Joel Embiid vs Michael Porter Jr.: who to start in Week 1
Joel Embiid plays 4 games in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), Michael Porter Jr. 3. For that week alone, start Joel Embiid: 175.5 projected fantasy points to 116.8 for Michael Porter Jr.. Over the season, Joel Embiid leads in both formats: 43.9 fantasy points a game to 38.9, and 23rd against 25th 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 24, 10:27 AM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
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- Points leagues
- #13
- 43.9 FP/G, slot 2.01, $32
- 9-cat leagues
- #23
- +2.6 z, slot 2.11, $30
The pick in points and 9-cat leagues.
- Points leagues
- #33
- 38.9 FP/G, slot 3.09, $25
- 9-cat leagues
- #25
- +2.4 z, slot 3.01, $29
The call
Points leagues: Joel Embiid. 43.9 fantasy points per game against 38.9, 13th on our board to 33rd.
9-cat leagues: Joel Embiid again, +2.6 in summed z-scores against +2.4 (23rd to 25th).
Category by category, Joel Embiid is ahead in 6 (PTS, REB, AST, BLK, FG% and FT%) and Michael Porter Jr. in 3 (STL, 3PM and TO).
Per 36 minutes, Joel Embiid produces more: 49.5 fantasy points to 43.0, on 31.9 minutes a night against 32.6. He does it in fewer minutes, so a bigger role would widen the gap.
Joel Embiid plays 4 games in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), Michael Porter Jr. 3. For that week alone, start Joel Embiid: 175.5 projected fantasy points to 116.8 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.
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Per game, side by side
| Per game | Joel Embiid | Michael Porter Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 43.9 | 38.9 |
| Minutes | 31.9 | 32.6 |
| PointsPTS | 25.9 | 24.3 |
| ReboundsREB | 7.9 | 7.1 |
| AssistsAST | 3.9 | 2.9 |
| StealsSTL | 0.6 | 1.2 |
| BlocksBLK | 1.2 | 0.2 |
| Threes3PM | 1.4 | 3.5 |
| Field goal %FG% | 47.9% | 46.4% |
| Free throw %FT% | 84.6% | 84.8% |
| TurnoversTO | 2.8 | 2.5 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 38 | 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 | Joel Embiid | Michael Porter Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 49.5 | 43.0 |
| Points | 29.2 | 26.9 |
| Rebounds | 8.9 | 7.8 |
| Assists | 4.4 | 3.2 |
| Steals | 0.7 | 1.3 |
| Blocks | 1.4 | 0.3 |
| Threes | 1.6 | 3.9 |
| Turnovers | 3.2 | 2.7 |
Each per-game number divided by minutes and scaled to 36: the rate a bigger role would carry.
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9-category z-scores
| Category | Joel Embiid | Michael Porter Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | +1.7 | +1.4 |
| ReboundsREB | +1.0 | +0.6 |
| AssistsAST | +0.2 | -0.3 |
| StealsSTL | -1.1 | +0.4 |
| BlocksBLK | +1.2 | -0.9 |
| Threes3PM | -0.2 | +1.9 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | -0.2 | -0.7 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | +1.4 | +0.7 |
| TurnoversTO | -1.2 | -0.7 |
| Total | +2.6 | +2.4 |
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 rebounds, assists, blocks, field goal percentage and free throw percentage flips the 9-cat answer to Michael Porter Jr..
| Punt | Joel Embiid | Michael Porter Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | +0.9 (#35) | +0.9 (#36) |
| REB | +1.5 (#30) | +1.9 (#25) |
| AST | +2.3 (#21) | +2.6 (#18) |
| STL | +3.6 (#11) | +1.9 (#25) |
| BLK | +1.3 (#33) | +3.3 (#16) |
| 3PM | +2.7 (#17) | +0.3 (#54) |
| FG% | +2.7 (#23) | +3.3 (#20) |
| FT% | +1.1 (#36) | +1.5 (#33) |
| TO | +3.7 (#17) | +3.1 (#23) |
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 1 (Oct 19-25)
- Joel Embiid: 4 games (Tue @NYK, Thu CLE, Sat MIL, Sun DET), 1 back-to-back.
- Michael Porter Jr.: 3 games (Wed CHA, Sat @CLE, Sun IND), 1 back-to-back.
Recent games
- Joel Embiid: 39.5 fantasy points a game over his last 2 of 2026-27, against 43.9 on the board.
- Michael Porter Jr.: 40.9 fantasy points a game over his last 1 of 2026-27, against 38.9 on the board.
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Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Joel Embiid playing tonight? · Is Michael Porter Jr. playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Joel Embiid
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Joel Embiid or Michael Porter Jr.?
Points leagues: Joel Embiid. 43.9 fantasy points per game against 38.9, 13th on our board to 33rd. 9-cat leagues: Joel Embiid again, +2.6 in summed z-scores against +2.4 (23rd to 25th).
Who wins more categories, Joel Embiid or Michael Porter Jr.?
Category by category, Joel Embiid is ahead in 6 (PTS, REB, AST, BLK, FG% and FT%) and Michael Porter Jr. in 3 (STL, 3PM and TO).
Who should I start in Week 1, Joel Embiid or Michael Porter Jr.?
Joel Embiid plays 4 games in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), Michael Porter Jr. 3. For that week alone, start Joel Embiid: 175.5 projected fantasy points to 116.8 for Michael Porter Jr..
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 24, 2026 at 10:27 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number