Cooper Flagg vs Jamal Murray: who to start in Week 2
Cooper Flagg plays 3 games in Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1), Jamal Murray 3. For that week alone, start Jamal Murray: 128.0 projected fantasy points to 126.1 for Cooper Flagg. Over the season, Jamal Murray leads in both formats: 42.7 fantasy points a game to 42.0, and 10th against 15th 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 Oct 27, 8:32 PM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
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- Points leagues
- #18
- 42.0 FP/G, slot 2.06, $30
- 9-cat leagues
- #15
- +3.6 z, slot 2.03, $35
- Points leagues
- #17
- 42.7 FP/G, slot 2.05, $31
- 9-cat leagues
- #10
- +4.0 z, slot 1.10, $38
The pick in points and 9-cat leagues.
The call
Points leagues: Jamal Murray. 42.7 fantasy points per game against 42.0, 17th on our board to 18th.
9-cat leagues: Jamal Murray again, +4.0 in summed z-scores against +3.6 (10th to 15th).
Category by category, Cooper Flagg is ahead in 4 (REB, STL, BLK and FG%) and Jamal Murray in 5 (PTS, AST, 3PM, FT% and TO).
Per 36 minutes, Cooper Flagg produces more: 46.0 fantasy points to 42.8, on 32.9 minutes a night against 35.9. He does it in fewer minutes, so a bigger role would widen the gap.
Cooper Flagg plays 3 games in Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1), Jamal Murray 3. For that week alone, start Jamal Murray: 128.0 projected fantasy points to 126.1 for Cooper Flagg.
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 | Cooper Flagg | Jamal Murray |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 42.0 | 42.7 |
| Minutes | 32.9 | 35.9 |
| PointsPTS | 21.7 | 24.9 |
| ReboundsREB | 6.4 | 4.7 |
| AssistsAST | 4.8 | 6.9 |
| StealsSTL | 1.6 | 1.0 |
| BlocksBLK | 1.0 | 0.4 |
| Threes3PM | 1.1 | 3.3 |
| Field goal %FG% | 48.3% | 47.8% |
| Free throw %FT% | 84.3% | 85.5% |
| TurnoversTO | 2.6 | 2.4 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 70 | 75 |
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 | Cooper Flagg | Jamal Murray |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 46.0 | 42.8 |
| Points | 23.7 | 25.0 |
| Rebounds | 7.0 | 4.7 |
| Assists | 5.3 | 6.9 |
| Steals | 1.8 | 1.0 |
| Blocks | 1.1 | 0.4 |
| Threes | 1.2 | 3.3 |
| Turnovers | 2.8 | 2.4 |
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 | Cooper Flagg | Jamal Murray |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | +0.9 | +1.5 |
| ReboundsREB | +0.4 | -0.4 |
| AssistsAST | +0.6 | +1.7 |
| StealsSTL | +1.5 | -0.1 |
| BlocksBLK | +0.8 | -0.6 |
| Threes3PM | -0.6 | +1.8 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | -0.0 | -0.2 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | +0.8 | +1.0 |
| TurnoversTO | -0.9 | -0.6 |
| Total | +3.6 | +4.0 |
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 and threes flips the 9-cat answer to Cooper Flagg.
| Punt | Cooper Flagg | Jamal Murray |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | +2.5 (#13) | +2.3 (#15) |
| REB | +3.2 (#16) | +4.6 (#9) |
| AST | +2.8 (#18) | +2.1 (#23) |
| STL | +1.9 (#25) | +3.9 (#10) |
| BLK | +2.8 (#18) | +4.7 (#8) |
| 3PM | +3.8 (#9) | +1.9 (#25) |
| FG% | +3.5 (#16) | +4.4 (#9) |
| FT% | +2.6 (#19) | +2.7 (#18) |
| TO | +4.4 (#15) | +4.7 (#14) |
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)
- Cooper Flagg: 3 games (Mon @MIA, Wed OKC, Fri HOU).
- Jamal Murray: 3 games (Mon GSW, Wed @NOP, Fri @PHX).
Recent games
- Cooper Flagg: 52.9 fantasy points a game over his last 3 of 2026-27, against 42.0 on the board.
- Jamal Murray: 41.4 fantasy points a game over his last 3 of 2026-27, against 42.7 on the board.
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Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Cooper Flagg playing tonight? · Is Jamal Murray playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Cooper Flagg, Jamal Murray
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Cooper Flagg or Jamal Murray?
Points leagues: Jamal Murray. 42.7 fantasy points per game against 42.0, 17th on our board to 18th. 9-cat leagues: Jamal Murray again, +4.0 in summed z-scores against +3.6 (10th to 15th).
Who wins more categories, Cooper Flagg or Jamal Murray?
Category by category, Cooper Flagg is ahead in 4 (REB, STL, BLK and FG%) and Jamal Murray in 5 (PTS, AST, 3PM, FT% and TO).
Who should I start in Week 2, Cooper Flagg or Jamal Murray?
Cooper Flagg plays 3 games in Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1), Jamal Murray 3. For that week alone, start Jamal Murray: 128.0 projected fantasy points to 126.1 for Cooper Flagg.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 27, 2026 at 8:32 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number