Bennedict Mathurin vs Jaxson Hayes: who to start in Week 1
Bennedict Mathurin plays 3 games in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), Jaxson Hayes 3. For that week alone, start Bennedict Mathurin: 80.1 projected fantasy points to 56.9 for Jaxson Hayes. Over the season, Bennedict Mathurin leads in both formats: 26.7 fantasy points a game to 19.0, and 176th against 177th 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 Oct 24, 4:26 AM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
Parlae may earn a commission from price links.
- Points leagues
- #115
- 26.7 FP/G, slot 10.07, $7
- 9-cat leagues
- #176
- -3.1 z, slot 15.08
The pick in points and 9-cat leagues.
- Points leagues
- #223
- 19.0 FP/G, slot 19.07
- 9-cat leagues
- #177
- -3.1 z, slot 15.09
The call
Points leagues: Bennedict Mathurin. 26.7 fantasy points per game against 19.0, 115th on our board to 223rd.
9-cat leagues: Bennedict Mathurin again, -3.1 in summed z-scores against -3.1 (176th to 177th).
Category by category, Bennedict Mathurin is ahead in 6 (PTS, REB, AST, STL, 3PM and FT%) and Jaxson Hayes in 3 (BLK, FG% and TO).
Per 36 minutes, Jaxson Hayes produces more: 35.6 fantasy points to 33.8, on 19.2 minutes a night against 28.4. He does it in fewer minutes, so a bigger role would widen the gap.
Bennedict Mathurin plays 3 games in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), Jaxson Hayes 3. For that week alone, start Bennedict Mathurin: 80.1 projected fantasy points to 56.9 for Jaxson Hayes.
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 | Bennedict Mathurin | Jaxson Hayes |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 26.7 | 19.0 |
| Minutes | 28.4 | 19.2 |
| PointsPTS | 16.4 | 7.9 |
| ReboundsREB | 5.1 | 4.2 |
| AssistsAST | 2.2 | 1.1 |
| StealsSTL | 0.8 | 0.5 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.2 | 1.1 |
| Threes3PM | 1.2 | 0.0 |
| Field goal %FG% | 42.9% | 76.5% |
| Free throw %FT% | 86.7% | 63.9% |
| TurnoversTO | 2.0 | 0.5 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 54 | 66 |
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 | Bennedict Mathurin | Jaxson Hayes |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 33.8 | 35.6 |
| Points | 20.8 | 14.9 |
| Rebounds | 6.4 | 7.9 |
| Assists | 2.8 | 2.0 |
| Steals | 1.0 | 0.9 |
| Blocks | 0.3 | 2.1 |
| Threes | 1.6 | 0.1 |
| Turnovers | 2.6 | 0.9 |
Each per-game number divided by minutes and scaled to 36: the rate a bigger role would carry.
Advertisement
9-category z-scores
| Category | Bennedict Mathurin | Jaxson Hayes |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | +0.0 | -1.5 |
| ReboundsREB | -0.3 | -0.7 |
| AssistsAST | -0.7 | -1.3 |
| StealsSTL | -0.7 | -1.4 |
| BlocksBLK | -1.0 | +0.9 |
| Threes3PM | -0.4 | -1.6 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | -1.1 | +1.9 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | +1.3 | -1.2 |
| TurnoversTO | -0.2 | +1.7 |
| Total | -3.1 | -3.1 |
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, rebounds, assists, steals, threes and free throw percentage flips the 9-cat answer to Jaxson Hayes.
| Punt | Bennedict Mathurin | Jaxson Hayes |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | -3.1 (#224) | -1.7 (#152) |
| REB | -2.9 (#185) | -2.8 (#180) |
| AST | -2.4 (#172) | -2.0 (#148) |
| STL | -2.4 (#159) | -1.9 (#139) |
| BLK | -2.3 (#148) | -4.4 (#247) |
| 3PM | -2.7 (#174) | -1.5 (#114) |
| FG% | -2.1 (#126) | -5.9 (#292) |
| FT% | -4.4 (#236) | -1.9 (#135) |
| TO | -3.0 (#138) | -5.0 (#214) |
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 392 ranked players.
Week 1 (Oct 19-25)
- Bennedict Mathurin: 3 games (Wed IND, Fri @UTA, Sat @DEN), 1 back-to-back.
- Jaxson Hayes: 3 games (Wed @MEM, Fri NOP, Sun LAL).
Recent games
- Bennedict Mathurin: 12.5 fantasy points a game over his last 2 of 2026-27, against 26.7 on the board.
- Jaxson Hayes: 33.8 fantasy points a game over his last 2 of 2026-27, against 19.0 on the board.
Advertisement
Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Bennedict Mathurin playing tonight? · Is Jaxson Hayes playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Bennedict Mathurin
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Bennedict Mathurin or Jaxson Hayes?
Points leagues: Bennedict Mathurin. 26.7 fantasy points per game against 19.0, 115th on our board to 223rd. 9-cat leagues: Bennedict Mathurin again, -3.1 in summed z-scores against -3.1 (176th to 177th).
Who wins more categories, Bennedict Mathurin or Jaxson Hayes?
Category by category, Bennedict Mathurin is ahead in 6 (PTS, REB, AST, STL, 3PM and FT%) and Jaxson Hayes in 3 (BLK, FG% and TO).
Who should I start in Week 1, Bennedict Mathurin or Jaxson Hayes?
Bennedict Mathurin plays 3 games in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), Jaxson Hayes 3. For that week alone, start Bennedict Mathurin: 80.1 projected fantasy points to 56.9 for Jaxson Hayes.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 24, 2026 at 4:26 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number