Jaden McDaniels vs Josh Hart: who to start in Week 3
Jaden McDaniels plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Josh Hart 3. For that week alone, start Jaden McDaniels: 119.0 projected fantasy points to 89.0 for Josh Hart. Over the season, Jaden McDaniels leads in both formats: 29.7 fantasy points a game to 29.7, and 63rd against 72nd 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, 6:36 AM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
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- Points leagues
- #95
- 29.7 FP/G, slot 8.11, $10
- 9-cat leagues
- #63
- -0.1 z, slot 6.03, $15
The pick in points and 9-cat leagues.
- Points leagues
- #96
- 29.7 FP/G, slot 8.12, $10
- 9-cat leagues
- #72
- -0.5 z, slot 6.12, $13
The call
Points leagues: Jaden McDaniels. 29.7 fantasy points per game against 29.7, 95th on our board to 96th.
9-cat leagues: Jaden McDaniels again, -0.1 in summed z-scores against -0.5 (63rd to 72nd).
Category by category, Jaden McDaniels is ahead in 5 (PTS, BLK, FG%, FT% and TO) and Josh Hart in 4 (REB, AST, STL and 3PM).
Per 36 minutes, Josh Hart produces more: 34.8 fantasy points to 33.4, on 30.7 minutes a night against 32.1. He does it in fewer minutes, so a bigger role would widen the gap.
Jaden McDaniels plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Josh Hart 3. For that week alone, start Jaden McDaniels: 119.0 projected fantasy points to 89.0 for Josh Hart.
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 | Jaden McDaniels | Josh Hart |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 29.7 | 29.7 |
| Minutes | 32.1 | 30.7 |
| PointsPTS | 15.5 | 10.9 |
| ReboundsREB | 4.9 | 7.3 |
| AssistsAST | 3.0 | 4.5 |
| StealsSTL | 1.0 | 1.5 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.9 | 0.3 |
| Threes3PM | 1.4 | 1.6 |
| Field goal %FG% | 52.0% | 47.2% |
| Free throw %FT% | 79.3% | 70.2% |
| TurnoversTO | 1.8 | 2.0 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 73 | 66 |
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 | Jaden McDaniels | Josh Hart |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 33.4 | 34.8 |
| Points | 17.4 | 12.8 |
| Rebounds | 5.4 | 8.6 |
| Assists | 3.4 | 5.3 |
| Steals | 1.1 | 1.7 |
| Blocks | 1.0 | 0.3 |
| Threes | 1.6 | 1.9 |
| Turnovers | 2.0 | 2.3 |
Each per-game number divided by minutes and scaled to 36: the rate a bigger role would carry.
9-category z-scores
| Category | Jaden McDaniels | Josh Hart |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | -0.2 | -1.0 |
| ReboundsREB | -0.4 | +0.7 |
| AssistsAST | -0.4 | +0.4 |
| StealsSTL | -0.2 | +1.0 |
| BlocksBLK | +0.5 | -0.8 |
| Threes3PM | -0.3 | -0.1 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | +0.8 | -0.1 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | -0.0 | -0.5 |
| TurnoversTO | +0.2 | +0.0 |
| Total | -0.1 | -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, blocks, field goal percentage and free throw percentage flips the 9-cat answer to Josh Hart.
| Punt | Jaden McDaniels | Josh Hart |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | +0.1 (#56) | +0.5 (#46) |
| REB | +0.2 (#55) | -1.2 (#104) |
| AST | +0.2 (#54) | -0.9 (#91) |
| STL | +0.0 (#52) | -1.5 (#120) |
| BLK | -0.7 (#87) | +0.2 (#53) |
| 3PM | +0.1 (#53) | -0.4 (#72) |
| FG% | -1.0 (#90) | -0.5 (#75) |
| FT% | -0.1 (#62) | +0.0 (#57) |
| TO | -0.4 (#71) | -0.5 (#74) |
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)
- Jaden McDaniels: 4 games (Mon MIL, Wed @HOU, Fri @NOP, Sun UTA).
- Josh Hart: 3 games (Mon BKN, Wed CHI, Sat @CLE).
Recent games
- Jaden McDaniels: 31.9 fantasy points a game over his last 8 of 2026-27, against 29.7 on the board.
- Josh Hart: 28.4 fantasy points a game over his last 7 of 2026-27, against 29.7 on the board.
Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Jaden McDaniels playing tonight? · Is Josh Hart playing tonight?
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Jaden McDaniels or Josh Hart?
Points leagues: Jaden McDaniels. 29.7 fantasy points per game against 29.7, 95th on our board to 96th. 9-cat leagues: Jaden McDaniels again, -0.1 in summed z-scores against -0.5 (63rd to 72nd).
Who wins more categories, Jaden McDaniels or Josh Hart?
Category by category, Jaden McDaniels is ahead in 5 (PTS, BLK, FG%, FT% and TO) and Josh Hart in 4 (REB, AST, STL and 3PM).
Who should I start in Week 3, Jaden McDaniels or Josh Hart?
Jaden McDaniels plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Josh Hart 3. For that week alone, start Jaden McDaniels: 119.0 projected fantasy points to 89.0 for Josh Hart.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Nov 3, 2026 at 6:36 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number