Amen Thompson vs Zion Williamson: who to start in Week 3
Amen Thompson plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Zion Williamson 4. For that week alone, start Zion Williamson: 145.5 projected fantasy points to 110.7 for Amen Thompson. Over the season, Amen Thompson leads in both formats: 36.9 fantasy points a game to 36.4, and 39th against 49th 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, 2:36 AM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
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- Points leagues
- #44
- 36.9 FP/G, slot 4.08, $21
- 9-cat leagues
- #39
- +0.9 z, slot 4.03, $20
The pick in points and 9-cat leagues.
- Points leagues
- #46
- 36.4 FP/G, slot 4.10, $20
- 9-cat leagues
- #49
- +0.3 z, slot 5.01, $17
The call
Points leagues: Amen Thompson. 36.9 fantasy points per game against 36.4, 44th on our board to 46th.
9-cat leagues: Amen Thompson again, +0.9 in summed z-scores against +0.3 (39th to 49th).
Category by category, Amen Thompson is ahead in 4 (REB, AST, 3PM and FT%) and Zion Williamson in 5 (PTS, STL, BLK, FG% and TO).
Per 36 minutes, Zion Williamson produces more: 43.0 fantasy points to 37.1, on 30.5 minutes a night against 35.8. 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), Zion Williamson 4. For that week alone, start Zion Williamson: 145.5 projected fantasy points to 110.7 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 | Zion Williamson |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 36.9 | 36.4 |
| Minutes | 35.8 | 30.5 |
| PointsPTS | 17.5 | 21.1 |
| ReboundsREB | 7.2 | 5.6 |
| AssistsAST | 4.7 | 3.1 |
| StealsSTL | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Threes3PM | 0.3 | 0.1 |
| Field goal %FG% | 53.1% | 61.1% |
| Free throw %FT% | 77.5% | 72.3% |
| TurnoversTO | 2.1 | 2.1 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 79 | 62 |
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 | Zion Williamson |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 37.1 | 43.0 |
| Points | 17.6 | 24.9 |
| Rebounds | 7.2 | 6.6 |
| Assists | 4.8 | 3.6 |
| Steals | 1.5 | 1.8 |
| Blocks | 0.5 | 0.6 |
| Threes | 0.3 | 0.2 |
| Turnovers | 2.1 | 2.4 |
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 | Zion Williamson |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | +0.1 | +0.8 |
| ReboundsREB | +0.6 | -0.1 |
| AssistsAST | +0.5 | -0.4 |
| StealsSTL | +1.0 | +1.2 |
| BlocksBLK | -0.4 | -0.3 |
| Threes3PM | -1.4 | -1.6 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | +1.0 | +2.6 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | -0.4 | -1.8 |
| TurnoversTO | -0.2 | -0.1 |
| Total | +0.9 | +0.3 |
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 rebounds, assists and free throw percentage flips the 9-cat answer to Zion Williamson.
| Punt | Amen Thompson | Zion Williamson |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | +0.6 (#40) | -0.6 (#87) |
| REB | +0.1 (#59) | +0.1 (#58) |
| AST | +0.2 (#51) | +0.4 (#42) |
| STL | -0.3 (#67) | -1.1 (#99) |
| BLK | +1.1 (#37) | +0.5 (#44) |
| 3PM | +2.2 (#21) | +1.8 (#29) |
| FG% | -0.6 (#76) | -3.1 (#171) |
| FT% | +1.2 (#35) | +2.0 (#26) |
| TO | +1.0 (#45) | +0.4 (#55) |
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 438 ranked players.
Week 3 (Nov 2-8)
- Amen Thompson: 3 games (Mon BOS, Wed MIN, Sat @PHX).
- Zion Williamson: 4 games (Mon @MEM, Wed UTA, Fri MIN, Sun @LAC).
Recent games
- Amen Thompson: 32.0 fantasy points a game over his last 8 of 2026-27, against 36.9 on the board.
- Zion Williamson: 39.0 fantasy points a game over his last 7 of 2026-27, against 36.4 on the board.
Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Amen Thompson playing tonight? · Is Zion Williamson playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Amen Thompson, Zion Williamson
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Amen Thompson or Zion Williamson?
Points leagues: Amen Thompson. 36.9 fantasy points per game against 36.4, 44th on our board to 46th. 9-cat leagues: Amen Thompson again, +0.9 in summed z-scores against +0.3 (39th to 49th).
Who wins more categories, Amen Thompson or Zion Williamson?
Category by category, Amen Thompson is ahead in 4 (REB, AST, 3PM and FT%) and Zion Williamson in 5 (PTS, STL, BLK, FG% and TO).
Who should I start in Week 3, Amen Thompson or Zion Williamson?
Amen Thompson plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Zion Williamson 4. For that week alone, start Zion Williamson: 145.5 projected fantasy points to 110.7 for Amen Thompson.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Nov 3, 2026 at 2:36 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number