Jaden McDaniels or Matas Buzelis? Week 2
Who to start in fantasy basketball in Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1), SFs ranked 14th and 18th at the position, compared on 2025-26 and 2026-27 per-game production.
Updated Oct 27, 10:33 PM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
Parlae may earn a commission from price links.
- FP/G
- 29.2
- 9-cat
- #39
- Last 4 FP
- 31.4
4 games in Week 2, 2 back-to-backs
Week 2 pick in points and 9-cat leagues.
The Week 2 call
Points leagues, Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1): start Jaden McDaniels. Jaden McDaniels has 3 games counted to 2 for Matas Buzelis, for 87.5 projected fantasy points against 58.5.
9-cat leagues: Jaden McDaniels again, 2.5 category value for the week to -2.4.
Jaden McDaniels has 2 back-to-backs in Week 2, the nights rest days tend to land on.
Jaden McDaniels played 31.6 minutes a game over his last 4 games of 2026-27, in line with his 31.7 on the board.
Matas Buzelis's minutes are down: 24.9 a game over his last 4 games of 2026-27, against 28.3 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 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1), side by side
| This week | Jaden McDaniels | Matas Buzelis |
|---|---|---|
| Games, Week 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Games counted (left this week) | 3 | 2 |
| Back-to-backs | 2 | 0 |
| Games, Week 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Minutes, last games | 31.6 (last 4) | 24.9 (last 4) |
| Minutes, board | 31.7 | 28.3 |
| Shots per 36, last games | 12.5 | 13.0 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 87.5 | 58.5 |
| Projected 9-cat value | 2.5 | -2.4 |
Schedule: Jaden McDaniels Mon @CLE, Wed GSW, Fri LAC, Sat @SAS. Matas Buzelis Mon @BOS, Wed NYK, Fri @BOS.
Projected totals for the games counted
| Stat | Jaden McDaniels | Matas Buzelis |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 44.6 | 31.6 |
| Rebounds | 14.2 | 11.0 |
| Assists | 8.2 | 4.0 |
| Steals | 3.1 | 1.3 |
| Blocks | 3.2 | 2.7 |
| Threes | 4.3 | 4.0 |
| Turnovers | 5.2 | 4.3 |
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 4 games of 2026-27. Schedule from the NBA's published slate via ESPN.
The season-long call
Points leagues: Matas Buzelis, 29.2 fantasy points per game to 29.2.
9-cat leagues: Jaden McDaniels instead, 39th overall against 96th, because the categories reward a different mix.
Jaden McDaniels vs Matas Buzelis: the full comparison, per 36 and by punt build
Per game, side by side
| Stat | Jaden McDaniels | Matas Buzelis |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 29.2 | 29.2 |
| Minutes | 31.7 | 28.3 |
| PointsPTS | 14.9 | 15.8 |
| ReboundsREB | 4.7 | 5.5 |
| AssistsAST | 2.7 | 2.0 |
| StealsSTL | 1.0 | 0.7 |
| BlocksBLK | 1.1 | 1.3 |
| Threes3PM | 1.4 | 2.0 |
| Field goal %FG% | 53.1% | 45.1% |
| Free throw %FT% | 84.4% | 80.2% |
| TurnoversTO | 1.7 | 2.2 |
Bold is the better number. Per-game lines blend last season with this one, the same numbers the rankings use.
Other close calls
Week 2 streamers · NBA waiver wire · Games per team this week
Is Jaden McDaniels playing tonight? · Is Matas Buzelis playing tonight?
Your next move
Common questions
Should I start Jaden McDaniels or Matas Buzelis in Week 2?
Points leagues, Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1): start Jaden McDaniels. Jaden McDaniels has 3 games counted to 2 for Matas Buzelis, for 87.5 projected fantasy points against 58.5. 9-cat leagues: Jaden McDaniels again, 2.5 category value for the week to -2.4. Jaden McDaniels has 2 back-to-backs in Week 2, the nights rest days tend to land on. Jaden McDaniels played 31.6 minutes a game over his last 4 games of 2026-27, in line with his 31.7 on the board. Matas Buzelis's minutes are down: 24.9 a game over his last 4 games of 2026-27, against 28.3 on the board.
Who is better for the season, Jaden McDaniels or Matas Buzelis?
Points leagues: Matas Buzelis, 29.2 fantasy points per game to 29.2. 9-cat leagues: Jaden McDaniels instead, 39th overall against 96th, because the categories reward a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Jaden McDaniels or Matas Buzelis?
Jaden McDaniels is ahead in 5 (assists, steals, field goal percentage, free throw percentage, turnovers); Matas Buzelis in 4 (points, rebounds, blocks, threes), per game.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 27, 2026 at 10:33 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number