Desmond Bane vs Fred VanVleet: who to start in Week 3
Desmond Bane plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Fred VanVleet 3. For that week alone, start Desmond Bane: 96.5 projected fantasy points to 94.0 for Fred VanVleet. Over the season, Desmond Bane leads in points leagues (32.2 fantasy points a game to 31.3) and Fred VanVleet in 9-cat leagues (42nd against 48th). 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
- #73
- 32.2 FP/G, slot 7.01, $14
- 9-cat leagues
- #48
- +0.4 z, slot 4.12, $18
The pick in points leagues.
- Points leagues
- #81
- 31.3 FP/G, slot 7.09, $12
- 9-cat leagues
- #42
- +0.7 z, slot 4.06, $19
The pick in 9-cat leagues.
The call
Points leagues: Desmond Bane. 32.2 fantasy points per game against 31.3, 73rd on our board to 81st.
9-cat leagues: Fred VanVleet instead, +0.7 in summed z-scores against +0.4 (42nd to 48th), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Category by category, Desmond Bane is ahead in 6 (PTS, REB, BLK, 3PM, FG% and FT%) and Fred VanVleet in 3 (AST, STL and TO).
Per 36 minutes, Fred VanVleet produces more: 37.8 fantasy points to 34.1, on 29.8 minutes a night against 34.0. He does it in fewer minutes, so a bigger role would widen the gap.
Desmond Bane plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Fred VanVleet 3. For that week alone, start Desmond Bane: 96.5 projected fantasy points to 94.0 for Fred VanVleet.
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 | Desmond Bane | Fred VanVleet |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 32.2 | 31.3 |
| Minutes | 34.0 | 29.8 |
| PointsPTS | 19.4 | 12.2 |
| ReboundsREB | 3.9 | 3.7 |
| AssistsAST | 3.6 | 6.8 |
| StealsSTL | 1.0 | 1.7 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.6 | 0.2 |
| Threes3PM | 2.5 | 2.3 |
| Field goal %FG% | 45.3% | 36.9% |
| Free throw %FT% | 89.0% | 84.6% |
| TurnoversTO | 2.2 | 1.0 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 82 | 0 |
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 | Desmond Bane | Fred VanVleet |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 34.1 | 37.8 |
| Points | 20.5 | 14.7 |
| Rebounds | 4.2 | 4.4 |
| Assists | 3.8 | 8.2 |
| Steals | 1.1 | 2.0 |
| Blocks | 0.6 | 0.2 |
| Threes | 2.7 | 2.8 |
| Turnovers | 2.4 | 1.2 |
Each per-game number divided by minutes and scaled to 36: the rate a bigger role would carry.
9-category z-scores
| Category | Desmond Bane | Fred VanVleet |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | +0.5 | -0.8 |
| ReboundsREB | -0.8 | -0.9 |
| AssistsAST | -0.1 | +1.5 |
| StealsSTL | -0.1 | +1.6 |
| BlocksBLK | -0.2 | -1.0 |
| Threes3PM | +0.8 | +0.7 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | -0.6 | -1.9 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | +1.2 | +0.3 |
| TurnoversTO | -0.3 | +1.2 |
| Total | +0.4 | +0.7 |
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 assists, steals and turnovers flips the 9-cat answer to Desmond Bane.
| Punt | Desmond Bane | Fred VanVleet |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | -0.2 (#64) | +1.4 (#26) |
| REB | +1.2 (#29) | +1.6 (#23) |
| AST | +0.3 (#46) | -1.0 (#99) |
| STL | +0.4 (#46) | -1.0 (#97) |
| BLK | +0.5 (#43) | +1.6 (#27) |
| 3PM | -0.6 (#82) | -0.1 (#58) |
| FG% | +1.2 (#38) | +2.6 (#20) |
| FT% | -0.9 (#91) | +0.3 (#48) |
| TO | +0.7 (#50) | -0.5 (#73) |
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)
- Desmond Bane: 3 games (Mon WAS, Thu @PHX, Sat @GSW), 1 back-to-back.
- Fred VanVleet: 3 games (Mon BOS, Wed MIN, Sat @PHX).
Recent games
- Desmond Bane: 28.9 fantasy points a game over his last 7 of 2026-27, against 32.2 on the board.
- Fred VanVleet: 31.3 fantasy points a game over his last 6 of 2026-27, against 31.3 on the board.
Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Desmond Bane playing tonight? · Is Fred VanVleet playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Desmond Bane
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Desmond Bane or Fred VanVleet?
Points leagues: Desmond Bane. 32.2 fantasy points per game against 31.3, 73rd on our board to 81st. 9-cat leagues: Fred VanVleet instead, +0.7 in summed z-scores against +0.4 (42nd to 48th), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Desmond Bane or Fred VanVleet?
Category by category, Desmond Bane is ahead in 6 (PTS, REB, BLK, 3PM, FG% and FT%) and Fred VanVleet in 3 (AST, STL and TO).
Who should I start in Week 3, Desmond Bane or Fred VanVleet?
Desmond Bane plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Fred VanVleet 3. For that week alone, start Desmond Bane: 96.5 projected fantasy points to 94.0 for Fred VanVleet.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Nov 3, 2026 at 2:36 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number