Jayson Tatum vs Michael Porter Jr.: who to start in Week 3
Jayson Tatum plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Michael Porter Jr. 4. For that week alone, start Jayson Tatum: 179.0 projected fantasy points to 151.3 for Michael Porter Jr.. Over the season, Jayson Tatum leads in points leagues (44.7 fantasy points a game to 37.8) and Michael Porter Jr. in 9-cat leagues (24th against 26th). 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
- #12
- 44.7 FP/G, slot 1.12, $33
- 9-cat leagues
- #26
- +2.1 z, slot 3.02, $27
The pick in points leagues.
- Points leagues
- #37
- 37.8 FP/G, slot 4.01, $22
- 9-cat leagues
- #24
- +2.2 z, slot 2.12, $28
The pick in 9-cat leagues.
The call
Points leagues: Jayson Tatum. 44.7 fantasy points per game against 37.8, 12th on our board to 37th.
9-cat leagues: Michael Porter Jr. instead, +2.2 in summed z-scores against +2.1 (24th to 26th), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Category by category, Jayson Tatum is ahead in 4 (PTS, REB, AST and FT%) and Michael Porter Jr. in 5 (STL, BLK, 3PM, FG% and TO).
Per 36 minutes, Jayson Tatum produces more: 48.2 fantasy points to 41.9, on 33.4 minutes a night against 32.5. He already plays as much or more, so the gap is not a role waiting to grow.
Jayson Tatum plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Michael Porter Jr. 4. For that week alone, start Jayson Tatum: 179.0 projected fantasy points to 151.3 for Michael Porter 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 | Jayson Tatum | Michael Porter Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 44.7 | 37.8 |
| Minutes | 33.4 | 32.5 |
| PointsPTS | 23.4 | 23.1 |
| ReboundsREB | 8.7 | 7.0 |
| AssistsAST | 6.1 | 2.5 |
| StealsSTL | 1.2 | 1.2 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| Threes3PM | 2.5 | 3.4 |
| Field goal %FG% | 41.4% | 46.3% |
| Free throw %FT% | 84.5% | 83.0% |
| TurnoversTO | 2.6 | 2.2 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 16 | 52 |
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 | Jayson Tatum | Michael Porter Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 48.2 | 41.9 |
| Points | 25.2 | 25.6 |
| Rebounds | 9.4 | 7.8 |
| Assists | 6.6 | 2.8 |
| Steals | 1.3 | 1.4 |
| Blocks | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| Threes | 2.7 | 3.8 |
| Turnovers | 2.8 | 2.5 |
Each per-game number divided by minutes and scaled to 36: the rate a bigger role would carry.
9-category z-scores
| Category | Jayson Tatum | Michael Porter Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | +1.2 | +1.2 |
| ReboundsREB | +1.2 | +0.5 |
| AssistsAST | +1.2 | -0.6 |
| StealsSTL | +0.3 | +0.4 |
| BlocksBLK | -0.8 | -0.7 |
| Threes3PM | +0.8 | +1.7 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | -1.9 | -0.5 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | +0.9 | +0.4 |
| TurnoversTO | -0.8 | -0.3 |
| Total | +2.1 | +2.2 |
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 steals, blocks, threes, field goal percentage and turnovers flips the 9-cat answer to Jayson Tatum.
| Punt | Jayson Tatum | Michael Porter Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | +0.8 (#36) | +0.9 (#34) |
| REB | +0.8 (#34) | +1.6 (#22) |
| AST | +0.8 (#37) | +2.6 (#15) |
| STL | +1.8 (#27) | +1.6 (#28) |
| BLK | +2.8 (#17) | +2.7 (#19) |
| 3PM | +1.1 (#39) | +0.2 (#50) |
| FG% | +4.1 (#9) | +2.8 (#18) |
| FT% | +1.0 (#37) | +1.5 (#31) |
| TO | +3.0 (#21) | +2.5 (#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 438 ranked players.
Week 3 (Nov 2-8)
- Jayson Tatum: 4 games (Mon @HOU, Wed MIL, Fri @CHA, Sun @MIL), 1 back-to-back.
- Michael Porter Jr.: 4 games (Mon @NYK, Wed CHA, Sat @ATL, Sun @DAL), 2 back-to-backs.
Recent games
- Jayson Tatum: 46.4 fantasy points a game over his last 7 of 2026-27, against 44.7 on the board.
- Michael Porter Jr.: 35.7 fantasy points a game over his last 7 of 2026-27, against 37.8 on the board.
Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Jayson Tatum playing tonight? · Is Michael Porter Jr. playing tonight?
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Jayson Tatum or Michael Porter Jr.?
Points leagues: Jayson Tatum. 44.7 fantasy points per game against 37.8, 12th on our board to 37th. 9-cat leagues: Michael Porter Jr. instead, +2.2 in summed z-scores against +2.1 (24th to 26th), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Jayson Tatum or Michael Porter Jr.?
Category by category, Jayson Tatum is ahead in 4 (PTS, REB, AST and FT%) and Michael Porter Jr. in 5 (STL, BLK, 3PM, FG% and TO).
Who should I start in Week 3, Jayson Tatum or Michael Porter Jr.?
Jayson Tatum plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Michael Porter Jr. 4. For that week alone, start Jayson Tatum: 179.0 projected fantasy points to 151.3 for Michael Porter Jr..
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Nov 3, 2026 at 2:36 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number