Damian Lillard vs Norman Powell: who to start in Week 3
Damian Lillard plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Norman Powell 3. For that week alone, start Damian Lillard: 123.2 projected fantasy points to 94.1 for Norman Powell. Over the season, Norman Powell leads in both formats: 31.4 fantasy points a game to 30.8, and 65th against 171st 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
- #85
- 30.8 FP/G, slot 8.01, $11
- 9-cat leagues
- #171
- -2.9 z, slot 15.03
- Points leagues
- #81
- 31.4 FP/G, slot 7.09, $12
- 9-cat leagues
- #65
- -0.3 z, slot 6.05, $14
The pick in points and 9-cat leagues.
The call
Points leagues: Norman Powell. 31.4 fantasy points per game against 30.8, 81st on our board to 85th.
9-cat leagues: Norman Powell again, -0.3 in summed z-scores against -2.9 (65th to 171st).
Category by category, Damian Lillard is ahead in 4 (REB, AST, BLK and 3PM) and Norman Powell in 5 (PTS, STL, FG%, FT% and TO).
Per 36 minutes, Damian Lillard produces more: 38.2 fantasy points to 38.1, on 29.0 minutes a night against 29.7. He does it in fewer minutes, so a bigger role would widen the gap.
Damian Lillard plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Norman Powell 3. For that week alone, start Damian Lillard: 123.2 projected fantasy points to 94.1 for Norman Powell.
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 | Damian Lillard | Norman Powell |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 30.8 | 31.4 |
| Minutes | 29.0 | 29.7 |
| PointsPTS | 19.2 | 21.4 |
| ReboundsREB | 4.0 | 3.3 |
| AssistsAST | 3.6 | 2.3 |
| StealsSTL | 1.0 | 1.3 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| Threes3PM | 3.2 | 2.7 |
| Field goal %FG% | 38.9% | 45.8% |
| Free throw %FT% | 77.4% | 82.6% |
| TurnoversTO | 2.2 | 1.9 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 0 | 58 |
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 | Damian Lillard | Norman Powell |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 38.2 | 38.1 |
| Points | 23.8 | 26.0 |
| Rebounds | 5.0 | 4.0 |
| Assists | 4.5 | 2.8 |
| Steals | 1.2 | 1.6 |
| Blocks | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| Threes | 4.0 | 3.3 |
| Turnovers | 2.7 | 2.4 |
Each per-game number divided by minutes and scaled to 36: the rate a bigger role would carry.
9-category z-scores
| Category | Damian Lillard | Norman Powell |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | +0.5 | +0.9 |
| ReboundsREB | -0.8 | -1.1 |
| AssistsAST | -0.1 | -0.7 |
| StealsSTL | -0.2 | +0.7 |
| BlocksBLK | -1.0 | -1.0 |
| Threes3PM | +1.6 | +1.0 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | -2.1 | -0.5 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | -0.5 | +0.5 |
| TurnoversTO | -0.3 | +0.0 |
| Total | -2.9 | -0.3 |
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
No punt changes the answer: Norman Powell stays ahead whichever category you give up.
| Punt | Damian Lillard | Norman Powell |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | -3.4 (#247) | -1.2 (#122) |
| REB | -2.2 (#146) | +0.7 (#40) |
| AST | -3.0 (#197) | +0.2 (#49) |
| STL | -2.8 (#179) | -1.1 (#101) |
| BLK | -2.1 (#134) | +0.6 (#42) |
| 3PM | -4.4 (#259) | -1.4 (#115) |
| FG% | -1.0 (#93) | +0.2 (#54) |
| FT% | -2.5 (#166) | -1.0 (#95) |
| TO | -2.6 (#128) | -0.4 (#71) |
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)
- Damian Lillard: 4 games (Mon @DEN, Wed @PHX, Fri @LAL, Sat SAS), 1 back-to-back.
- Norman Powell: 3 games (Mon @PHI, Wed @NYK, Sun PHI).
Recent games
- Damian Lillard: 31.9 fantasy points a game over his last 6 of 2026-27, against 30.8 on the board.
- Norman Powell: 30.0 fantasy points a game over his last 7 of 2026-27, against 31.4 on the board.
Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Damian Lillard playing tonight? · Is Norman Powell playing tonight?
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Damian Lillard or Norman Powell?
Points leagues: Norman Powell. 31.4 fantasy points per game against 30.8, 81st on our board to 85th. 9-cat leagues: Norman Powell again, -0.3 in summed z-scores against -2.9 (65th to 171st).
Who wins more categories, Damian Lillard or Norman Powell?
Category by category, Damian Lillard is ahead in 4 (REB, AST, BLK and 3PM) and Norman Powell in 5 (PTS, STL, FG%, FT% and TO).
Who should I start in Week 3, Damian Lillard or Norman Powell?
Damian Lillard plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Norman Powell 3. For that week alone, start Damian Lillard: 123.2 projected fantasy points to 94.1 for Norman Powell.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Nov 3, 2026 at 12:36 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number