 (points, assists, steals, threes, turnovers), per game.

By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 22, 2026 at 5:55 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number