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Derrick White or Nickeil Alexander-Walker? Week 1

Who to start in fantasy basketball in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), SGs ranked 9th and 11th at the position, compared on 2025-26 and 2026-27 per-game production.

Updated Oct 22, 3:54 PM ET.

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FP/G
34.9
9-cat
#32
Last 1 FP
29.2

2 games in Week 1

FP/G
34.6
9-cat
#25
Last 1 FP
44.3

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

Week 1 pick in points and 9-cat leagues.

The Week 1 call

Points leagues, Week 1 (Oct 19-25): start Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Nickeil Alexander-Walker has 2 games counted to 1 for Derrick White, for 69.1 projected fantasy points against 34.9.

9-cat leagues: Nickeil Alexander-Walker again, 4.6 category value for the week to 1.5.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker has 1 back-to-back in Week 1, the nights rest days tend to land on.

Derrick White played 35.9 minutes a game over his last 1 game of 2026-27, in line with his 34.2 on the board.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker's minutes are down: 29.7 a game over his last 1 game of 2026-27, against 33.2 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.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker rookie cards

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

This weekDerrick WhiteNickeil Alexander-Walker
Games, Week 123
Games counted (left this week)12
Back-to-backs01
Games, Week 244
Minutes, last games35.9 (last 1)29.7 (last 1)
Minutes, board34.233.2
Shots per 36, last games13.018.2
InjuryNone listedNone listed
Projected fantasy points34.969.1
Projected 9-cat value1.54.6

Schedule: Derrick White Tue @DET, Fri NYK. Nickeil Alexander-Walker Wed @ORL, Fri @CHA, Sat HOU.

Projected totals for the games counted

StatDerrick WhiteNickeil Alexander-Walker
Points16.542.9
Rebounds4.26.9
Assists5.57.3
Steals1.12.6
Blocks1.21.1
Threes2.76.7
Turnovers1.94.1

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

The season-long call

Points leagues: Derrick White, 34.9 fantasy points per game to 34.6.

9-cat leagues: Nickeil Alexander-Walker instead, 25th overall against 32nd, because the categories reward a different mix.

Derrick White vs Nickeil Alexander-Walker: the full comparison, per 36 and by punt build

Per game, side by side

StatDerrick WhiteNickeil Alexander-Walker
Fantasy points per game34.934.6
Minutes34.233.2
PointsPTS16.521.5
ReboundsREB4.23.5
AssistsAST5.53.6
StealsSTL1.11.3
BlocksBLK1.20.6
Threes3PM2.73.3
Field goal %FG%40.3%46.3%
Free throw %FT%90.2%87.8%
TurnoversTO1.92.1

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 Derrick White playing tonight? · Is Nickeil Alexander-Walker playing tonight?

Your next move

Common questions

  • Should I start Derrick White or Nickeil Alexander-Walker in Week 1?

    Points leagues, Week 1 (Oct 19-25): start Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Nickeil Alexander-Walker has 2 games counted to 1 for Derrick White, for 69.1 projected fantasy points against 34.9. 9-cat leagues: Nickeil Alexander-Walker again, 4.6 category value for the week to 1.5. Nickeil Alexander-Walker has 1 back-to-back in Week 1, the nights rest days tend to land on. Derrick White played 35.9 minutes a game over his last 1 game of 2026-27, in line with his 34.2 on the board. Nickeil Alexander-Walker's minutes are down: 29.7 a game over his last 1 game of 2026-27, against 33.2 on the board.

  • Who is better for the season, Derrick White or Nickeil Alexander-Walker?

    Points leagues: Derrick White, 34.9 fantasy points per game to 34.6. 9-cat leagues: Nickeil Alexander-Walker instead, 25th overall against 32nd, because the categories reward a different mix.

  • Who wins more categories, Derrick White or Nickeil Alexander-Walker?

    Derrick White is ahead in 4 (rebounds, assists, blocks, turnovers); Nickeil Alexander-Walker in 5 (points, steals, threes, field goal percentage, free throw percentage), per game.

By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 22, 2026 at 3:54 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number