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Josh Giddey or Kyrie Irving? Week 3

Who to start in fantasy basketball in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), PGs ranked 10th and 12th at the position, compared on 2025-26 and 2026-27 per-game production.

Updated Nov 3, 2:36 AM ET.

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FP/G
37.2
9-cat
#105
Last 7 FP
27.7

3 games in Week 3

Kyrie Irving
PGDALDTD
FP/G
35.9
9-cat
#9
Last 5 FP
35.9

Day to day (Knee)

4 games in Week 3

Week 3 pick in points and 9-cat leagues.

The Week 3 call

Points leagues, Week 3 (Nov 2-8): start Kyrie Irving. Kyrie Irving has 3 games counted to 2 for Josh Giddey, for 107.6 projected fantasy points against 74.4.

9-cat leagues: Kyrie Irving again, 13.6 category value for the week to -2.7.

Josh Giddey's minutes are down: 28.4 a game over his last 5 games of 2026-27, against 30.5 on the board.

Kyrie Irving played 28.6 minutes a game over his last 5 games of 2026-27, in line with his 28.6 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.

Josh Giddey rookie cards

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Week 3 (Nov 2-8), side by side

This weekJosh GiddeyKyrie Irving
Games, Week 334
Games counted (left this week)23
Back-to-backs00
Games, Week 434
Minutes, last games28.4 (last 5)28.6 (last 5)
Minutes, board30.528.6
Shots per 36, last games11.718.6
InjuryNone listedDay to day (Knee)
Projected fantasy points74.4107.6
Projected 9-cat value-2.713.6

Schedule: Josh Giddey Mon @PHI, Wed @NYK, Sun PHI. Kyrie Irving Mon SAC, Wed @SAS, Fri UTA, Sun BKN.

Projected totals for the games counted

StatJosh GiddeyKyrie Irving
Points29.064.2
Rebounds14.610.2
Assists17.514.4
Steals1.83.6
Blocks1.01.8
Threes3.29.6
Turnovers6.56.6

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 5 games of 2026-27. Schedule from the NBA's published slate via ESPN.

The season-long call

Points leagues: Josh Giddey, 37.2 fantasy points per game to 35.9.

9-cat leagues: Kyrie Irving instead, 9th overall against 105th, because the categories reward a different mix.

Per game, side by side

StatJosh GiddeyKyrie Irving
Fantasy points per game37.235.9
Minutes30.528.6
PointsPTS14.521.4
ReboundsREB7.33.4
AssistsAST8.74.8
StealsSTL0.91.2
BlocksBLK0.50.6
Threes3PM1.63.2
Field goal %FG%42.8%52.7%
Free throw %FT%75.1%100.0%
TurnoversTO3.22.2

Bold is the better number. Per-game lines blend last season with this one, the same numbers the rankings use.

Other close calls

Week 3 streamers · NBA waiver wire · Games per team this week

Is Josh Giddey playing tonight? · Is Kyrie Irving playing tonight?

Your next move

Common questions

  • Should I start Josh Giddey or Kyrie Irving in Week 3?

    Points leagues, Week 3 (Nov 2-8): start Kyrie Irving. Kyrie Irving has 3 games counted to 2 for Josh Giddey, for 107.6 projected fantasy points against 74.4. 9-cat leagues: Kyrie Irving again, 13.6 category value for the week to -2.7. Josh Giddey's minutes are down: 28.4 a game over his last 5 games of 2026-27, against 30.5 on the board. Kyrie Irving played 28.6 minutes a game over his last 5 games of 2026-27, in line with his 28.6 on the board.

  • Who is better for the season, Josh Giddey or Kyrie Irving?

    Points leagues: Josh Giddey, 37.2 fantasy points per game to 35.9. 9-cat leagues: Kyrie Irving instead, 9th overall against 105th, because the categories reward a different mix.

  • Who wins more categories, Josh Giddey or Kyrie Irving?

    Josh Giddey is ahead in 2 (rebounds, assists); Kyrie Irving in 7 (points, steals, blocks, threes, field goal percentage, free throw percentage, turnovers), per game.

By the Parlae deskBoard updated Nov 3, 2026 at 2:36 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number