Bam Adebayo vs Michael Porter Jr.: who to start in Week 1
Bam Adebayo plays 3 games in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), Michael Porter Jr. 3. For that week alone, start Bam Adebayo: 121.6 projected fantasy points to 116.8 for Michael Porter Jr.. Over the season, Bam Adebayo leads in points leagues (40.5 fantasy points a game to 38.9) and Michael Porter Jr. in 9-cat leagues (27th against 30th). 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, 9:54 AM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
Parlae may earn a commission from price links.
- Points leagues
- #24
- 40.5 FP/G, slot 2.12, $27
- 9-cat leagues
- #30
- +1.7 z, slot 3.06, $24
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: Bam Adebayo. 40.5 fantasy points per game against 38.9, 24th on our board to 34th.
9-cat leagues: Michael Porter Jr. instead, +2.2 in summed z-scores against +1.7 (27th to 30th), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Category by category, Bam Adebayo is ahead in 5 (REB, AST, STL, BLK and TO) and Michael Porter Jr. in 4 (PTS, 3PM, FG% and FT%).
Per 36 minutes, Bam Adebayo produces more: 45.2 fantasy points to 43.0, on 32.3 minutes a night against 32.6. He does it in fewer minutes, so a bigger role would widen the gap.
Bam Adebayo plays 3 games in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), Michael Porter Jr. 3. For that week alone, start Bam Adebayo: 121.6 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.
Advertisement
Per game, side by side
| Per game | Bam Adebayo | Michael Porter Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 40.5 | 38.9 |
| Minutes | 32.3 | 32.6 |
| PointsPTS | 19.8 | 24.3 |
| ReboundsREB | 9.8 | 7.1 |
| AssistsAST | 3.2 | 2.9 |
| StealsSTL | 1.3 | 1.2 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.6 | 0.2 |
| Threes3PM | 1.7 | 3.5 |
| Field goal %FG% | 44.5% | 46.4% |
| Free throw %FT% | 77.4% | 84.8% |
| TurnoversTO | 1.7 | 2.5 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 73 | 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 | Bam Adebayo | Michael Porter Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 45.2 | 43.0 |
| Points | 22.1 | 26.9 |
| Rebounds | 11.0 | 7.8 |
| Assists | 3.6 | 3.2 |
| Steals | 1.4 | 1.3 |
| Blocks | 0.7 | 0.3 |
| Threes | 1.9 | 3.9 |
| Turnovers | 1.9 | 2.7 |
Each per-game number divided by minutes and scaled to 36: the rate a bigger role would carry.
Advertisement
9-category z-scores
| Category | Bam Adebayo | Michael Porter Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | +0.6 | +1.4 |
| ReboundsREB | +1.8 | +0.6 |
| AssistsAST | -0.2 | -0.4 |
| StealsSTL | +0.8 | +0.5 |
| BlocksBLK | -0.1 | -0.9 |
| Threes3PM | +0.1 | +1.9 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | -1.1 | -0.7 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | -0.4 | +0.6 |
| TurnoversTO | +0.2 | -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 Bam Adebayo.
| Punt | Bam Adebayo | Michael Porter Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | +1.0 (#33) | +0.7 (#41) |
| REB | -0.4 (#71) | +1.7 (#27) |
| AST | +1.8 (#25) | +2.4 (#19) |
| STL | +0.9 (#39) | +1.7 (#26) |
| BLK | +1.5 (#32) | +3.1 (#18) |
| 3PM | +1.5 (#32) | +0.1 (#58) |
| FG% | +2.4 (#24) | +3.1 (#20) |
| FT% | +2.1 (#25) | +1.3 (#33) |
| TO | +1.5 (#40) | +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)
- Bam Adebayo: 3 games (Wed MIN, Fri DET, Sat @CHA), 1 back-to-back.
- Michael Porter Jr.: 3 games (Wed CHA, Sat @CLE, Sun IND), 1 back-to-back.
Recent games
- Bam Adebayo: 36.4 fantasy points a game over his last 1 of 2026-27, against 40.5 on the board.
- Michael Porter Jr.: 40.9 fantasy points a game over his last 1 of 2026-27, against 38.9 on the board.
Advertisement
Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Bam Adebayo playing tonight? · Is Michael Porter Jr. playing tonight?
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Bam Adebayo or Michael Porter Jr.?
Points leagues: Bam Adebayo. 40.5 fantasy points per game against 38.9, 24th on our board to 34th. 9-cat leagues: Michael Porter Jr. instead, +2.2 in summed z-scores against +1.7 (27th to 30th), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Bam Adebayo or Michael Porter Jr.?
Category by category, Bam Adebayo is ahead in 5 (REB, AST, STL, BLK and TO) and Michael Porter Jr. in 4 (PTS, 3PM, FG% and FT%).
Who should I start in Week 1, Bam Adebayo or Michael Porter Jr.?
Bam Adebayo plays 3 games in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), Michael Porter Jr. 3. For that week alone, start Bam Adebayo: 121.6 projected fantasy points to 116.8 for Michael Porter Jr..
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 22, 2026 at 9:54 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number