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Keegan Murray or Naji Marshall? Week 1

Who to start in fantasy basketball in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), PFs ranked 17th and 20th at the position, compared on 2025-26 and 2026-27 per-game production.

Updated Oct 24, 10:27 AM ET.

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FP/G
28.1
9-cat
#103
Last 2 FP
13.8

3 games in Week 1

Week 1 pick in 9-cat leagues.

FP/G
28.2
9-cat
#143
Last 2 FP
32.1

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 Naji Marshall. Both have 1 game left in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), so it comes down to per game: 28.2 fantasy points to 28.1.

9-cat leagues: Keegan Murray instead, -1.3 category value for the week to -2.2, because his category mix is worth more there.

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

Keegan Murray's minutes are down: 27.2 a game over his last 2 games of 2026-27, against 33.6 on the board.

Naji Marshall played 31.0 minutes a game over his last 2 games of 2026-27, in line with his 29.7 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 weekKeegan MurrayNaji Marshall
Games, Week 133
Games counted (left this week)11
Back-to-backs01
Games, Week 233
Minutes, last games27.2 (last 2)31.0 (last 2)
Minutes, board33.629.7
Shots per 36, last games11.316.2
InjuryNone listedNone listed
Projected fantasy points28.128.2
Projected 9-cat value-1.3-2.2

Schedule: Keegan Murray Wed @LAC, Fri POR, Sun MEM. Naji Marshall Wed @HOU, Fri @IND, Sat SAS.

Projected totals for the games counted

StatKeegan MurrayNaji Marshall
Points13.115.3
Rebounds5.44.5
Assists1.53.6
Steals1.01.2
Blocks1.40.1
Threes1.20.9
Turnovers1.11.7

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: Naji Marshall, 28.2 fantasy points per game to 28.1.

9-cat leagues: Keegan Murray instead, 103rd overall against 143rd, because the categories reward a different mix.

Keegan Murray vs Naji Marshall: the full comparison, per 36 and by punt build

Per game, side by side

StatKeegan MurrayNaji Marshall
Fantasy points per game28.128.2
Minutes33.629.7
PointsPTS13.115.3
ReboundsREB5.44.5
AssistsAST1.53.6
StealsSTL1.01.2
BlocksBLK1.40.1
Threes3PM1.20.9
Field goal %FG%41.0%50.6%
Free throw %FT%80.0%75.2%
TurnoversTO1.11.7

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 Keegan Murray playing tonight? · Is Naji Marshall playing tonight?

Your next move

Common questions

  • Should I start Keegan Murray or Naji Marshall in Week 1?

    Points leagues, Week 1 (Oct 19-25): start Naji Marshall. Both have 1 game left in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), so it comes down to per game: 28.2 fantasy points to 28.1. 9-cat leagues: Keegan Murray instead, -1.3 category value for the week to -2.2, because his category mix is worth more there. Naji Marshall has 1 back-to-back in Week 1, the nights rest days tend to land on. Keegan Murray's minutes are down: 27.2 a game over his last 2 games of 2026-27, against 33.6 on the board. Naji Marshall played 31.0 minutes a game over his last 2 games of 2026-27, in line with his 29.7 on the board.

  • Who is better for the season, Keegan Murray or Naji Marshall?

    Points leagues: Naji Marshall, 28.2 fantasy points per game to 28.1. 9-cat leagues: Keegan Murray instead, 103rd overall against 143rd, because the categories reward a different mix.

  • Who wins more categories, Keegan Murray or Naji Marshall?

    Keegan Murray is ahead in 5 (rebounds, blocks, threes, free throw percentage, turnovers); Naji Marshall in 4 (points, assists, steals, field goal percentage), per game.

By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 24, 2026 at 10:27 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number