Amen Thompson vs Josh Giddey: who to start in Week 3
Amen Thompson plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Josh Giddey 3. For that week alone, start Amen Thompson: 112.6 projected fantasy points to 111.3 for Josh Giddey. Over the season, Amen Thompson leads in both formats: 37.5 fantasy points a game to 37.1, and 36th against 102nd in 9-cat. 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.
Parlae may earn a commission from price links.
- 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 and 9-cat leagues.
- Points leagues
- #44
- 37.1 FP/G, slot 4.08, $21
- 9-cat leagues
- #102
- -1.3 z, slot 9.06, $8
The call
Points leagues: Amen Thompson. 37.5 fantasy points per game against 37.1, 40th on our board to 44th.
9-cat leagues: Amen Thompson again, +1.1 in summed z-scores against -1.3 (36th to 102nd).
Category by category, Amen Thompson is ahead in 6 (PTS, STL, BLK, FG%, FT% and TO) and Josh Giddey in 2 (AST and 3PM).
Per 36 minutes, Josh Giddey produces more: 43.9 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), Josh Giddey 3. For that week alone, start Amen Thompson: 112.6 projected fantasy points to 111.3 for Josh Giddey.
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 | Josh Giddey |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 37.5 | 37.1 |
| Minutes | 36.3 | 30.4 |
| PointsPTS | 17.6 | 14.6 |
| ReboundsREB | 7.4 | 7.5 |
| AssistsAST | 4.8 | 8.7 |
| StealsSTL | 1.5 | 0.9 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.5 | 0.4 |
| Threes3PM | 0.3 | 1.6 |
| Field goal %FG% | 53.0% | 43.4% |
| Free throw %FT% | 77.4% | 75.8% |
| TurnoversTO | 2.1 | 3.3 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 79 | 54 |
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 | Josh Giddey |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 37.3 | 43.9 |
| Points | 17.5 | 17.3 |
| Rebounds | 7.3 | 8.8 |
| Assists | 4.8 | 10.3 |
| Steals | 1.5 | 1.0 |
| Blocks | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Threes | 0.3 | 1.9 |
| Turnovers | 2.1 | 3.9 |
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 | Josh Giddey |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | +0.2 | -0.4 |
| ReboundsREB | +0.7 | +0.7 |
| AssistsAST | +0.5 | +2.5 |
| StealsSTL | +1.1 | -0.5 |
| BlocksBLK | -0.4 | -0.6 |
| Threes3PM | -1.4 | -0.1 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | +1.0 | -0.9 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | -0.4 | -0.5 |
| TurnoversTO | -0.2 | -1.6 |
| 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
No punt changes the answer: Amen Thompson stays ahead whichever category you give up.
| Punt | Amen Thompson | Josh Giddey |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | +0.8 (#35) | -1.0 (#107) |
| REB | +0.2 (#54) | -2.1 (#142) |
| AST | +0.4 (#45) | -3.9 (#241) |
| STL | -0.2 (#62) | -0.8 (#88) |
| BLK | +1.2 (#32) | -0.9 (#94) |
| 3PM | +2.4 (#16) | -1.2 (#106) |
| FG% | -0.3 (#64) | -0.7 (#82) |
| FT% | +1.4 (#32) | -0.9 (#90) |
| TO | +1.2 (#41) | +0.3 (#57) |
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).
- Josh Giddey: 3 games (Mon @PHI, Wed @NYK, Sun PHI).
Recent games
- Amen Thompson: 32.0 fantasy points a game over his last 8 of 2026-27, against 37.5 on the board.
- Josh Giddey: 27.7 fantasy points a game over his last 7 of 2026-27, against 37.1 on the board.
Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Amen Thompson playing tonight? · Is Josh Giddey playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Amen Thompson, Josh Giddey
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Amen Thompson or Josh Giddey?
Points leagues: Amen Thompson. 37.5 fantasy points per game against 37.1, 40th on our board to 44th. 9-cat leagues: Amen Thompson again, +1.1 in summed z-scores against -1.3 (36th to 102nd).
Who wins more categories, Amen Thompson or Josh Giddey?
Category by category, Amen Thompson is ahead in 6 (PTS, STL, BLK, FG%, FT% and TO) and Josh Giddey in 2 (AST and 3PM).
Who should I start in Week 3, Amen Thompson or Josh Giddey?
Amen Thompson plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Josh Giddey 3. For that week alone, start Amen Thompson: 112.6 projected fantasy points to 111.3 for Josh Giddey.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Nov 3, 2026 at 12:36 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number