Deni Avdija vs Jaren Jackson Jr.: who to start in Week 2
Deni Avdija plays 3 games in Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1), Jaren Jackson Jr. 3. For that week alone, start Deni Avdija: 128.2 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for Jaren Jackson Jr.. Over the season, Deni Avdija leads in points leagues (42.7 fantasy points a game to 32.9) and Jaren Jackson Jr. in 9-cat leagues (61st against 62nd). 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.
Parlae may earn a commission from price links.
- Points leagues
- #16
- 42.7 FP/G, slot 2.04, $31
- 9-cat leagues
- #62
- -0.1 z, slot 6.02, $15
The pick in points leagues.
- Points leagues
- #59
- 32.9 FP/G, slot 5.11, $16
- 9-cat leagues
- #61
- -0.1 z, slot 6.01, $15
Out (Knee)
The pick in 9-cat leagues.
The call
Points leagues: Deni Avdija. 42.7 fantasy points per game against 32.9, 16th on our board to 59th.
9-cat leagues: Jaren Jackson Jr. instead, -0.1 in summed z-scores against -0.1 (61st to 62nd), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Category by category, Deni Avdija is ahead in 4 (PTS, REB, AST and 3PM) and Jaren Jackson Jr. in 5 (STL, BLK, FG%, FT% and TO).
Per 36 minutes, Deni Avdija produces more: 46.6 fantasy points to 40.3, on 33.0 minutes a night against 29.4. He already plays as much or more, so the gap is not a role waiting to grow.
Deni Avdija plays 3 games in Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1), Jaren Jackson Jr. 3. For that week alone, start Deni Avdija: 128.2 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for Jaren Jackson 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.
Advertisement
Per game, side by side
| Per game | Deni Avdija | Jaren Jackson Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 42.7 | 32.9 |
| Minutes | 33.0 | 29.4 |
| PointsPTS | 24.0 | 18.7 |
| ReboundsREB | 7.1 | 5.5 |
| AssistsAST | 6.5 | 2.0 |
| StealsSTL | 0.9 | 0.9 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.5 | 1.4 |
| Threes3PM | 1.8 | 1.6 |
| Field goal %FG% | 46.3% | 48.0% |
| Free throw %FT% | 79.0% | 79.3% |
| TurnoversTO | 3.7 | 2.4 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 66 | 48 |
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 | Deni Avdija | Jaren Jackson Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 46.6 | 40.3 |
| Points | 26.1 | 22.9 |
| Rebounds | 7.7 | 6.8 |
| Assists | 7.1 | 2.4 |
| Steals | 0.9 | 1.1 |
| Blocks | 0.6 | 1.7 |
| Threes | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| Turnovers | 4.0 | 2.9 |
Each per-game number divided by minutes and scaled to 36: the rate a bigger role would carry.
Advertisement
9-category z-scores
| Category | Deni Avdija | Jaren Jackson Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | +1.3 | +0.4 |
| ReboundsREB | +0.6 | -0.1 |
| AssistsAST | +1.5 | -0.8 |
| StealsSTL | -0.5 | -0.3 |
| BlocksBLK | -0.3 | +1.5 |
| Threes3PM | +0.2 | -0.0 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | -0.6 | -0.1 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | -0.2 | -0.1 |
| TurnoversTO | -2.2 | -0.6 |
| Total | -0.1 | -0.1 |
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 steals, blocks, field goal percentage, free throw percentage and turnovers flips the 9-cat answer to Deni Avdija.
| Punt | Deni Avdija | Jaren Jackson Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | -1.4 (#138) | -0.5 (#78) |
| REB | -1.0 (#91) | -0.1 (#61) |
| AST | -1.6 (#130) | +0.7 (#41) |
| STL | +0.3 (#52) | +0.1 (#54) |
| BLK | +0.0 (#59) | -1.7 (#123) |
| 3PM | -0.3 (#74) | -0.2 (#63) |
| FG% | +0.1 (#59) | -0.2 (#67) |
| FT% | -0.0 (#57) | -0.1 (#62) |
| TO | +2.2 (#31) | +0.5 (#51) |
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)
- Deni Avdija: 3 games (Tue @LAL, Thu MEM, Sat @UTA).
- Jaren Jackson Jr.: 3 games (Mon MEM, Wed SAS, Sat POR), 1 back-to-back, listed Out.
Recent games
- Deni Avdija: 41.7 fantasy points a game over his last 2 of 2026-27, against 42.7 on the board.
- Jaren Jackson Jr.: 26.8 fantasy points a game over his last 4 of 2026-27, against 32.9 on the board.
Advertisement
Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Deni Avdija playing tonight? · Is Jaren Jackson Jr. playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Deni Avdija
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Deni Avdija or Jaren Jackson Jr.?
Points leagues: Deni Avdija. 42.7 fantasy points per game against 32.9, 16th on our board to 59th. 9-cat leagues: Jaren Jackson Jr. instead, -0.1 in summed z-scores against -0.1 (61st to 62nd), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Deni Avdija or Jaren Jackson Jr.?
Category by category, Deni Avdija is ahead in 4 (PTS, REB, AST and 3PM) and Jaren Jackson Jr. in 5 (STL, BLK, FG%, FT% and TO).
Who should I start in Week 2, Deni Avdija or Jaren Jackson Jr.?
Deni Avdija plays 3 games in Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1), Jaren Jackson Jr. 3. For that week alone, start Deni Avdija: 128.2 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for Jaren Jackson Jr..
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 27, 2026 at 8:32 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number