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Jarace Walker or Julian Champagnie? Week 1

Who to start in fantasy basketball in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), PFs ranked 29th and 30th at the position, compared on 2025-26 and 2026-27 per-game production.

Updated Oct 22, 7:55 PM ET.

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FP/G
22.6
9-cat
#248
Last 1 FP
12.2

3 games in Week 1

FP/G
23.5
9-cat
#95
Last 1 FP
28.1

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 Julian Champagnie. Both have 2 games left in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), so it comes down to per game: 23.5 fantasy points to 22.6.

9-cat leagues: Julian Champagnie again, -2.4 category value for the week to -9.4.

Julian Champagnie has 1 back-to-back in Week 1, the nights rest days tend to land on.

Jarace Walker's minutes are down: 18.5 a game over his last 1 game of 2026-27, against 25.3 on the board.

Julian Champagnie's minutes are up: 30.0 a game over his last 1 game of 2026-27, against 27.8 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 weekJarace WalkerJulian Champagnie
Games, Week 133
Games counted (left this week)22
Back-to-backs01
Games, Week 243
Minutes, last games18.5 (last 1)30.0 (last 1)
Minutes, board25.327.8
Shots per 36, last games11.79.6
InjuryNone listedNone listed
Projected fantasy points45.247.0
Projected 9-cat value-9.4-2.4

Schedule: Jarace Walker Wed @NOP, Fri DAL, Sun @BKN. Julian Champagnie Tue OKC, Fri HOU, Sat @DAL.

Projected totals for the games counted

StatJarace WalkerJulian Champagnie
Points22.221.8
Rebounds10.411.2
Assists5.03.0
Steals1.61.7
Blocks0.81.2
Threes3.44.7
Turnovers3.91.6

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: Julian Champagnie, 23.5 fantasy points per game to 22.6.

9-cat leagues: Julian Champagnie again, 95th overall against 248th.

Jarace Walker vs Julian Champagnie: the full comparison, per 36 and by punt build

Per game, side by side

StatJarace WalkerJulian Champagnie
Fantasy points per game22.623.5
Minutes25.327.8
PointsPTS11.110.9
ReboundsREB5.25.6
AssistsAST2.51.5
StealsSTL0.80.8
BlocksBLK0.40.6
Threes3PM1.72.4
Field goal %FG%40.9%43.3%
Free throw %FT%74.9%84.4%
TurnoversTO2.00.8

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 Jarace Walker playing tonight? · Is Julian Champagnie playing tonight?

Your next move

Common questions

  • Should I start Jarace Walker or Julian Champagnie in Week 1?

    Points leagues, Week 1 (Oct 19-25): start Julian Champagnie. Both have 2 games left in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), so it comes down to per game: 23.5 fantasy points to 22.6. 9-cat leagues: Julian Champagnie again, -2.4 category value for the week to -9.4. Julian Champagnie has 1 back-to-back in Week 1, the nights rest days tend to land on. Jarace Walker's minutes are down: 18.5 a game over his last 1 game of 2026-27, against 25.3 on the board. Julian Champagnie's minutes are up: 30.0 a game over his last 1 game of 2026-27, against 27.8 on the board.

  • Who is better for the season, Jarace Walker or Julian Champagnie?

    Points leagues: Julian Champagnie, 23.5 fantasy points per game to 22.6. 9-cat leagues: Julian Champagnie again, 95th overall against 248th.

  • Who wins more categories, Jarace Walker or Julian Champagnie?

    Jarace Walker is ahead in 1 (assists); Julian Champagnie in 7 (rebounds, steals, blocks, threes, field goal percentage, free throw percentage, turnovers), per game.

By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 22, 2026 at 7:55 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number