Ausar Thompson vs Zach LaVine: who to start in Week 3
Ausar Thompson plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Zach LaVine 4. For that week alone, start Zach LaVine: 114.9 projected fantasy points to 85.9 for Ausar Thompson. Over the season, Zach LaVine leads in both formats: 28.7 fantasy points a game to 28.6, and 96th against 113th 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
- #107
- 28.6 FP/G, slot 9.11, $8
- 9-cat leagues
- #113
- -1.5 z, slot 10.05, $6
- Points leagues
- #106
- 28.7 FP/G, slot 9.10, $8
- 9-cat leagues
- #96
- -1.2 z, slot 8.12, $8
The pick in points and 9-cat leagues.
The call
Points leagues: Zach LaVine. 28.7 fantasy points per game against 28.6, 106th on our board to 107th.
9-cat leagues: Zach LaVine again, -1.2 in summed z-scores against -1.5 (96th to 113th).
Category by category, Ausar Thompson is ahead in 6 (REB, AST, STL, BLK, FG% and TO) and Zach LaVine in 3 (PTS, 3PM and FT%).
Per 36 minutes, Ausar Thompson produces more: 39.5 fantasy points to 32.2, on 26.1 minutes a night against 32.1. He does it in fewer minutes, so a bigger role would widen the gap.
Ausar Thompson plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Zach LaVine 4. For that week alone, start Zach LaVine: 114.9 projected fantasy points to 85.9 for Ausar 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 | Ausar Thompson | Zach LaVine |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 28.6 | 28.7 |
| Minutes | 26.1 | 32.1 |
| PointsPTS | 9.6 | 20.4 |
| ReboundsREB | 6.1 | 2.8 |
| AssistsAST | 3.6 | 2.5 |
| StealsSTL | 1.8 | 0.8 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.9 | 0.3 |
| Threes3PM | 0.1 | 2.5 |
| Field goal %FG% | 52.6% | 48.4% |
| Free throw %FT% | 57.7% | 85.5% |
| TurnoversTO | 1.8 | 2.2 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 73 | 39 |
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 | Ausar Thompson | Zach LaVine |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 39.5 | 32.2 |
| Points | 13.2 | 22.9 |
| Rebounds | 8.5 | 3.1 |
| Assists | 5.0 | 2.8 |
| Steals | 2.5 | 0.9 |
| Blocks | 1.2 | 0.3 |
| Threes | 0.1 | 2.8 |
| Turnovers | 2.5 | 2.5 |
Each per-game number divided by minutes and scaled to 36: the rate a bigger role would carry.
9-category z-scores
| Category | Ausar Thompson | Zach LaVine |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | -1.2 | +0.7 |
| ReboundsREB | +0.1 | -1.3 |
| AssistsAST | -0.1 | -0.6 |
| StealsSTL | +2.0 | -0.6 |
| BlocksBLK | +0.3 | -0.8 |
| Threes3PM | -1.7 | +0.9 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | +0.5 | +0.0 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | -1.8 | +0.8 |
| TurnoversTO | +0.2 | -0.3 |
| Total | -1.5 | -1.2 |
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 Ausar Thompson.
| Punt | Ausar Thompson | Zach LaVine |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | -0.4 (#79) | -2.0 (#167) |
| REB | -2.0 (#135) | +0.0 (#59) |
| AST | -1.7 (#136) | -0.8 (#82) |
| STL | -3.6 (#227) | -0.8 (#85) |
| BLK | -2.1 (#140) | -0.5 (#79) |
| 3PM | +0.2 (#49) | -2.3 (#163) |
| FG% | -2.8 (#153) | -1.3 (#102) |
| FT% | +0.3 (#48) | -2.2 (#154) |
| TO | -1.9 (#112) | -1.0 (#87) |
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)
- Ausar Thompson: 3 games (Mon @CHA, Wed PHI, Sun LAL).
- Zach LaVine: 4 games (Mon @DAL, Wed LAL, Fri SAS, Sun MIA).
Recent games
- Ausar Thompson: 28.3 fantasy points a game over his last 6 of 2026-27, against 28.6 on the board.
- Zach LaVine: 32.2 fantasy points a game over his last 7 of 2026-27, against 28.7 on the board.
Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Ausar Thompson playing tonight? · Is Zach LaVine playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Ausar Thompson, Zach LaVine
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Ausar Thompson or Zach LaVine?
Points leagues: Zach LaVine. 28.7 fantasy points per game against 28.6, 106th on our board to 107th. 9-cat leagues: Zach LaVine again, -1.2 in summed z-scores against -1.5 (96th to 113th).
Who wins more categories, Ausar Thompson or Zach LaVine?
Category by category, Ausar Thompson is ahead in 6 (REB, AST, STL, BLK, FG% and TO) and Zach LaVine in 3 (PTS, 3PM and FT%).
Who should I start in Week 3, Ausar Thompson or Zach LaVine?
Ausar Thompson plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Zach LaVine 4. For that week alone, start Zach LaVine: 114.9 projected fantasy points to 85.9 for Ausar Thompson.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Nov 3, 2026 at 12:36 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number