DeMar DeRozan vs Nic Claxton: who to start in Week 2
DeMar DeRozan plays 3 games in Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1), Nic Claxton 3. For that week alone, start DeMar DeRozan: 88.2 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for Nic Claxton. Over the season, Nic Claxton leads in points leagues (29.5 fantasy points a game to 29.4) and DeMar DeRozan in 9-cat leagues (92nd against 135th). 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 28, 12:33 AM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
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- Points leagues
- #89
- 29.4 FP/G, slot 8.05, $11
- 9-cat leagues
- #92
- -1.1 z, slot 8.08, $9
The pick in 9-cat leagues.
- Points leagues
- #87
- 29.5 FP/G, slot 8.03, $11
- 9-cat leagues
- #135
- -2.1 z, slot 12.03, $4
Out (Hamstring)
The pick in points leagues.
The call
Points leagues: Nic Claxton. 29.5 fantasy points per game against 29.4, 87th on our board to 89th.
9-cat leagues: DeMar DeRozan instead, -1.1 in summed z-scores against -2.1 (92nd to 135th), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Category by category, DeMar DeRozan is ahead in 4 (PTS, STL, 3PM and FT%) and Nic Claxton in 3 (REB, BLK and FG%).
Per 36 minutes, Nic Claxton produces more: 38.1 fantasy points to 34.7, on 27.8 minutes a night against 30.5. He does it in fewer minutes, so a bigger role would widen the gap.
DeMar DeRozan plays 3 games in Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1), Nic Claxton 3. For that week alone, start DeMar DeRozan: 88.2 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for Nic Claxton.
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 | DeMar DeRozan | Nic Claxton |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 29.4 | 29.5 |
| Minutes | 30.5 | 27.8 |
| PointsPTS | 17.9 | 11.7 |
| ReboundsREB | 2.9 | 6.9 |
| AssistsAST | 3.7 | 3.7 |
| StealsSTL | 1.0 | 0.7 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.3 | 1.1 |
| Threes3PM | 0.6 | 0.0 |
| Field goal %FG% | 49.3% | 57.1% |
| Free throw %FT% | 85.7% | 61.6% |
| TurnoversTO | 1.4 | 1.4 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 77 | 69 |
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 | DeMar DeRozan | Nic Claxton |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 34.7 | 38.1 |
| Points | 21.2 | 15.2 |
| Rebounds | 3.5 | 9.0 |
| Assists | 4.4 | 4.7 |
| Steals | 1.2 | 0.8 |
| Blocks | 0.4 | 1.4 |
| Threes | 0.7 | 0.1 |
| Turnovers | 1.7 | 1.8 |
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 | DeMar DeRozan | Nic Claxton |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | +0.3 | -0.8 |
| ReboundsREB | -1.2 | +0.6 |
| AssistsAST | +0.0 | +0.0 |
| StealsSTL | -0.1 | -1.0 |
| BlocksBLK | -0.8 | +0.9 |
| Threes3PM | -1.1 | -1.7 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | +0.2 | +1.3 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | +1.1 | -2.0 |
| TurnoversTO | +0.6 | +0.6 |
| Total | -1.1 | -2.1 |
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 and free throw percentage flips the 9-cat answer to Nic Claxton.
| Punt | DeMar DeRozan | Nic Claxton |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | -1.4 (#132) | -1.2 (#119) |
| REB | +0.0 (#54) | -3.1 (#192) |
| AST | -1.3 (#111) | -2.1 (#153) |
| STL | -1.1 (#99) | -1.1 (#101) |
| BLK | -0.4 (#75) | -3.3 (#183) |
| 3PM | -0.2 (#65) | -0.3 (#71) |
| FG% | -1.5 (#106) | -4.2 (#216) |
| FT% | -2.2 (#151) | -0.1 (#60) |
| TO | -1.7 (#104) | -2.7 (#125) |
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)
- DeMar DeRozan: 3 games (Mon GSW, Wed @NOP, Fri @PHX).
- Nic Claxton: 3 games (Mon @BOS, Wed NYK, Fri @BOS), listed Out.
Recent games
- DeMar DeRozan: 22.1 fantasy points a game over his last 3 of 2026-27, against 29.4 on the board.
- Nic Claxton: 20.9 fantasy points a game over his last 10 of 2025-26, against 29.5 on the board.
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Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is DeMar DeRozan playing tonight? · Is Nic Claxton playing tonight?
Rookie cards: DeMar DeRozan
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, DeMar DeRozan or Nic Claxton?
Points leagues: Nic Claxton. 29.5 fantasy points per game against 29.4, 87th on our board to 89th. 9-cat leagues: DeMar DeRozan instead, -1.1 in summed z-scores against -2.1 (92nd to 135th), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Who wins more categories, DeMar DeRozan or Nic Claxton?
Category by category, DeMar DeRozan is ahead in 4 (PTS, STL, 3PM and FT%) and Nic Claxton in 3 (REB, BLK and FG%).
Who should I start in Week 2, DeMar DeRozan or Nic Claxton?
DeMar DeRozan plays 3 games in Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1), Nic Claxton 3. For that week alone, start DeMar DeRozan: 88.2 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for Nic Claxton.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 28, 2026 at 12:33 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number