Christian Braun vs Paolo Banchero: who to start in Week 3
Christian Braun plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Paolo Banchero 3. For that week alone, start Christian Braun: 75.4 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for Paolo Banchero. Over the season, Paolo Banchero leads in both formats: 41.0 fantasy points a game to 25.1, and 106th against 109th 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
- #150
- 25.1 FP/G, slot 13.06, $2
- 9-cat leagues
- #109
- -1.5 z, slot 10.01, $7
- Points leagues
- #22
- 41.0 FP/G, slot 2.10, $28
- 9-cat leagues
- #106
- -1.4 z, slot 9.10, $7
Out (Ankle)
The pick in points and 9-cat leagues.
The call
Points leagues: Paolo Banchero. 41.0 fantasy points per game against 25.1, 22nd on our board to 150th.
9-cat leagues: Paolo Banchero again, -1.4 in summed z-scores against -1.5 (106th to 109th).
Category by category, Christian Braun is ahead in 5 (STL, 3PM, FG%, FT% and TO) and Paolo Banchero in 4 (PTS, REB, AST and BLK).
Per 36 minutes, Paolo Banchero produces more: 42.5 fantasy points to 27.5, on 34.7 minutes a night against 32.9. He already plays as much or more, so the gap is not a role waiting to grow.
Christian Braun plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Paolo Banchero 3. For that week alone, start Christian Braun: 75.4 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for Paolo Banchero.
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 | Christian Braun | Paolo Banchero |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 25.1 | 41.0 |
| Minutes | 32.9 | 34.7 |
| PointsPTS | 12.8 | 22.5 |
| ReboundsREB | 4.6 | 8.2 |
| AssistsAST | 2.5 | 5.5 |
| StealsSTL | 1.1 | 0.7 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.3 | 0.5 |
| Threes3PM | 1.3 | 1.2 |
| Field goal %FG% | 52.1% | 48.0% |
| Free throw %FT% | 77.9% | 76.4% |
| TurnoversTO | 1.2 | 3.2 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 44 | 72 |
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 | Christian Braun | Paolo Banchero |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 27.5 | 42.5 |
| Points | 14.0 | 23.3 |
| Rebounds | 5.1 | 8.5 |
| Assists | 2.8 | 5.7 |
| Steals | 1.2 | 0.8 |
| Blocks | 0.3 | 0.5 |
| Threes | 1.5 | 1.3 |
| Turnovers | 1.3 | 3.3 |
Each per-game number divided by minutes and scaled to 36: the rate a bigger role would carry.
9-category z-scores
| Category | Christian Braun | Paolo Banchero |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | -0.7 | +1.1 |
| ReboundsREB | -0.5 | +1.0 |
| AssistsAST | -0.6 | +0.8 |
| StealsSTL | +0.1 | -0.8 |
| BlocksBLK | -0.9 | -0.4 |
| Threes3PM | -0.4 | -0.5 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | +0.6 | -0.0 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | -0.1 | -1.0 |
| TurnoversTO | +1.0 | -1.5 |
| Total | -1.5 | -1.4 |
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 and blocks flips the 9-cat answer to Christian Braun.
| Punt | Christian Braun | Paolo Banchero |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | -0.8 (#97) | -2.5 (#194) |
| REB | -1.1 (#99) | -2.6 (#172) |
| AST | -1.0 (#94) | -2.4 (#164) |
| STL | -1.7 (#130) | -0.6 (#77) |
| BLK | -0.8 (#88) | -1.2 (#105) |
| 3PM | -1.1 (#103) | -0.9 (#86) |
| FG% | -2.3 (#136) | -2.0 (#126) |
| FT% | -1.4 (#111) | -0.5 (#74) |
| TO | -2.6 (#129) | +0.2 (#60) |
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)
- Christian Braun: 3 games (Mon POR, Wed TOR, Sat @IND).
- Paolo Banchero: 3 games (Mon WAS, Thu @PHX, Sat @GSW), 1 back-to-back, listed Out.
Recent games
- Christian Braun: 29.0 fantasy points a game over his last 6 of 2026-27, against 25.1 on the board.
- Paolo Banchero: 42.5 fantasy points a game over his last 2 of 2026-27, against 41.0 on the board.
Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Christian Braun playing tonight? · Is Paolo Banchero playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Christian Braun, Paolo Banchero
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Christian Braun or Paolo Banchero?
Points leagues: Paolo Banchero. 41.0 fantasy points per game against 25.1, 22nd on our board to 150th. 9-cat leagues: Paolo Banchero again, -1.4 in summed z-scores against -1.5 (106th to 109th).
Who wins more categories, Christian Braun or Paolo Banchero?
Category by category, Christian Braun is ahead in 5 (STL, 3PM, FG%, FT% and TO) and Paolo Banchero in 4 (PTS, REB, AST and BLK).
Who should I start in Week 3, Christian Braun or Paolo Banchero?
Christian Braun plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Paolo Banchero 3. For that week alone, start Christian Braun: 75.4 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for Paolo Banchero.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Nov 3, 2026 at 12:36 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number