Julius Randle vs Michael Porter Jr.: who to start in Week 1
Julius Randle plays 3 games in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), Michael Porter Jr. 3. For that week alone, start Michael Porter Jr.: 116.8 projected fantasy points to 116.5 for Julius Randle. Over the season, Michael Porter Jr. leads in both formats: 38.9 fantasy points a game to 38.8, and 27th against 59th 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 22, 8:57 AM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
Parlae may earn a commission from price links.
- Points leagues
- #36
- 38.8 FP/G, slot 3.12, $25
- 9-cat leagues
- #59
- -0.0 z, slot 5.11, $15
- Points leagues
- #34
- 38.9 FP/G, slot 3.10, $25
- 9-cat leagues
- #27
- +2.2 z, slot 3.03, $27
The pick in points and 9-cat leagues.
The call
Points leagues: Michael Porter Jr.. 38.9 fantasy points per game against 38.8, 34th on our board to 36th.
9-cat leagues: Michael Porter Jr. again, +2.2 in summed z-scores against -0.0 (27th to 59th).
Category by category, Julius Randle is ahead in 3 (AST, BLK and FG%) and Michael Porter Jr. in 6 (PTS, REB, STL, 3PM, FT% and TO).
Per 36 minutes, Michael Porter Jr. produces more: 43.0 fantasy points to 41.9, on 32.6 minutes a night against 33.3. He does it in fewer minutes, so a bigger role would widen the gap.
Julius Randle plays 3 games in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), Michael Porter Jr. 3. For that week alone, start Michael Porter Jr.: 116.8 projected fantasy points to 116.5 for Julius Randle.
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 | Julius Randle | Michael Porter Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 38.8 | 38.9 |
| Minutes | 33.3 | 32.6 |
| PointsPTS | 21.8 | 24.3 |
| ReboundsREB | 6.8 | 7.1 |
| AssistsAST | 5.2 | 2.9 |
| StealsSTL | 1.0 | 1.2 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.3 | 0.2 |
| Threes3PM | 1.5 | 3.5 |
| Field goal %FG% | 49.0% | 46.4% |
| Free throw %FT% | 79.5% | 84.8% |
| TurnoversTO | 2.8 | 2.5 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 79 | 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 | Julius Randle | Michael Porter Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 41.9 | 43.0 |
| Points | 23.6 | 26.9 |
| Rebounds | 7.4 | 7.8 |
| Assists | 5.6 | 3.2 |
| Steals | 1.1 | 1.3 |
| Blocks | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| Threes | 1.6 | 3.9 |
| Turnovers | 3.0 | 2.7 |
Each per-game number divided by minutes and scaled to 36: the rate a bigger role would carry.
Advertisement
9-category z-scores
| Category | Julius Randle | Michael Porter Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | +0.9 | +1.4 |
| ReboundsREB | +0.5 | +0.6 |
| AssistsAST | +0.8 | -0.4 |
| StealsSTL | +0.0 | +0.5 |
| BlocksBLK | -0.8 | -0.9 |
| Threes3PM | -0.2 | +1.9 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | +0.1 | -0.7 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | -0.1 | +0.6 |
| TurnoversTO | -1.2 | -0.8 |
| Total | -0.0 | +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
No punt changes the answer: Michael Porter Jr. stays ahead whichever category you give up.
| Punt | Julius Randle | Michael Porter Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | -1.0 (#105) | +0.7 (#41) |
| REB | -0.7 (#79) | +1.7 (#27) |
| AST | -0.9 (#94) | +2.4 (#19) |
| STL | -0.1 (#65) | +1.7 (#26) |
| BLK | +0.6 (#44) | +3.1 (#18) |
| 3PM | +0.0 (#62) | +0.1 (#58) |
| FG% | -0.5 (#74) | +3.1 (#20) |
| FT% | -0.1 (#66) | +1.3 (#33) |
| TO | +1.2 (#45) | +3.0 (#22) |
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)
- Julius Randle: 3 games (Wed CHA, Sat @CLE, Sun IND), 1 back-to-back.
- Michael Porter Jr.: 3 games (Wed CHA, Sat @CLE, Sun IND), 1 back-to-back.
Julius Randle or Michael Porter Jr.: the Week 1 start/sit call
Recent games
- Julius Randle: 52.1 fantasy points a game over his last 1 of 2026-27, against 38.8 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.
Advertisement
Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Julius Randle playing tonight? · Is Michael Porter Jr. playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Julius Randle
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Julius Randle or Michael Porter Jr.?
Points leagues: Michael Porter Jr.. 38.9 fantasy points per game against 38.8, 34th on our board to 36th. 9-cat leagues: Michael Porter Jr. again, +2.2 in summed z-scores against -0.0 (27th to 59th).
Who wins more categories, Julius Randle or Michael Porter Jr.?
Category by category, Julius Randle is ahead in 3 (AST, BLK and FG%) and Michael Porter Jr. in 6 (PTS, REB, STL, 3PM, FT% and TO).
Who should I start in Week 1, Julius Randle or Michael Porter Jr.?
Julius Randle plays 3 games in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), Michael Porter Jr. 3. For that week alone, start Michael Porter Jr.: 116.8 projected fantasy points to 116.5 for Julius Randle.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 22, 2026 at 8:57 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number