Jalen Smith or Kyle Kuzma? Week 1
Who to start in fantasy basketball in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), Cs ranked 27th and 35th at the position, compared on 2025-26 and 2026-27 per-game production.
Updated Oct 24, 10:27 AM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
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- FP/G
- 24.1
- 9-cat
- #120
- Last 2 FP
- 34.1
3 games in Week 1, 1 back-to-back
Week 1 pick in 9-cat leagues.
- FP/G
- 24.3
- 9-cat
- #204
- Last 2 FP
- 26.8
3 games in Week 1, 1 back-to-back
Week 1 pick in points leagues.
The Week 1 call
Points leagues, Week 1 (Oct 19-25): start Kyle Kuzma. Both have 1 game left in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), so it comes down to per game: 24.3 fantasy points to 24.1.
9-cat leagues: Jalen Smith instead, -1.7 category value for the week to -3.8, because his category mix is worth more there.
Jalen Smith has 1 back-to-back and Kyle Kuzma has 1 back-to-back in Week 1, the nights rest days tend to land on.
Jalen Smith played 21.7 minutes a game over his last 2 games of 2026-27, in line with his 20.8 on the board.
Kyle Kuzma played 28.4 minutes a game over his last 2 games of 2026-27, in line with his 26.4 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 1 (Oct 19-25), side by side
| This week | Jalen Smith | Kyle Kuzma |
|---|---|---|
| Games, Week 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Games counted (left this week) | 1 | 1 |
| Back-to-backs | 1 | 1 |
| Games, Week 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Minutes, last games | 21.7 (last 2) | 28.4 (last 2) |
| Minutes, board | 20.8 | 26.4 |
| Shots per 36, last games | 16.6 | 13.3 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 24.1 | 24.3 |
| Projected 9-cat value | -1.7 | -3.8 |
Schedule: Jalen Smith Wed @TOR, Fri @MIL, Sat WAS. Kyle Kuzma Wed @WAS, Fri CHI, Sat @PHI.
Projected totals for the games counted
| Stat | Jalen Smith | Kyle Kuzma |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 10.7 | 12.6 |
| Rebounds | 7.1 | 4.9 |
| Assists | 1.2 | 2.8 |
| Steals | 0.6 | 0.8 |
| Blocks | 0.8 | 0.4 |
| Threes | 1.5 | 1.2 |
| Turnovers | 0.9 | 1.7 |
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: Kyle Kuzma, 24.3 fantasy points per game to 24.1.
9-cat leagues: Jalen Smith instead, 120th overall against 204th, because the categories reward a different mix.
Jalen Smith vs Kyle Kuzma: the full comparison, per 36 and by punt build
Per game, side by side
| Stat | Jalen Smith | Kyle Kuzma |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 24.1 | 24.3 |
| Minutes | 20.8 | 26.4 |
| PointsPTS | 10.7 | 12.6 |
| ReboundsREB | 7.1 | 4.9 |
| AssistsAST | 1.2 | 2.8 |
| StealsSTL | 0.6 | 0.8 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.8 | 0.4 |
| Threes3PM | 1.5 | 1.2 |
| Field goal %FG% | 49.3% | 47.8% |
| Free throw %FT% | 75.9% | 70.8% |
| TurnoversTO | 0.9 | 1.7 |
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 Jalen Smith playing tonight? · Is Kyle Kuzma playing tonight?
Your next move
Common questions
Should I start Jalen Smith or Kyle Kuzma in Week 1?
Points leagues, Week 1 (Oct 19-25): start Kyle Kuzma. Both have 1 game left in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), so it comes down to per game: 24.3 fantasy points to 24.1. 9-cat leagues: Jalen Smith instead, -1.7 category value for the week to -3.8, because his category mix is worth more there. Jalen Smith has 1 back-to-back and Kyle Kuzma has 1 back-to-back in Week 1, the nights rest days tend to land on. Jalen Smith played 21.7 minutes a game over his last 2 games of 2026-27, in line with his 20.8 on the board. Kyle Kuzma played 28.4 minutes a game over his last 2 games of 2026-27, in line with his 26.4 on the board.
Who is better for the season, Jalen Smith or Kyle Kuzma?
Points leagues: Kyle Kuzma, 24.3 fantasy points per game to 24.1. 9-cat leagues: Jalen Smith instead, 120th overall against 204th, because the categories reward a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Jalen Smith or Kyle Kuzma?
Jalen Smith is ahead in 6 (rebounds, blocks, threes, field goal percentage, free throw percentage, turnovers); Kyle Kuzma in 3 (points, assists, steals), per game.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 24, 2026 at 10:27 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number