Jaden McDaniels or Zach LaVine? Week 2
Who to start in fantasy basketball in Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1), SFs ranked 13th and 19th at the position, compared on 2025-26 and 2026-27 per-game production.
Updated Oct 26, 2:30 PM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
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- FP/G
- 29.3
- 9-cat
- #40
- Last 3 FP
- 32.8
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 4 games counted to 3 for Zach LaVine, for 117.1 projected fantasy points against 87.4.
9-cat leagues: Jaden McDaniels again, 3.0 category value for the week to -2.2.
Jaden McDaniels has 2 back-to-backs in Week 2, the nights rest days tend to land on.
Jaden McDaniels played 30.0 minutes a game over his last 3 games of 2026-27, in line with his 31.4 on the board.
Zach LaVine's minutes are up: 37.8 a game over his last 3 games of 2026-27, against 32.5 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.
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Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1), side by side
| This week | Jaden McDaniels | Zach LaVine |
|---|---|---|
| Games, Week 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Games counted (left this week) | 4 | 3 |
| Back-to-backs | 2 | 0 |
| Games, Week 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Minutes, last games | 30.0 (last 3) | 37.8 (last 3) |
| Minutes, board | 31.4 | 32.5 |
| Shots per 36, last games | 14.0 | 18.7 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 117.1 | 87.4 |
| Projected 9-cat value | 3.0 | -2.2 |
Schedule: Jaden McDaniels Mon @CLE, Wed GSW, Fri LAC, Sat @SAS. Zach LaVine Tue @SAS, Thu @NOP, Sat @MEM.
Projected totals for the games counted
| Stat | Jaden McDaniels | Zach LaVine |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 59.7 | 62.4 |
| Rebounds | 18.6 | 8.8 |
| Assists | 10.6 | 7.4 |
| Steals | 4.4 | 2.5 |
| Blocks | 4.4 | 0.8 |
| Threes | 5.6 | 7.8 |
| Turnovers | 7.3 | 6.4 |
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 3 games of 2026-27. Schedule from the NBA's published slate via ESPN.
The season-long call
Points leagues: Jaden McDaniels, 29.3 fantasy points per game to 29.1.
9-cat leagues: Jaden McDaniels again, 40th overall against 76th.
Jaden McDaniels vs Zach LaVine: the full comparison, per 36 and by punt build
Per game, side by side
| Stat | Jaden McDaniels | Zach LaVine |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 29.3 | 29.1 |
| Minutes | 31.4 | 32.5 |
| PointsPTS | 14.9 | 20.8 |
| ReboundsREB | 4.7 | 2.9 |
| AssistsAST | 2.7 | 2.5 |
| StealsSTL | 1.1 | 0.8 |
| BlocksBLK | 1.1 | 0.3 |
| Threes3PM | 1.4 | 2.6 |
| Field goal %FG% | 52.5% | 48.2% |
| Free throw %FT% | 84.4% | 87.7% |
| TurnoversTO | 1.8 | 2.1 |
Bold is the better number. Per-game lines blend last season with this one, the same numbers the rankings use.
Other close calls
Week 2 streamers · NBA waiver wire · Games per team this week
Is Jaden McDaniels playing tonight? · Is Zach LaVine playing tonight?
Your next move
Common questions
Should I start Jaden McDaniels or Zach LaVine in Week 2?
Points leagues, Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1): start Jaden McDaniels. Jaden McDaniels has 4 games counted to 3 for Zach LaVine, for 117.1 projected fantasy points against 87.4. 9-cat leagues: Jaden McDaniels again, 3.0 category value for the week to -2.2. Jaden McDaniels has 2 back-to-backs in Week 2, the nights rest days tend to land on. Jaden McDaniels played 30.0 minutes a game over his last 3 games of 2026-27, in line with his 31.4 on the board. Zach LaVine's minutes are up: 37.8 a game over his last 3 games of 2026-27, against 32.5 on the board.
Who is better for the season, Jaden McDaniels or Zach LaVine?
Points leagues: Jaden McDaniels, 29.3 fantasy points per game to 29.1. 9-cat leagues: Jaden McDaniels again, 40th overall against 76th.
Who wins more categories, Jaden McDaniels or Zach LaVine?
Jaden McDaniels is ahead in 6 (rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, field goal percentage, turnovers); Zach LaVine in 3 (points, threes, free throw percentage), per game.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 26, 2026 at 2:30 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number