Amen Thompson vs Fred VanVleet: who to start in Week 3
Amen Thompson plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Fred VanVleet 3. For that week alone, start Amen Thompson: 112.6 projected fantasy points to 97.2 for Fred VanVleet. Over the season, Amen Thompson leads in points leagues (37.5 fantasy points a game to 32.4) and Fred VanVleet in 9-cat leagues (32nd against 36th). The two go close together on our board, which is our own ranking order from 2025-26 and 2026-27 box scores, not ADP.
Updated Nov 3, 12:36 AM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
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- Points leagues
- #40
- 37.5 FP/G, slot 4.04, $22
- 9-cat leagues
- #36
- +1.1 z, slot 3.12, $22
The pick in points leagues.
- Points leagues
- #74
- 32.4 FP/G, slot 7.02, $14
- 9-cat leagues
- #32
- +1.3 z, slot 3.08, $23
The pick in 9-cat leagues.
The call
Points leagues: Amen Thompson. 37.5 fantasy points per game against 32.4, 40th on our board to 74th.
9-cat leagues: Fred VanVleet instead, +1.3 in summed z-scores against +1.1 (32nd to 36th), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Category by category, Amen Thompson is ahead in 4 (PTS, REB, BLK and FG%) and Fred VanVleet in 5 (AST, STL, 3PM, FT% and TO).
Per 36 minutes, Fred VanVleet produces more: 38.4 fantasy points to 37.3, on 30.4 minutes a night against 36.3. He does it in fewer minutes, so a bigger role would widen the gap.
Amen Thompson plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Fred VanVleet 3. For that week alone, start Amen Thompson: 112.6 projected fantasy points to 97.2 for Fred VanVleet.
Slots are where our board's order lands in a 12-team snake draft (round.pick), and dollars are auction value over replacement for 12 teams with $200 each. Neither is ADP: no free draft-position feed lets us republish it.
Per game, side by side
| Per game | Amen Thompson | Fred VanVleet |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 37.5 | 32.4 |
| Minutes | 36.3 | 30.4 |
| PointsPTS | 17.6 | 13.0 |
| ReboundsREB | 7.4 | 4.0 |
| AssistsAST | 4.8 | 6.4 |
| StealsSTL | 1.5 | 1.8 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.5 | 0.2 |
| Threes3PM | 0.3 | 2.4 |
| Field goal %FG% | 53.0% | 37.5% |
| Free throw %FT% | 77.4% | 84.6% |
| TurnoversTO | 2.1 | 1.0 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 79 | 0 |
Bold is the better number. The line blends 2025-26 with 2026-27 games as they are played, the same numbers the rankings use.
Per 36 minutes
| Per 36 | Amen Thompson | Fred VanVleet |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 37.3 | 38.4 |
| Points | 17.5 | 15.4 |
| Rebounds | 7.3 | 4.7 |
| Assists | 4.8 | 7.6 |
| Steals | 1.5 | 2.1 |
| Blocks | 0.5 | 0.2 |
| Threes | 0.3 | 2.8 |
| Turnovers | 2.1 | 1.2 |
Each per-game number divided by minutes and scaled to 36: the rate a bigger role would carry.
9-category z-scores
| Category | Amen Thompson | Fred VanVleet |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | +0.2 | -0.6 |
| ReboundsREB | +0.7 | -0.8 |
| AssistsAST | +0.5 | +1.3 |
| StealsSTL | +1.1 | +2.0 |
| BlocksBLK | -0.4 | -1.0 |
| Threes3PM | -1.4 | +0.7 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | +1.0 | -1.9 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | -0.4 | +0.4 |
| TurnoversTO | -0.2 | +1.2 |
| Total | +1.1 | +1.3 |
Each number is standard deviations above or below the top 156 players (a 12-team league's rosters). Field goal and free throw percentage are weighted by attempts, and turnovers count against.
If you punt a category
Punting assists, steals, threes, free throw percentage and turnovers flips the 9-cat answer to Amen Thompson.
| Punt | Amen Thompson | Fred VanVleet |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | +0.8 (#35) | +1.9 (#17) |
| REB | +0.2 (#54) | +2.1 (#23) |
| AST | +0.4 (#45) | -0.2 (#60) |
| STL | -0.2 (#62) | -0.7 (#80) |
| BLK | +1.2 (#32) | +2.3 (#22) |
| 3PM | +2.4 (#16) | +0.5 (#46) |
| FG% | -0.3 (#64) | +3.2 (#16) |
| FT% | +1.4 (#32) | +0.9 (#39) |
| TO | +1.2 (#41) | +0.1 (#62) |
Value is the sum of the other eight z-scores, recomputed with the punted category left out of the pool that sets them; the rank is among all 432 ranked players.
Week 3 (Nov 2-8)
- Amen Thompson: 3 games (Mon BOS, Wed MIN, Sat @PHX).
- Fred VanVleet: 3 games (Mon BOS, Wed MIN, Sat @PHX).
Recent games
- Amen Thompson: 32.0 fantasy points a game over his last 8 of 2026-27, against 37.5 on the board.
- Fred VanVleet: 31.3 fantasy points a game over his last 6 of 2026-27, against 32.4 on the board.
Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Amen Thompson playing tonight? · Is Fred VanVleet playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Amen Thompson
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Amen Thompson or Fred VanVleet?
Points leagues: Amen Thompson. 37.5 fantasy points per game against 32.4, 40th on our board to 74th. 9-cat leagues: Fred VanVleet instead, +1.3 in summed z-scores against +1.1 (32nd to 36th), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Amen Thompson or Fred VanVleet?
Category by category, Amen Thompson is ahead in 4 (PTS, REB, BLK and FG%) and Fred VanVleet in 5 (AST, STL, 3PM, FT% and TO).
Who should I start in Week 3, Amen Thompson or Fred VanVleet?
Amen Thompson plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Fred VanVleet 3. For that week alone, start Amen Thompson: 112.6 projected fantasy points to 97.2 for Fred VanVleet.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Nov 3, 2026 at 12:36 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number