Jalen Brunson vs Jaylen Brown: who to start in Week 1
Jalen Brunson plays 3 games in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), Jaylen Brown 4. For that week alone, start Jaylen Brown: 177.9 projected fantasy points to 119.5 for Jalen Brunson. Over the season, Jaylen Brown leads in both formats: 44.5 fantasy points a game to 39.8, and 50th against 51st 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 Oct 23, 3:56 AM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
Parlae may earn a commission from price links.
- Points leagues
- #29
- 39.8 FP/G, slot 3.05, $26
- 9-cat leagues
- #51
- +0.4 z, slot 5.03, $18
- Points leagues
- #13
- 44.5 FP/G, slot 2.01, $33
- 9-cat leagues
- #50
- +0.4 z, slot 5.02, $18
The pick in points and 9-cat leagues.
The call
Points leagues: Jaylen Brown. 44.5 fantasy points per game against 39.8, 13th on our board to 29th.
9-cat leagues: Jaylen Brown again, +0.4 in summed z-scores against +0.4 (50th to 51st).
Category by category, Jalen Brunson is ahead in 4 (AST, 3PM, FT% and TO) and Jaylen Brown in 5 (PTS, REB, STL, BLK and FG%).
Per 36 minutes, Jaylen Brown produces more: 46.2 fantasy points to 41.0, on 34.7 minutes a night against 34.9. He does it in fewer minutes, so a bigger role would widen the gap.
Jalen Brunson plays 3 games in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), Jaylen Brown 4. For that week alone, start Jaylen Brown: 177.9 projected fantasy points to 119.5 for Jalen Brunson.
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 | Jalen Brunson | Jaylen Brown |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 39.8 | 44.5 |
| Minutes | 34.9 | 34.7 |
| PointsPTS | 25.7 | 27.7 |
| ReboundsREB | 3.4 | 7.1 |
| AssistsAST | 6.6 | 5.1 |
| StealsSTL | 0.7 | 1.0 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.1 | 0.4 |
| Threes3PM | 2.5 | 1.9 |
| Field goal %FG% | 45.8% | 47.9% |
| Free throw %FT% | 85.4% | 79.3% |
| TurnoversTO | 2.3 | 3.6 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 74 | 71 |
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 | Jalen Brunson | Jaylen Brown |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 41.0 | 46.2 |
| Points | 26.5 | 28.8 |
| Rebounds | 3.5 | 7.3 |
| Assists | 6.8 | 5.3 |
| Steals | 0.7 | 1.1 |
| Blocks | 0.1 | 0.4 |
| Threes | 2.6 | 2.0 |
| Turnovers | 2.4 | 3.7 |
Each per-game number divided by minutes and scaled to 36: the rate a bigger role would carry.
Advertisement
9-category z-scores
| Category | Jalen Brunson | Jaylen Brown |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | +1.6 | +2.0 |
| ReboundsREB | -1.1 | +0.6 |
| AssistsAST | +1.5 | +0.8 |
| StealsSTL | -0.8 | -0.0 |
| BlocksBLK | -1.2 | -0.6 |
| Threes3PM | +0.9 | +0.3 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | -0.9 | -0.3 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | +1.0 | -0.1 |
| TurnoversTO | -0.6 | -2.2 |
| Total | +0.4 | +0.4 |
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, rebounds, steals, blocks and field goal percentage flips the 9-cat answer to Jalen Brunson.
| Punt | Jalen Brunson | Jaylen Brown |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | -1.3 (#120) | -1.6 (#134) |
| REB | +1.5 (#29) | -0.3 (#65) |
| AST | -1.3 (#112) | -0.5 (#75) |
| STL | +1.1 (#31) | +0.4 (#51) |
| BLK | +1.6 (#31) | +0.9 (#40) |
| 3PM | -0.8 (#90) | -0.1 (#65) |
| FG% | +1.4 (#38) | +0.4 (#52) |
| FT% | -0.9 (#88) | +0.3 (#51) |
| TO | +1.0 (#48) | +2.7 (#27) |
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 391 ranked players.
Week 1 (Oct 19-25)
- Jalen Brunson: 3 games (Tue PHI, Fri @BOS, Sun ORL).
- Jaylen Brown: 4 games (Tue @NYK, Thu CLE, Sat MIL, Sun DET), 1 back-to-back.
Recent games
- Jalen Brunson: 29.5 fantasy points a game over his last 1 of 2026-27, against 39.8 on the board.
- Jaylen Brown: 38.6 fantasy points a game over his last 2 of 2026-27, against 44.5 on the board.
Advertisement
Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Jalen Brunson playing tonight? · Is Jaylen Brown playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Jalen Brunson, Jaylen Brown
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Jalen Brunson or Jaylen Brown?
Points leagues: Jaylen Brown. 44.5 fantasy points per game against 39.8, 13th on our board to 29th. 9-cat leagues: Jaylen Brown again, +0.4 in summed z-scores against +0.4 (50th to 51st).
Who wins more categories, Jalen Brunson or Jaylen Brown?
Category by category, Jalen Brunson is ahead in 4 (AST, 3PM, FT% and TO) and Jaylen Brown in 5 (PTS, REB, STL, BLK and FG%).
Who should I start in Week 1, Jalen Brunson or Jaylen Brown?
Jalen Brunson plays 3 games in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), Jaylen Brown 4. For that week alone, start Jaylen Brown: 177.9 projected fantasy points to 119.5 for Jalen Brunson.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 23, 2026 at 3:56 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number