Derik Queen vs Nikola Vučević: who to start in Week 3
Derik Queen plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Nikola Vučević 3. For that week alone, start Derik Queen: 115.8 projected fantasy points to 76.5 for Nikola Vučević. Over the season, Derik Queen leads in both formats: 28.9 fantasy points a game to 25.5, and 120th against 141st 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, 2:36 AM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
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- Points leagues
- #101
- 28.9 FP/G, slot 9.05, $9
- 9-cat leagues
- #120
- -1.7 z, slot 10.12, $6
The pick in points and 9-cat leagues.
- Points leagues
- #142
- 25.5 FP/G, slot 12.10, $4
- 9-cat leagues
- #141
- -2.1 z, slot 12.09, $3
The call
Points leagues: Derik Queen. 28.9 fantasy points per game against 25.5, 101st on our board to 142nd.
9-cat leagues: Derik Queen again, -1.7 in summed z-scores against -2.1 (120th to 141st).
Category by category, Derik Queen is ahead in 6 (PTS, REB, AST, STL, BLK and FT%) and Nikola Vučević in 2 (3PM and TO).
Per 36 minutes, Derik Queen produces more: 42.4 fantasy points to 41.0, on 24.6 minutes a night against 22.4. He already plays as much or more, so the gap is not a role waiting to grow.
Derik Queen plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Nikola Vučević 3. For that week alone, start Derik Queen: 115.8 projected fantasy points to 76.5 for Nikola Vučević.
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 | Derik Queen | Nikola Vučević |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 28.9 | 25.5 |
| Minutes | 24.6 | 22.4 |
| PointsPTS | 11.9 | 11.3 |
| ReboundsREB | 7.3 | 6.7 |
| AssistsAST | 3.3 | 2.7 |
| StealsSTL | 1.1 | 0.4 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.8 | 0.7 |
| Threes3PM | 0.3 | 1.2 |
| Field goal %FG% | 48.9% | 48.7% |
| Free throw %FT% | 82.2% | 80.0% |
| TurnoversTO | 2.3 | 1.0 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 81 | 64 |
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 | Derik Queen | Nikola Vučević |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 42.4 | 41.0 |
| Points | 17.5 | 18.1 |
| Rebounds | 10.6 | 10.7 |
| Assists | 4.9 | 4.3 |
| Steals | 1.6 | 0.7 |
| Blocks | 1.2 | 1.1 |
| Threes | 0.5 | 1.9 |
| Turnovers | 3.4 | 1.7 |
Each per-game number divided by minutes and scaled to 36: the rate a bigger role would carry.
9-category z-scores
| Category | Derik Queen | Nikola Vučević |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | -0.9 | -1.0 |
| ReboundsREB | +0.6 | +0.4 |
| AssistsAST | -0.2 | -0.6 |
| StealsSTL | +0.0 | -1.7 |
| BlocksBLK | +0.3 | -0.0 |
| Threes3PM | -1.4 | -0.5 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | +0.1 | +0.1 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | +0.2 | 0.0 |
| TurnoversTO | -0.5 | +1.2 |
| Total | -1.7 | -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 steals flips the 9-cat answer to Nikola Vučević.
| Punt | Derik Queen | Nikola Vučević |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | -0.8 (#97) | -1.2 (#121) |
| REB | -2.4 (#160) | -2.6 (#172) |
| AST | -1.5 (#119) | -1.6 (#128) |
| STL | -1.7 (#127) | -0.5 (#74) |
| BLK | -2.2 (#140) | -2.4 (#148) |
| 3PM | -0.2 (#62) | -1.6 (#124) |
| FG% | -2.0 (#130) | -2.4 (#139) |
| FT% | -1.9 (#133) | -2.1 (#150) |
| TO | -1.3 (#95) | -3.4 (#155) |
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 438 ranked players.
Week 3 (Nov 2-8)
- Derik Queen: 4 games (Mon @MEM, Wed UTA, Fri MIN, Sun @LAC).
- Nikola Vučević: 3 games (Mon WAS, Thu @PHX, Sat @GSW), 1 back-to-back.
Recent games
- Derik Queen: 28.4 fantasy points a game over his last 7 of 2026-27, against 28.9 on the board.
- Nikola Vučević: 10.4 fantasy points a game over his last 7 of 2026-27, against 25.5 on the board.
Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Derik Queen playing tonight? · Is Nikola Vučević playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Derik Queen
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Derik Queen or Nikola Vučević?
Points leagues: Derik Queen. 28.9 fantasy points per game against 25.5, 101st on our board to 142nd. 9-cat leagues: Derik Queen again, -1.7 in summed z-scores against -2.1 (120th to 141st).
Who wins more categories, Derik Queen or Nikola Vučević?
Category by category, Derik Queen is ahead in 6 (PTS, REB, AST, STL, BLK and FT%) and Nikola Vučević in 2 (3PM and TO).
Who should I start in Week 3, Derik Queen or Nikola Vučević?
Derik Queen plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Nikola Vučević 3. For that week alone, start Derik Queen: 115.8 projected fantasy points to 76.5 for Nikola Vučević.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Nov 3, 2026 at 2:36 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number