Jabari Smith Jr. vs Onyeka Okongwu: who to start in Week 2
Jabari Smith Jr. plays 4 games in Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1), Onyeka Okongwu 4. For that week alone, start Onyeka Okongwu: 126.3 projected fantasy points to 124.9 for Jabari Smith Jr.. Over the season, Onyeka Okongwu leads in points leagues (31.6 fantasy points a game to 31.2) and Jabari Smith Jr. in 9-cat leagues (43rd against 44th). 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, 2:33 AM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
Parlae may earn a commission from price links.
- Points leagues
- #72
- 31.2 FP/G, slot 6.12, $14
- 9-cat leagues
- #43
- +0.5 z, slot 4.07, $18
The pick in 9-cat leagues.
- Points leagues
- #71
- 31.6 FP/G, slot 6.11, $14
- 9-cat leagues
- #44
- +0.5 z, slot 4.08, $18
The pick in points leagues.
The call
Points leagues: Onyeka Okongwu. 31.6 fantasy points per game against 31.2, 71st on our board to 72nd.
9-cat leagues: Jabari Smith Jr. instead, +0.5 in summed z-scores against +0.5 (43rd to 44th), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Category by category, Jabari Smith Jr. is ahead in 4 (PTS, 3PM, FT% and TO) and Onyeka Okongwu in 4 (REB, AST, STL and FG%).
Per 36 minutes, Onyeka Okongwu produces more: 37.8 fantasy points to 31.9, on 30.1 minutes a night against 35.2. He does it in fewer minutes, so a bigger role would widen the gap.
Jabari Smith Jr. plays 4 games in Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1), Onyeka Okongwu 4. For that week alone, start Onyeka Okongwu: 126.3 projected fantasy points to 124.9 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.
Advertisement
Per game, side by side
| Per game | Jabari Smith Jr. | Onyeka Okongwu |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 31.2 | 31.6 |
| Minutes | 35.2 | 30.1 |
| PointsPTS | 16.0 | 13.9 |
| ReboundsREB | 6.8 | 7.3 |
| AssistsAST | 2.0 | 3.0 |
| StealsSTL | 0.8 | 1.0 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.9 | 0.9 |
| Threes3PM | 2.3 | 1.7 |
| Field goal %FG% | 46.2% | 46.9% |
| Free throw %FT% | 78.8% | 77.2% |
| TurnoversTO | 1.3 | 1.6 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 77 | 74 |
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 | Jabari Smith Jr. | Onyeka Okongwu |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 31.9 | 37.8 |
| Points | 16.3 | 16.7 |
| Rebounds | 7.0 | 8.7 |
| Assists | 2.0 | 3.6 |
| Steals | 0.9 | 1.2 |
| Blocks | 1.0 | 1.1 |
| Threes | 2.3 | 2.0 |
| Turnovers | 1.3 | 1.9 |
Each per-game number divided by minutes and scaled to 36: the rate a bigger role would carry.
Advertisement
9-category z-scores
| Category | Jabari Smith Jr. | Onyeka Okongwu |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | -0.1 | -0.4 |
| ReboundsREB | +0.5 | +0.7 |
| AssistsAST | -0.8 | -0.3 |
| StealsSTL | -0.5 | +0.0 |
| BlocksBLK | +0.5 | +0.6 |
| Threes3PM | +0.7 | +0.0 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | -0.5 | -0.3 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | -0.1 | -0.2 |
| TurnoversTO | +0.7 | +0.4 |
| Total | +0.5 | +0.5 |
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, threes, free throw percentage and turnovers flips the 9-cat answer to Onyeka Okongwu.
| Punt | Jabari Smith Jr. | Onyeka Okongwu |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | +0.5 (#50) | +0.9 (#35) |
| REB | -0.1 (#60) | -0.3 (#71) |
| AST | +1.3 (#32) | +0.7 (#39) |
| STL | +0.9 (#36) | +0.4 (#46) |
| BLK | -0.2 (#66) | -0.2 (#67) |
| 3PM | -0.2 (#67) | +0.4 (#48) |
| FG% | +1.0 (#42) | +0.7 (#46) |
| FT% | +0.5 (#45) | +0.7 (#42) |
| TO | -0.3 (#69) | +0.1 (#63) |
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)
- Jabari Smith Jr.: 4 games (Mon ATL, Wed @MIL, Fri @DAL, Sat OKC), 1 back-to-back.
- Onyeka Okongwu: 4 games (Mon @HOU, Wed MIA, Thu CLE, Sat @NOP), 1 back-to-back.
Jabari Smith Jr. or Onyeka Okongwu: the Week 2 start/sit call
Recent games
- Jabari Smith Jr.: 34.4 fantasy points a game over his last 4 of 2026-27, against 31.2 on the board.
- Onyeka Okongwu: 23.3 fantasy points a game over his last 4 of 2026-27, against 31.6 on the board.
Advertisement
Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Jabari Smith Jr. playing tonight? · Is Onyeka Okongwu playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Onyeka Okongwu
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Jabari Smith Jr. or Onyeka Okongwu?
Points leagues: Onyeka Okongwu. 31.6 fantasy points per game against 31.2, 71st on our board to 72nd. 9-cat leagues: Jabari Smith Jr. instead, +0.5 in summed z-scores against +0.5 (43rd to 44th), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Jabari Smith Jr. or Onyeka Okongwu?
Category by category, Jabari Smith Jr. is ahead in 4 (PTS, 3PM, FT% and TO) and Onyeka Okongwu in 4 (REB, AST, STL and FG%).
Who should I start in Week 2, Jabari Smith Jr. or Onyeka Okongwu?
Jabari Smith Jr. plays 4 games in Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1), Onyeka Okongwu 4. For that week alone, start Onyeka Okongwu: 126.3 projected fantasy points to 124.9 for Jabari Smith Jr..
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 28, 2026 at 2:33 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number