Amen Thompson vs Walker Kessler: who to start in Week 3
Amen Thompson plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Walker Kessler 4. For that week alone, start Walker Kessler: 152.0 projected fantasy points to 112.6 for Amen Thompson. Over the season, Walker Kessler leads in both formats: 38.0 fantasy points a game to 37.5, and 12th against 36th 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.
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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
- Points leagues
- #37
- 38.0 FP/G, slot 4.01, $23
- 9-cat leagues
- #12
- +3.7 z, slot 1.12, $37
The pick in points and 9-cat leagues.
The call
Points leagues: Walker Kessler. 38.0 fantasy points per game against 37.5, 37th on our board to 40th.
9-cat leagues: Walker Kessler again, +3.7 in summed z-scores against +1.1 (12th to 36th).
Category by category, Amen Thompson is ahead in 5 (PTS, AST, STL, FT% and TO) and Walker Kessler in 4 (REB, BLK, 3PM and FG%).
Per 36 minutes, Walker Kessler produces more: 44.6 fantasy points to 37.3, on 30.7 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), Walker Kessler 4. For that week alone, start Walker Kessler: 152.0 projected fantasy points to 112.6 for Amen Thompson.
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 | Walker Kessler |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 37.5 | 38.0 |
| Minutes | 36.3 | 30.7 |
| PointsPTS | 17.6 | 14.3 |
| ReboundsREB | 7.4 | 10.3 |
| AssistsAST | 4.8 | 1.9 |
| StealsSTL | 1.5 | 1.2 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.5 | 2.4 |
| Threes3PM | 0.3 | 0.5 |
| Field goal %FG% | 53.0% | 73.4% |
| Free throw %FT% | 77.4% | 62.2% |
| TurnoversTO | 2.1 | 2.3 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 79 | 5 |
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 | Walker Kessler |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 37.3 | 44.6 |
| Points | 17.5 | 16.8 |
| Rebounds | 7.3 | 12.0 |
| Assists | 4.8 | 2.3 |
| Steals | 1.5 | 1.4 |
| Blocks | 0.5 | 2.8 |
| Threes | 0.3 | 0.6 |
| Turnovers | 2.1 | 2.6 |
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 | Walker Kessler |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | +0.2 | -0.4 |
| ReboundsREB | +0.7 | +1.9 |
| AssistsAST | +0.5 | -0.9 |
| StealsSTL | +1.1 | +0.3 |
| BlocksBLK | -0.4 | +3.5 |
| Threes3PM | -1.4 | -1.2 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | +1.0 | +3.1 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | -0.4 | -2.1 |
| TurnoversTO | -0.2 | -0.4 |
| Total | +1.1 | +3.7 |
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 blocks flips the 9-cat answer to Amen Thompson.
| Punt | Amen Thompson | Walker Kessler |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | +0.8 (#35) | +4.0 (#7) |
| REB | +0.2 (#54) | +1.4 (#28) |
| AST | +0.4 (#45) | +4.5 (#8) |
| STL | -0.2 (#62) | +3.1 (#13) |
| BLK | +1.2 (#32) | -0.1 (#68) |
| 3PM | +2.4 (#16) | +4.9 (#5) |
| FG% | -0.3 (#64) | -0.2 (#60) |
| FT% | +1.4 (#32) | +5.8 (#4) |
| TO | +1.2 (#41) | +3.8 (#17) |
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).
- Walker Kessler: 4 games (Mon MIA, Wed @SAC, Fri POR, Sun @DET), 1 back-to-back.
Recent games
- Amen Thompson: 32.0 fantasy points a game over his last 8 of 2026-27, against 37.5 on the board.
- Walker Kessler: 38.2 fantasy points a game over his last 8 of 2026-27, against 38.0 on the board.
Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Amen Thompson playing tonight? · Is Walker Kessler playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Amen Thompson
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Amen Thompson or Walker Kessler?
Points leagues: Walker Kessler. 38.0 fantasy points per game against 37.5, 37th on our board to 40th. 9-cat leagues: Walker Kessler again, +3.7 in summed z-scores against +1.1 (12th to 36th).
Who wins more categories, Amen Thompson or Walker Kessler?
Category by category, Amen Thompson is ahead in 5 (PTS, AST, STL, FT% and TO) and Walker Kessler in 4 (REB, BLK, 3PM and FG%).
Who should I start in Week 3, Amen Thompson or Walker Kessler?
Amen Thompson plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Walker Kessler 4. For that week alone, start Walker Kessler: 152.0 projected fantasy points to 112.6 for Amen Thompson.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Nov 3, 2026 at 12:36 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number