Jalen Williams or VJ Edgecombe? Week 1
Who to start in fantasy basketball in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), PFs ranked 11th and 14th at the position, compared on 2025-26 per-game production.
- FP/G
- 33.1
- 9-cat
- #54
- Last 10 FP
- 33.6
4 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 VJ Edgecombe. VJ Edgecombe has 4 games counted to 3 for Jalen Williams, for 132.3 projected fantasy points against 99.8.
9-cat leagues: VJ Edgecombe again, 1.2 category value for the week to -1.9.
VJ Edgecombe has 1 back-to-back in Week 1, the nights rest days tend to land on.
Jalen Williams played 27.3 minutes a game over his last 5 games of 2025-26, in line with his 28.4 on the board.
VJ Edgecombe's minutes are up: 37.4 a game over his last 5 games of 2025-26, against 35.0 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.
Week 1 (Oct 19-25), side by side
| This week | Jalen Williams | VJ Edgecombe |
|---|---|---|
| Games, Week 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Games counted (left this week) | 3 | 4 |
| Back-to-backs | 0 | 1 |
| Games, Week 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Minutes, last games | 27.3 (last 5) | 37.4 (last 5) |
| Minutes, board | 28.4 | 35.0 |
| Shots per 36, last games | 15.3 | 14.4 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 99.8 | 132.3 |
| Projected 9-cat value | -1.9 | 1.2 |
Schedule: Jalen Williams Tue @SAS, Thu DEN, Sun LAC. VJ Edgecombe Tue @NYK, Thu CLE, Sat MIL, Sun DET.
Projected totals for the games counted
| Stat | Jalen Williams | VJ Edgecombe |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 51.2 | 63.9 |
| Rebounds | 13.8 | 22.6 |
| Assists | 16.5 | 16.8 |
| Steals | 3.5 | 5.7 |
| Blocks | 0.8 | 2.1 |
| Threes | 2.1 | 7.9 |
| Turnovers | 5.7 | 7.3 |
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 5 games of 2025-26. Schedule from the NBA's published slate via ESPN.
The season-long call
Points leagues: Jalen Williams, 33.3 fantasy points per game to 33.1.
9-cat leagues: VJ Edgecombe instead, 54th overall against 83rd, because the categories reward a different mix.
Per game, side by side
| Stat | Jalen Williams | VJ Edgecombe |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 33.3 | 33.1 |
| Minutes | 28.4 | 35.0 |
| PointsPTS | 17.1 | 16.0 |
| ReboundsREB | 4.6 | 5.6 |
| AssistsAST | 5.5 | 4.2 |
| StealsSTL | 1.2 | 1.4 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.3 | 0.5 |
| Threes3PM | 0.7 | 2.0 |
| Field goal %FG% | 48.4% | 43.8% |
| Free throw %FT% | 83.7% | 81.8% |
| TurnoversTO | 1.9 | 1.8 |
Bold is the better number. Per-game lines blend last season with this one, the same numbers the rankings use.
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Other close calls
Week 1 streamers · NBA waiver wire · Games per team this week
Common questions
Should I start Jalen Williams or VJ Edgecombe in Week 1?
Points leagues, Week 1 (Oct 19-25): start VJ Edgecombe. VJ Edgecombe has 4 games counted to 3 for Jalen Williams, for 132.3 projected fantasy points against 99.8. 9-cat leagues: VJ Edgecombe again, 1.2 category value for the week to -1.9. VJ Edgecombe has 1 back-to-back in Week 1, the nights rest days tend to land on. Jalen Williams played 27.3 minutes a game over his last 5 games of 2025-26, in line with his 28.4 on the board. VJ Edgecombe's minutes are up: 37.4 a game over his last 5 games of 2025-26, against 35.0 on the board.
Who is better for the season, Jalen Williams or VJ Edgecombe?
Points leagues: Jalen Williams, 33.3 fantasy points per game to 33.1. 9-cat leagues: VJ Edgecombe instead, 54th overall against 83rd, because the categories reward a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Jalen Williams or VJ Edgecombe?
Jalen Williams is ahead in 4 (points, assists, field goal percentage, free throw percentage); VJ Edgecombe in 5 (rebounds, steals, blocks, threes, turnovers), per game.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 13, 2026 at 7:20 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number