CJ McCollum vs Derrick Jones Jr.: who to start in Week 3
CJ McCollum plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Derrick Jones Jr. 3. For that week alone, start CJ McCollum: 111.9 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for Derrick Jones Jr.. Over the season, CJ McCollum leads in both formats: 28.0 fantasy points a game to 21.8, and 128th against 130th 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
- #114
- 28.0 FP/G, slot 10.06, $7
- 9-cat leagues
- #128
- -1.9 z, slot 11.08, $4
The pick in points and 9-cat leagues.
- Points leagues
- #188
- 21.8 FP/G, slot 16.08
- 9-cat leagues
- #130
- -1.9 z, slot 11.10, $4
Out (Knee)
The call
Points leagues: CJ McCollum. 28.0 fantasy points per game against 21.8, 114th on our board to 188th.
9-cat leagues: CJ McCollum again, -1.9 in summed z-scores against -1.9 (128th to 130th).
Category by category, CJ McCollum is ahead in 4 (PTS, AST, 3PM and FT%) and Derrick Jones Jr. in 5 (REB, STL, BLK, FG% and TO).
Per 36 minutes, CJ McCollum produces more: 35.3 fantasy points to 28.6, on 28.5 minutes a night against 27.5. He already plays as much or more, so the gap is not a role waiting to grow.
CJ McCollum plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Derrick Jones Jr. 3. For that week alone, start CJ McCollum: 111.9 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for Derrick Jones Jr..
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 | CJ McCollum | Derrick Jones Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 28.0 | 21.8 |
| Minutes | 28.5 | 27.5 |
| PointsPTS | 17.4 | 10.5 |
| ReboundsREB | 2.9 | 3.9 |
| AssistsAST | 3.5 | 1.4 |
| StealsSTL | 0.9 | 1.0 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.4 | 0.9 |
| Threes3PM | 2.4 | 1.4 |
| Field goal %FG% | 46.8% | 50.8% |
| Free throw %FT% | 78.8% | 74.6% |
| TurnoversTO | 1.8 | 0.9 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 76 | 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 | CJ McCollum | Derrick Jones Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 35.3 | 28.6 |
| Points | 21.9 | 13.7 |
| Rebounds | 3.6 | 5.0 |
| Assists | 4.4 | 1.9 |
| Steals | 1.1 | 1.3 |
| Blocks | 0.5 | 1.1 |
| Threes | 3.0 | 1.8 |
| Turnovers | 2.3 | 1.2 |
Each per-game number divided by minutes and scaled to 36: the rate a bigger role would carry.
9-category z-scores
| Category | CJ McCollum | Derrick Jones Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | +0.1 | -1.1 |
| ReboundsREB | -1.3 | -0.9 |
| AssistsAST | -0.1 | -1.2 |
| StealsSTL | -0.4 | -0.2 |
| BlocksBLK | -0.7 | +0.3 |
| Threes3PM | +0.7 | -0.3 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | -0.3 | +0.3 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | -0.1 | -0.3 |
| TurnoversTO | +0.2 | +1.3 |
| Total | -1.9 | -1.9 |
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, threes and free throw percentage flips the 9-cat answer to Derrick Jones Jr..
| Punt | CJ McCollum | Derrick Jones Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | -2.1 (#174) | -0.9 (#101) |
| REB | -0.7 (#88) | -1.3 (#104) |
| AST | -1.9 (#148) | -0.9 (#87) |
| STL | -1.6 (#125) | -1.9 (#139) |
| BLK | -1.3 (#107) | -2.5 (#152) |
| 3PM | -2.7 (#176) | -1.6 (#129) |
| FG% | -1.7 (#116) | -2.5 (#142) |
| FT% | -1.9 (#141) | -1.7 (#126) |
| TO | -2.2 (#117) | -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 432 ranked players.
Week 3 (Nov 2-8)
- CJ McCollum: 4 games (Mon @IND, Wed @WAS, Fri WAS, Sat BKN), 1 back-to-back.
- Derrick Jones Jr.: 3 games (Mon TOR, Wed MIA, Sun NOP), 1 back-to-back, listed Out.
Recent games
- CJ McCollum: 25.3 fantasy points a game over his last 8 of 2026-27, against 28.0 on the board.
- Derrick Jones Jr.: 23.4 fantasy points a game over his last 6 of 2026-27, against 21.8 on the board.
Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is CJ McCollum playing tonight? · Is Derrick Jones Jr. playing tonight?
Rookie cards: CJ McCollum
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, CJ McCollum or Derrick Jones Jr.?
Points leagues: CJ McCollum. 28.0 fantasy points per game against 21.8, 114th on our board to 188th. 9-cat leagues: CJ McCollum again, -1.9 in summed z-scores against -1.9 (128th to 130th).
Who wins more categories, CJ McCollum or Derrick Jones Jr.?
Category by category, CJ McCollum is ahead in 4 (PTS, AST, 3PM and FT%) and Derrick Jones Jr. in 5 (REB, STL, BLK, FG% and TO).
Who should I start in Week 3, CJ McCollum or Derrick Jones Jr.?
CJ McCollum plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Derrick Jones Jr. 3. For that week alone, start CJ McCollum: 111.9 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for Derrick Jones Jr..
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Nov 3, 2026 at 12:36 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number