Donovan Clingan vs Jabari Smith Jr.: who to start in Week 3
Donovan Clingan plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Jabari Smith Jr. 3. For that week alone, start Donovan Clingan: 131.5 projected fantasy points to 95.1 for Jabari Smith Jr.. Over the season, Donovan Clingan leads in points leagues (32.9 fantasy points a game to 31.7) and Jabari Smith Jr. in 9-cat leagues (40th against 41st). 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
- #66
- 32.9 FP/G, slot 6.06, $15
- 9-cat leagues
- #41
- +0.7 z, slot 4.05, $19
The pick in points leagues.
- Points leagues
- #77
- 31.7 FP/G, slot 7.05, $13
- 9-cat leagues
- #40
- +0.7 z, slot 4.04, $20
The pick in 9-cat leagues.
The call
Points leagues: Donovan Clingan. 32.9 fantasy points per game against 31.7, 66th on our board to 77th.
9-cat leagues: Jabari Smith Jr. instead, +0.7 in summed z-scores against +0.7 (40th to 41st), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Category by category, Donovan Clingan is ahead in 4 (REB, BLK, FG% and TO) and Jabari Smith Jr. in 5 (PTS, AST, STL, 3PM and FT%).
Per 36 minutes, Donovan Clingan produces more: 45.6 fantasy points to 32.7, on 25.9 minutes a night against 34.9. He does it in fewer minutes, so a bigger role would widen the gap.
Donovan Clingan plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Jabari Smith Jr. 3. For that week alone, start Donovan Clingan: 131.5 projected fantasy points to 95.1 for Jabari Smith 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.
Per game, side by side
| Per game | Donovan Clingan | Jabari Smith Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 32.9 | 31.7 |
| Minutes | 25.9 | 34.9 |
| PointsPTS | 11.2 | 16.8 |
| ReboundsREB | 10.9 | 6.5 |
| AssistsAST | 1.9 | 2.1 |
| StealsSTL | 0.5 | 0.8 |
| BlocksBLK | 1.8 | 0.9 |
| Threes3PM | 1.1 | 2.5 |
| Field goal %FG% | 52.3% | 46.3% |
| Free throw %FT% | 65.1% | 81.5% |
| TurnoversTO | 1.1 | 1.3 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 77 | 77 |
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 | Donovan Clingan | Jabari Smith Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 45.6 | 32.7 |
| Points | 15.6 | 17.4 |
| Rebounds | 15.2 | 6.8 |
| Assists | 2.7 | 2.2 |
| Steals | 0.7 | 0.8 |
| Blocks | 2.5 | 0.9 |
| Threes | 1.5 | 2.6 |
| Turnovers | 1.6 | 1.3 |
Each per-game number divided by minutes and scaled to 36: the rate a bigger role would carry.
9-category z-scores
| Category | Donovan Clingan | Jabari Smith Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | -1.0 | +0.0 |
| ReboundsREB | +2.2 | +0.3 |
| AssistsAST | -0.9 | -0.8 |
| StealsSTL | -1.5 | -0.6 |
| BlocksBLK | +2.2 | +0.4 |
| Threes3PM | -0.6 | +0.9 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | +0.5 | -0.4 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | -1.2 | +0.1 |
| TurnoversTO | +1.0 | +0.8 |
| Total | +0.7 | +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 points, assists, steals, threes and free throw percentage flips the 9-cat answer to Donovan Clingan.
| Punt | Donovan Clingan | Jabari Smith Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | +1.6 (#20) | +0.7 (#37) |
| REB | -1.9 (#129) | +0.4 (#51) |
| AST | +1.5 (#26) | +1.5 (#28) |
| STL | +2.1 (#22) | +1.3 (#34) |
| BLK | -1.9 (#129) | +0.1 (#56) |
| 3PM | +1.4 (#33) | -0.2 (#63) |
| FG% | -0.4 (#66) | +1.1 (#39) |
| FT% | +1.9 (#29) | +0.5 (#43) |
| TO | -0.6 (#75) | -0.2 (#67) |
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)
- Donovan Clingan: 4 games (Mon @DEN, Wed @PHX, Fri @LAL, Sat SAS), 1 back-to-back.
- Jabari Smith Jr.: 3 games (Mon BOS, Wed MIN, Sat @PHX).
Recent games
- Donovan Clingan: 31.4 fantasy points a game over his last 6 of 2026-27, against 32.9 on the board.
- Jabari Smith Jr.: 33.5 fantasy points a game over his last 8 of 2026-27, against 31.7 on the board.
Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Donovan Clingan playing tonight? · Is Jabari Smith Jr. playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Donovan Clingan
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Donovan Clingan or Jabari Smith Jr.?
Points leagues: Donovan Clingan. 32.9 fantasy points per game against 31.7, 66th on our board to 77th. 9-cat leagues: Jabari Smith Jr. instead, +0.7 in summed z-scores against +0.7 (40th to 41st), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Donovan Clingan or Jabari Smith Jr.?
Category by category, Donovan Clingan is ahead in 4 (REB, BLK, FG% and TO) and Jabari Smith Jr. in 5 (PTS, AST, STL, 3PM and FT%).
Who should I start in Week 3, Donovan Clingan or Jabari Smith Jr.?
Donovan Clingan plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Jabari Smith Jr. 3. For that week alone, start Donovan Clingan: 131.5 projected fantasy points to 95.1 for Jabari Smith Jr..
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Nov 3, 2026 at 12:36 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number