Cameron Johnson vs Jalen Smith: who to start in Week 2
Cameron Johnson plays 3 games in Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1), Jalen Smith 3. For that week alone, start Jalen Smith: 71.3 projected fantasy points to 66.3 for Cameron Johnson. Over the season, Jalen Smith leads in points leagues (23.8 fantasy points a game to 22.1) and Cameron Johnson in 9-cat leagues (130th against 131st). 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 26, 10:30 AM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
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- Points leagues
- #166
- 22.1 FP/G, slot 14.10
- 9-cat leagues
- #130
- -2.0 z, slot 11.10, $4
Game-time decision (Ankle)
The pick in 9-cat leagues.
- Points leagues
- #151
- 23.8 FP/G, slot 13.07, $2
- 9-cat leagues
- #131
- -2.0 z, slot 11.11, $4
The pick in points leagues.
The call
Points leagues: Jalen Smith. 23.8 fantasy points per game against 22.1, 151st on our board to 166th.
9-cat leagues: Cameron Johnson instead, -2.0 in summed z-scores against -2.0 (130th to 131st), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Category by category, Cameron Johnson is ahead in 6 (PTS, AST, STL, 3PM, FT% and TO) and Jalen Smith in 3 (REB, BLK and FG%).
Per 36 minutes, Jalen Smith produces more: 40.7 fantasy points to 27.2, on 21.0 minutes a night against 29.3. He does it in fewer minutes, so a bigger role would widen the gap.
Cameron Johnson plays 3 games in Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1), Jalen Smith 3. For that week alone, start Jalen Smith: 71.3 projected fantasy points to 66.3 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 | Jalen Smith |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 22.1 | 23.8 |
| Minutes | 29.3 | 21.0 |
| PointsPTS | 11.8 | 10.9 |
| ReboundsREB | 3.7 | 6.9 |
| AssistsAST | 2.4 | 1.2 |
| StealsSTL | 0.7 | 0.5 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.4 | 0.7 |
| Threes3PM | 2.0 | 1.5 |
| Field goal %FG% | 48.4% | 49.0% |
| Free throw %FT% | 83.9% | 77.3% |
| TurnoversTO | 0.8 | 1.0 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 54 | 53 |
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 | Jalen Smith |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 27.2 | 40.7 |
| Points | 14.5 | 18.7 |
| Rebounds | 4.6 | 11.9 |
| Assists | 2.9 | 2.0 |
| Steals | 0.9 | 0.9 |
| Blocks | 0.4 | 1.2 |
| Threes | 2.4 | 2.6 |
| Turnovers | 1.0 | 1.7 |
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 | Jalen Smith |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | -0.8 | -1.0 |
| ReboundsREB | -0.9 | +0.6 |
| AssistsAST | -0.6 | -1.2 |
| StealsSTL | -0.9 | -1.3 |
| BlocksBLK | -0.6 | +0.1 |
| Threes3PM | +0.3 | -0.2 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | +0.0 | +0.1 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | +0.3 | -0.1 |
| TurnoversTO | +1.3 | +1.1 |
| 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 points, assists, steals, threes, free throw percentage and turnovers flips the 9-cat answer to Jalen Smith.
| Punt | Cameron Johnson | Jalen Smith |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | -1.2 (#116) | -1.0 (#106) |
| REB | -1.1 (#105) | -2.7 (#172) |
| AST | -1.4 (#120) | -0.7 (#84) |
| STL | -1.2 (#108) | -0.7 (#85) |
| BLK | -1.5 (#112) | -2.3 (#148) |
| 3PM | -2.4 (#161) | -1.8 (#130) |
| FG% | -2.0 (#123) | -2.2 (#130) |
| FT% | -2.3 (#153) | -1.8 (#130) |
| TO | -3.4 (#155) | -3.1 (#145) |
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 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1)
- Cameron Johnson: 3 games (Mon GSW, Wed @NOP, Fri @PHX), listed GTD.
- Jalen Smith: 3 games (Mon @BOS, Wed NYK, Fri @BOS).
Recent games
- Cameron Johnson: 8.9 fantasy points a game over his last 1 of 2026-27, against 22.1 on the board.
- Jalen Smith: 28.4 fantasy points a game over his last 3 of 2026-27, against 23.8 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 Jalen Smith playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Cameron Johnson
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Cameron Johnson or Jalen Smith?
Points leagues: Jalen Smith. 23.8 fantasy points per game against 22.1, 151st on our board to 166th. 9-cat leagues: Cameron Johnson instead, -2.0 in summed z-scores against -2.0 (130th to 131st), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Cameron Johnson or Jalen Smith?
Category by category, Cameron Johnson is ahead in 6 (PTS, AST, STL, 3PM, FT% and TO) and Jalen Smith in 3 (REB, BLK and FG%).
Who should I start in Week 2, Cameron Johnson or Jalen Smith?
Cameron Johnson plays 3 games in Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1), Jalen Smith 3. For that week alone, start Jalen Smith: 71.3 projected fantasy points to 66.3 for Cameron Johnson.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 26, 2026 at 10:30 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number