Chet Holmgren vs Zion Williamson: who to start in Week 3
Chet Holmgren plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Zion Williamson 4. For that week alone, start Zion Williamson: 144.0 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for Chet Holmgren. Over the season, Chet Holmgren leads in both formats: 36.0 fantasy points a game to 36.0, and 14th against 54th 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
- #47
- 36.0 FP/G, slot 4.11, $20
- 9-cat leagues
- #14
- +3.1 z, slot 2.02, $33
Out (Knee)
The pick in points and 9-cat leagues.
- Points leagues
- #48
- 36.0 FP/G, slot 4.12, $20
- 9-cat leagues
- #54
- +0.2 z, slot 5.06, $17
The call
Points leagues: Chet Holmgren. 36.0 fantasy points per game against 36.0, 47th on our board to 48th.
9-cat leagues: Chet Holmgren again, +3.1 in summed z-scores against +0.2 (14th to 54th).
Category by category, Chet Holmgren is ahead in 5 (REB, BLK, 3PM, FT% and TO) and Zion Williamson in 4 (PTS, AST, STL and FG%).
Per 36 minutes, Chet Holmgren produces more: 44.5 fantasy points to 42.8, on 29.1 minutes a night against 30.3. He does it in fewer minutes, so a bigger role would widen the gap.
Chet Holmgren plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Zion Williamson 4. For that week alone, start Zion Williamson: 144.0 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for Chet Holmgren.
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 | Chet Holmgren | Zion Williamson |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 36.0 | 36.0 |
| Minutes | 29.1 | 30.3 |
| PointsPTS | 16.3 | 20.9 |
| ReboundsREB | 9.0 | 5.3 |
| AssistsAST | 1.6 | 3.0 |
| StealsSTL | 0.6 | 1.6 |
| BlocksBLK | 2.1 | 0.5 |
| Threes3PM | 1.2 | 0.2 |
| Field goal %FG% | 53.7% | 61.2% |
| Free throw %FT% | 82.6% | 71.9% |
| TurnoversTO | 1.6 | 2.2 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 69 | 62 |
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 | Chet Holmgren | Zion Williamson |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 44.5 | 42.8 |
| Points | 20.1 | 24.9 |
| Rebounds | 11.1 | 6.3 |
| Assists | 2.0 | 3.6 |
| Steals | 0.8 | 1.9 |
| Blocks | 2.6 | 0.6 |
| Threes | 1.5 | 0.2 |
| Turnovers | 1.9 | 2.6 |
Each per-game number divided by minutes and scaled to 36: the rate a bigger role would carry.
9-category z-scores
| Category | Chet Holmgren | Zion Williamson |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | -0.1 | +0.8 |
| ReboundsREB | +1.4 | -0.2 |
| AssistsAST | -1.1 | -0.4 |
| StealsSTL | -1.1 | +1.4 |
| BlocksBLK | +2.8 | -0.3 |
| Threes3PM | -0.5 | -1.6 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | +0.9 | +2.6 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | +0.3 | -1.9 |
| TurnoversTO | +0.5 | -0.3 |
| Total | +3.1 | +0.2 |
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 blocks flips the 9-cat answer to Zion Williamson.
| Punt | Chet Holmgren | Zion Williamson |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | +3.1 (#10) | -0.7 (#90) |
| REB | +1.5 (#27) | +0.1 (#58) |
| AST | +4.2 (#9) | +0.3 (#48) |
| STL | +4.1 (#9) | -1.5 (#118) |
| BLK | -0.0 (#66) | +0.3 (#53) |
| 3PM | +3.5 (#11) | +1.7 (#30) |
| FG% | +1.9 (#31) | -3.3 (#177) |
| FT% | +2.7 (#16) | +1.9 (#27) |
| TO | +2.4 (#26) | +0.3 (#56) |
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)
- Chet Holmgren: 4 games (Mon @CLE, Wed CLE, Fri @MEM, Sat WAS), 1 back-to-back, listed Out.
- Zion Williamson: 4 games (Mon @MEM, Wed UTA, Fri MIN, Sun @LAC).
Recent games
- Chet Holmgren: 34.5 fantasy points a game over his last 3 of 2026-27, against 36.0 on the board.
- Zion Williamson: 37.2 fantasy points a game over his last 7 of 2026-27, against 36.0 on the board.
Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Chet Holmgren playing tonight? · Is Zion Williamson playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Chet Holmgren, Zion Williamson
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Chet Holmgren or Zion Williamson?
Points leagues: Chet Holmgren. 36.0 fantasy points per game against 36.0, 47th on our board to 48th. 9-cat leagues: Chet Holmgren again, +3.1 in summed z-scores against +0.2 (14th to 54th).
Who wins more categories, Chet Holmgren or Zion Williamson?
Category by category, Chet Holmgren is ahead in 5 (REB, BLK, 3PM, FT% and TO) and Zion Williamson in 4 (PTS, AST, STL and FG%).
Who should I start in Week 3, Chet Holmgren or Zion Williamson?
Chet Holmgren plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Zion Williamson 4. For that week alone, start Zion Williamson: 144.0 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for Chet Holmgren.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Nov 3, 2026 at 12:36 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number