Cameron Johnson vs Derrick Jones Jr.: who to start in Week 1
Cameron Johnson plays 2 games in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), Derrick Jones Jr. 3. For that week alone, start Derrick Jones Jr.: 65.5 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for Cameron Johnson. Over the season, Cameron Johnson leads in points leagues (22.1 fantasy points a game to 21.8) and Derrick Jones Jr. in 9-cat leagues (126th against 127th). 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, 2:26 AM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
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- Points leagues
- #171
- 22.1 FP/G, slot 15.03
- 9-cat leagues
- #127
- -2.0 z, slot 11.07, $4
Out (Ankle)
The pick in points leagues.
- Points leagues
- #175
- 21.8 FP/G, slot 15.07
- 9-cat leagues
- #126
- -2.0 z, slot 11.06, $4
The pick in 9-cat leagues.
The call
Points leagues: Cameron Johnson. 22.1 fantasy points per game against 21.8, 171st on our board to 175th.
9-cat leagues: Derrick Jones Jr. instead, -2.0 in summed z-scores against -2.0 (126th to 127th), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Category by category, Cameron Johnson is ahead in 4 (PTS, AST, 3PM and FT%) and Derrick Jones Jr. in 4 (STL, BLK, FG% and TO).
Per 36 minutes, Derrick Jones Jr. produces more: 28.7 fantasy points to 27.2, on 27.4 minutes a night against 29.3. He does it in fewer minutes, so a bigger role would widen the gap.
Cameron Johnson plays 2 games in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), Derrick Jones Jr. 3. For that week alone, start Derrick Jones Jr.: 65.5 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for Cameron Johnson.
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.
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Per game, side by side
| Per game | Cameron Johnson | Derrick Jones Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 22.1 | 21.8 |
| Minutes | 29.3 | 27.4 |
| PointsPTS | 11.8 | 10.3 |
| ReboundsREB | 3.7 | 3.6 |
| AssistsAST | 2.4 | 1.6 |
| StealsSTL | 0.7 | 1.0 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.4 | 0.9 |
| Threes3PM | 2.0 | 1.2 |
| Field goal %FG% | 48.4% | 50.3% |
| Free throw %FT% | 83.9% | 73.0% |
| TurnoversTO | 0.8 | 0.8 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 54 | 50 |
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 | Cameron Johnson | Derrick Jones Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 27.2 | 28.7 |
| Points | 14.5 | 13.6 |
| Rebounds | 4.6 | 4.8 |
| Assists | 2.9 | 2.1 |
| Steals | 0.9 | 1.3 |
| Blocks | 0.4 | 1.2 |
| Threes | 2.4 | 1.6 |
| Turnovers | 1.0 | 1.0 |
Each per-game number divided by minutes and scaled to 36: the rate a bigger role would carry.
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9-category z-scores
| Category | Cameron Johnson | Derrick Jones Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | -0.8 | -1.1 |
| ReboundsREB | -0.9 | -1.0 |
| AssistsAST | -0.6 | -1.0 |
| StealsSTL | -0.9 | -0.1 |
| BlocksBLK | -0.7 | +0.4 |
| Threes3PM | +0.3 | -0.5 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | -0.0 | +0.2 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | +0.3 | -0.4 |
| TurnoversTO | +1.3 | +1.4 |
| Total | -2.0 | -2.0 |
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, steals, blocks, field goal percentage and turnovers flips the 9-cat answer to Cameron Johnson.
| Punt | Cameron Johnson | Derrick Jones Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | -1.3 (#123) | -1.0 (#109) |
| REB | -1.2 (#103) | -1.2 (#104) |
| AST | -1.5 (#124) | -1.0 (#101) |
| STL | -1.2 (#109) | -2.0 (#142) |
| BLK | -1.5 (#108) | -2.6 (#156) |
| 3PM | -2.5 (#160) | -1.6 (#122) |
| FG% | -2.1 (#125) | -2.6 (#145) |
| FT% | -2.4 (#149) | -1.6 (#123) |
| TO | -3.5 (#155) | -3.5 (#157) |
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)
- Cameron Johnson: 2 games (Thu @OKC, Sat NOP), listed Out.
- Derrick Jones Jr.: 3 games (Wed SAC, Fri @LAL, Sun @OKC).
Recent games
- Cameron Johnson: 8.9 fantasy points a game over his last 1 of 2026-27, against 22.1 on the board.
- Derrick Jones Jr.: 26.5 fantasy points a game over his last 2 of 2026-27, against 21.8 on the board.
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Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Cameron Johnson playing tonight? · Is Derrick Jones Jr. playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Cameron Johnson
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Cameron Johnson or Derrick Jones Jr.?
Points leagues: Cameron Johnson. 22.1 fantasy points per game against 21.8, 171st on our board to 175th. 9-cat leagues: Derrick Jones Jr. instead, -2.0 in summed z-scores against -2.0 (126th to 127th), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Cameron Johnson or Derrick Jones Jr.?
Category by category, Cameron Johnson is ahead in 4 (PTS, AST, 3PM and FT%) and Derrick Jones Jr. in 4 (STL, BLK, FG% and TO).
Who should I start in Week 1, Cameron Johnson or Derrick Jones Jr.?
Cameron Johnson plays 2 games in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), Derrick Jones Jr. 3. For that week alone, start Derrick Jones Jr.: 65.5 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for Cameron Johnson.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 24, 2026 at 2:26 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number