Lauri Markkanen vs Michael Porter Jr.: who to start in Week 2
Lauri Markkanen plays 3 games in Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1), Michael Porter Jr. 3. For that week alone, start Michael Porter Jr.: 114.9 projected fantasy points to 113.6 for Lauri Markkanen. Over the season, Michael Porter Jr. leads in points leagues (38.3 fantasy points a game to 37.9) and Lauri Markkanen in 9-cat leagues (20th against 23rd). 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 28, 12:33 AM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
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- Points leagues
- #37
- 37.9 FP/G, slot 4.01, $24
- 9-cat leagues
- #20
- +3.1 z, slot 2.08, $32
Day to day (Wrist)
The pick in 9-cat leagues.
- Points leagues
- #33
- 38.3 FP/G, slot 3.09, $24
- 9-cat leagues
- #23
- +2.6 z, slot 2.11, $30
The pick in points leagues.
The call
Points leagues: Michael Porter Jr.. 38.3 fantasy points per game against 37.9, 33rd on our board to 37th.
9-cat leagues: Lauri Markkanen instead, +3.1 in summed z-scores against +2.6 (20th to 23rd), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Category by category, Lauri Markkanen is ahead in 5 (PTS, BLK, FG%, FT% and TO) and Michael Porter Jr. in 4 (REB, AST, STL and 3PM).
Per 36 minutes, Michael Porter Jr. produces more: 43.1 fantasy points to 41.2, on 32.0 minutes a night against 33.1. He does it in fewer minutes, so a bigger role would widen the gap.
Lauri Markkanen plays 3 games in Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1), Michael Porter Jr. 3. For that week alone, start Michael Porter Jr.: 114.9 projected fantasy points to 113.6 for Lauri Markkanen.
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 | Lauri Markkanen | Michael Porter Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 37.9 | 38.3 |
| Minutes | 33.1 | 32.0 |
| PointsPTS | 24.5 | 23.7 |
| ReboundsREB | 6.6 | 6.8 |
| AssistsAST | 2.0 | 2.6 |
| StealsSTL | 0.8 | 1.4 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.4 | 0.2 |
| Threes3PM | 2.7 | 3.3 |
| Field goal %FG% | 46.5% | 46.3% |
| Free throw %FT% | 89.4% | 84.9% |
| TurnoversTO | 1.4 | 2.3 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 42 | 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 | Lauri Markkanen | Michael Porter Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 41.2 | 43.1 |
| Points | 26.6 | 26.7 |
| Rebounds | 7.2 | 7.6 |
| Assists | 2.2 | 3.0 |
| Steals | 0.9 | 1.6 |
| Blocks | 0.5 | 0.2 |
| Threes | 2.9 | 3.7 |
| Turnovers | 1.6 | 2.6 |
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 | Lauri Markkanen | Michael Porter Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | +1.4 | +1.3 |
| ReboundsREB | +0.4 | +0.5 |
| AssistsAST | -0.8 | -0.5 |
| StealsSTL | -0.5 | +0.9 |
| BlocksBLK | -0.5 | -1.0 |
| Threes3PM | +1.1 | +1.8 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | -0.6 | -0.6 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | +1.9 | +0.7 |
| TurnoversTO | +0.5 | -0.5 |
| Total | +3.1 | +2.6 |
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 blocks, free throw percentage and turnovers flips the 9-cat answer to Michael Porter Jr..
| Punt | Lauri Markkanen | Michael Porter Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | +1.4 (#27) | +1.1 (#30) |
| REB | +2.7 (#18) | +2.2 (#21) |
| AST | +3.6 (#11) | +2.8 (#17) |
| STL | +3.3 (#13) | +1.5 (#29) |
| BLK | +3.4 (#15) | +3.5 (#14) |
| 3PM | +1.6 (#31) | +0.5 (#45) |
| FG% | +3.9 (#11) | +3.5 (#17) |
| FT% | +0.9 (#38) | +1.6 (#31) |
| TO | +2.4 (#28) | +3.1 (#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 392 ranked players.
Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1)
- Lauri Markkanen: 3 games (Mon MEM, Wed SAS, Sat POR), 1 back-to-back, listed DTD.
- Michael Porter Jr.: 3 games (Tue @BOS, Fri DET, Sun @IND).
Lauri Markkanen or Michael Porter Jr.: the Week 2 start/sit call
Recent games
- Lauri Markkanen: 25.5 fantasy points a game over his last 4 of 2026-27, against 37.9 on the board.
- Michael Porter Jr.: 38.6 fantasy points a game over his last 4 of 2026-27, against 38.3 on the board.
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Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Lauri Markkanen playing tonight? · Is Michael Porter Jr. playing tonight?
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Lauri Markkanen or Michael Porter Jr.?
Points leagues: Michael Porter Jr.. 38.3 fantasy points per game against 37.9, 33rd on our board to 37th. 9-cat leagues: Lauri Markkanen instead, +3.1 in summed z-scores against +2.6 (20th to 23rd), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Lauri Markkanen or Michael Porter Jr.?
Category by category, Lauri Markkanen is ahead in 5 (PTS, BLK, FG%, FT% and TO) and Michael Porter Jr. in 4 (REB, AST, STL and 3PM).
Who should I start in Week 2, Lauri Markkanen or Michael Porter Jr.?
Lauri Markkanen plays 3 games in Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1), Michael Porter Jr. 3. For that week alone, start Michael Porter Jr.: 114.9 projected fantasy points to 113.6 for Lauri Markkanen.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 28, 2026 at 12:33 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number