Jalen Brunson vs Moussa Diabaté: who to start in Week 3
Jalen Brunson plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Moussa Diabaté 3. For that week alone, start Jalen Brunson: 118.8 projected fantasy points to 81.2 for Moussa Diabaté. Over the season, Jalen Brunson leads in both formats: 39.6 fantasy points a game to 27.1, and 76th against 77th 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, 2:36 AM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
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- Points leagues
- #27
- 39.6 FP/G, slot 3.03, $25
- 9-cat leagues
- #76
- -0.6 z, slot 7.04, $12
The pick in points and 9-cat leagues.
- Points leagues
- #123
- 27.1 FP/G, slot 11.03, $6
- 9-cat leagues
- #77
- -0.6 z, slot 7.05, $12
The call
Points leagues: Jalen Brunson. 39.6 fantasy points per game against 27.1, 27th on our board to 123rd.
9-cat leagues: Jalen Brunson again, -0.6 in summed z-scores against -0.6 (76th to 77th).
Category by category, Jalen Brunson is ahead in 4 (PTS, AST, 3PM and FT%) and Moussa Diabaté in 5 (REB, STL, BLK, FG% and TO).
Per 36 minutes, Jalen Brunson produces more: 40.8 fantasy points to 36.1, on 35.0 minutes a night against 27.0. He already plays as much or more, so the gap is not a role waiting to grow.
Jalen Brunson plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Moussa Diabaté 3. For that week alone, start Jalen Brunson: 118.8 projected fantasy points to 81.2 for Moussa Diabaté.
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 | Jalen Brunson | Moussa Diabaté |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 39.6 | 27.1 |
| Minutes | 35.0 | 27.0 |
| PointsPTS | 25.6 | 8.3 |
| ReboundsREB | 3.1 | 9.0 |
| AssistsAST | 6.3 | 2.0 |
| StealsSTL | 0.8 | 1.1 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.2 | 1.0 |
| Threes3PM | 2.6 | 0.0 |
| Field goal %FG% | 44.3% | 63.7% |
| Free throw %FT% | 79.8% | 69.4% |
| TurnoversTO | 2.2 | 1.3 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 74 | 73 |
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 | Moussa Diabaté |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 40.8 | 36.1 |
| Points | 26.3 | 11.1 |
| Rebounds | 3.2 | 12.0 |
| Assists | 6.5 | 2.6 |
| Steals | 0.8 | 1.5 |
| Blocks | 0.2 | 1.3 |
| Threes | 2.6 | 0.0 |
| Turnovers | 2.3 | 1.7 |
Each per-game number divided by minutes and scaled to 36: the rate a bigger role would carry.
9-category z-scores
| Category | Jalen Brunson | Moussa Diabaté |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | +1.6 | -1.5 |
| ReboundsREB | -1.2 | +1.4 |
| AssistsAST | +1.3 | -0.9 |
| StealsSTL | -0.7 | +0.1 |
| BlocksBLK | -0.9 | +0.6 |
| Threes3PM | +0.9 | -1.7 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | -1.2 | +1.3 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | -0.1 | -0.7 |
| TurnoversTO | -0.4 | +0.9 |
| Total | -0.6 | -0.6 |
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, threes and free throw percentage flips the 9-cat answer to Moussa Diabaté.
| Punt | Jalen Brunson | Moussa Diabaté |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | -2.3 (#187) | +0.9 (#33) |
| REB | +0.5 (#42) | -2.2 (#149) |
| AST | -2.1 (#157) | +0.3 (#45) |
| STL | -0.1 (#58) | -0.7 (#85) |
| BLK | +0.3 (#49) | -1.5 (#115) |
| 3PM | -1.7 (#131) | +1.2 (#37) |
| FG% | +0.4 (#48) | -2.3 (#137) |
| FT% | -0.8 (#81) | +0.3 (#50) |
| TO | -0.2 (#64) | -1.7 (#102) |
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)
- Jalen Brunson: 3 games (Mon BKN, Wed CHI, Sat @CLE).
- Moussa Diabaté: 3 games (Mon DET, Wed @BKN, Fri BOS).
Recent games
- Jalen Brunson: 37.6 fantasy points a game over his last 7 of 2026-27, against 39.6 on the board.
- Moussa Diabaté: 30.2 fantasy points a game over his last 8 of 2026-27, against 27.1 on the board.
Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Jalen Brunson playing tonight? · Is Moussa Diabaté playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Jalen Brunson, Moussa Diabaté
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Jalen Brunson or Moussa Diabaté?
Points leagues: Jalen Brunson. 39.6 fantasy points per game against 27.1, 27th on our board to 123rd. 9-cat leagues: Jalen Brunson again, -0.6 in summed z-scores against -0.6 (76th to 77th).
Who wins more categories, Jalen Brunson or Moussa Diabaté?
Category by category, Jalen Brunson is ahead in 4 (PTS, AST, 3PM and FT%) and Moussa Diabaté in 5 (REB, STL, BLK, FG% and TO).
Who should I start in Week 3, Jalen Brunson or Moussa Diabaté?
Jalen Brunson plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Moussa Diabaté 3. For that week alone, start Jalen Brunson: 118.8 projected fantasy points to 81.2 for Moussa Diabaté.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Nov 3, 2026 at 2:36 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number