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Mark Williams or Wendell Carter Jr.? Week 1

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

Updated Oct 22, 11:54 AM ET.

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FP/G
27.1
9-cat
#58
Last 10 FP
21.8

Out (Shoulder)

2 games in Week 1

Week 1 pick in 9-cat leagues.

FP/G
27.0
9-cat
#83
Last 1 FP
33.4

3 games in Week 1

Week 1 pick in points leagues.

The Week 1 call

Mark Williams is listed Out (Shoulder) on Sleeper, so his projection counts no games while that stands.

Points leagues, Week 1 (Oct 19-25): start Wendell Carter Jr.. Wendell Carter Jr. has 2 games counted to 0 for Mark Williams, for 54.0 projected fantasy points against 0.0.

9-cat leagues: Mark Williams instead, 0.0 category value for the week to -1.7, because his category mix is worth more there.

Mark Williams played 23.3 minutes a game over his last 5 games of 2025-26, in line with his 23.6 on the board.

Wendell Carter Jr. played 30.9 minutes a game over his last 1 game of 2026-27, in line with his 29.4 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.

Mark Williams rookie cards

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Week 1 (Oct 19-25), side by side

This weekMark WilliamsWendell Carter Jr.
Games, Week 123
Games counted (left this week)02
Back-to-backs00
Games, Week 223
Minutes, last games23.3 (last 5)30.9 (last 1)
Minutes, board23.629.4
Shots per 36, last games9.911.7
InjuryOut (Shoulder)None listed
Projected fantasy points0.054.0
Projected 9-cat value0.0-1.7

Schedule: Mark Williams Wed @POR, Sat GSW. Wendell Carter Jr. Wed ATL, Fri MIN, Sun @NYK.

Projected totals for the games counted

StatMark WilliamsWendell Carter Jr.
Points0.024.9
Rebounds0.014.7
Assists0.03.7
Steals0.01.6
Blocks0.01.2
Threes0.01.9
Turnovers0.02.4

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: Mark Williams, 27.1 fantasy points per game to 27.0.

9-cat leagues: Mark Williams again, 58th overall against 83rd.

Mark Williams vs Wendell Carter Jr.: the full comparison, per 36 and by punt build

Per game, side by side

StatMark WilliamsWendell Carter Jr.
Fantasy points per game27.127.0
Minutes23.629.4
PointsPTS11.712.5
ReboundsREB8.07.4
AssistsAST1.01.9
StealsSTL0.90.8
BlocksBLK0.90.6
Threes3PM0.00.9
Field goal %FG%64.4%53.4%
Free throw %FT%77.1%81.2%
TurnoversTO1.11.2

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

Other close calls

Week 1 streamers · NBA waiver wire · Games per team this week

Is Mark Williams playing tonight? · Is Wendell Carter Jr. playing tonight?

Your next move

Common questions

  • Should I start Mark Williams or Wendell Carter Jr. in Week 1?

    Mark Williams is listed Out (Shoulder) on Sleeper, so his projection counts no games while that stands. Points leagues, Week 1 (Oct 19-25): start Wendell Carter Jr.. Wendell Carter Jr. has 2 games counted to 0 for Mark Williams, for 54.0 projected fantasy points against 0.0. 9-cat leagues: Mark Williams instead, 0.0 category value for the week to -1.7, because his category mix is worth more there. Mark Williams played 23.3 minutes a game over his last 5 games of 2025-26, in line with his 23.6 on the board. Wendell Carter Jr. played 30.9 minutes a game over his last 1 game of 2026-27, in line with his 29.4 on the board.

  • Who is better for the season, Mark Williams or Wendell Carter Jr.?

    Points leagues: Mark Williams, 27.1 fantasy points per game to 27.0. 9-cat leagues: Mark Williams again, 58th overall against 83rd.

  • Who wins more categories, Mark Williams or Wendell Carter Jr.?

    Mark Williams is ahead in 5 (rebounds, steals, blocks, field goal percentage, turnovers); Wendell Carter Jr. in 4 (points, assists, threes, free throw percentage), per game.

By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 22, 2026 at 11:54 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number