Amen Thompson vs Michael Porter Jr.: who to start in Week 1
Amen Thompson plays 3 games in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), Michael Porter Jr. 3. For that week alone, start Amen Thompson: 117.9 projected fantasy points to 116.8 for Michael Porter Jr.. Over the season, Amen Thompson leads in points leagues (39.3 fantasy points a game to 38.9) and Michael Porter Jr. in 9-cat leagues (27th against 29th). 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 Oct 22, 4:57 AM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
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- Points leagues
- #32
- 39.3 FP/G, slot 3.08, $25
- 9-cat leagues
- #29
- +1.7 z, slot 3.05, $25
The pick in points leagues.
- Points leagues
- #34
- 38.9 FP/G, slot 3.10, $25
- 9-cat leagues
- #27
- +2.2 z, slot 3.03, $27
The pick in 9-cat leagues.
The call
Points leagues: Amen Thompson. 39.3 fantasy points per game against 38.9, 32nd on our board to 34th.
9-cat leagues: Michael Porter Jr. instead, +2.2 in summed z-scores against +1.7 (27th to 29th), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Category by category, Amen Thompson is ahead in 6 (REB, AST, STL, BLK, FG% and TO) and Michael Porter Jr. in 3 (PTS, 3PM and FT%).
Per 36 minutes, Michael Porter Jr. produces more: 43.0 fantasy points to 38.1, on 32.6 minutes a night against 37.1. He does it in fewer minutes, so a bigger role would widen the gap.
Amen Thompson plays 3 games in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), Michael Porter Jr. 3. For that week alone, start Amen Thompson: 117.9 projected fantasy points to 116.8 for Michael Porter Jr..
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.
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Per game, side by side
| Per game | Amen Thompson | Michael Porter Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 39.3 | 38.9 |
| Minutes | 37.1 | 32.6 |
| PointsPTS | 18.1 | 24.3 |
| ReboundsREB | 7.9 | 7.1 |
| AssistsAST | 5.2 | 2.9 |
| StealsSTL | 1.5 | 1.2 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.6 | 0.2 |
| Threes3PM | 0.4 | 3.5 |
| Field goal %FG% | 53.2% | 46.4% |
| Free throw %FT% | 76.8% | 84.8% |
| TurnoversTO | 2.3 | 2.5 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 79 | 52 |
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 | Michael Porter Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 38.1 | 43.0 |
| Points | 17.6 | 26.9 |
| Rebounds | 7.7 | 7.8 |
| Assists | 5.1 | 3.2 |
| Steals | 1.4 | 1.3 |
| Blocks | 0.6 | 0.3 |
| Threes | 0.3 | 3.9 |
| Turnovers | 2.2 | 2.7 |
Each per-game number divided by minutes and scaled to 36: the rate a bigger role would carry.
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9-category z-scores
| Category | Amen Thompson | Michael Porter Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | +0.3 | +1.4 |
| ReboundsREB | +1.0 | +0.6 |
| AssistsAST | +0.8 | -0.4 |
| StealsSTL | +1.3 | +0.5 |
| BlocksBLK | -0.2 | -0.9 |
| Threes3PM | -1.3 | +1.9 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | +1.0 | -0.7 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | -0.5 | +0.6 |
| TurnoversTO | -0.6 | -0.8 |
| Total | +1.7 | +2.2 |
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 points, threes and free throw percentage flips the 9-cat answer to Amen Thompson.
| Punt | Amen Thompson | Michael Porter Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | +1.4 (#27) | +0.7 (#41) |
| REB | +0.5 (#45) | +1.7 (#27) |
| AST | +0.8 (#38) | +2.4 (#19) |
| STL | +0.4 (#50) | +1.7 (#26) |
| BLK | +1.8 (#28) | +3.1 (#18) |
| 3PM | +2.9 (#13) | +0.1 (#58) |
| FG% | +0.2 (#57) | +3.1 (#20) |
| FT% | +2.2 (#23) | +1.3 (#33) |
| TO | +2.3 (#31) | +3.0 (#22) |
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 391 ranked players.
Week 1 (Oct 19-25)
- Amen Thompson: 3 games (Wed DAL, Fri @SAS, Sat @ATL), 1 back-to-back.
- Michael Porter Jr.: 3 games (Wed CHA, Sat @CLE, Sun IND), 1 back-to-back.
Amen Thompson or Michael Porter Jr.: the Week 1 start/sit call
Recent games
- Amen Thompson: 36.0 fantasy points a game over his last 1 of 2026-27, against 39.3 on the board.
- Michael Porter Jr.: 36.3 fantasy points a game over his last 10 of 2025-26, against 38.9 on the board.
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Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Amen Thompson playing tonight? · Is Michael Porter Jr. playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Amen Thompson
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Amen Thompson or Michael Porter Jr.?
Points leagues: Amen Thompson. 39.3 fantasy points per game against 38.9, 32nd on our board to 34th. 9-cat leagues: Michael Porter Jr. instead, +2.2 in summed z-scores against +1.7 (27th to 29th), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Amen Thompson or Michael Porter Jr.?
Category by category, Amen Thompson is ahead in 6 (REB, AST, STL, BLK, FG% and TO) and Michael Porter Jr. in 3 (PTS, 3PM and FT%).
Who should I start in Week 1, Amen Thompson or Michael Porter Jr.?
Amen Thompson plays 3 games in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), Michael Porter Jr. 3. For that week alone, start Amen Thompson: 117.9 projected fantasy points to 116.8 for Michael Porter Jr..
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 22, 2026 at 4:57 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number