Lauri Markkanen vs Walker Kessler: who to start in Week 3
Lauri Markkanen plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Walker Kessler 4. For that week alone, start Walker Kessler: 152.0 projected fantasy points to 150.2 for Lauri Markkanen. Over the season, Walker Kessler leads in both formats: 38.0 fantasy points a game to 37.6, and 12th against 18th 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, 12:36 AM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
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- Points leagues
- #38
- 37.6 FP/G, slot 4.02, $22
- 9-cat leagues
- #18
- +2.6 z, slot 2.06, $30
- Points leagues
- #37
- 38.0 FP/G, slot 4.01, $23
- 9-cat leagues
- #12
- +3.7 z, slot 1.12, $37
The pick in points and 9-cat leagues.
The call
Points leagues: Walker Kessler. 38.0 fantasy points per game against 37.6, 37th on our board to 38th.
9-cat leagues: Walker Kessler again, +3.7 in summed z-scores against +2.6 (12th to 18th).
Category by category, Lauri Markkanen is ahead in 4 (PTS, 3PM, FT% and TO) and Walker Kessler in 4 (REB, STL, BLK and FG%).
Per 36 minutes, Walker Kessler produces more: 44.6 fantasy points to 41.1, on 30.7 minutes a night against 32.9. He does it in fewer minutes, so a bigger role would widen the gap.
Lauri Markkanen plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Walker Kessler 4. For that week alone, start Walker Kessler: 152.0 projected fantasy points to 150.2 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.
Per game, side by side
| Per game | Lauri Markkanen | Walker Kessler |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 37.6 | 38.0 |
| Minutes | 32.9 | 30.7 |
| PointsPTS | 23.9 | 14.3 |
| ReboundsREB | 6.6 | 10.3 |
| AssistsAST | 2.0 | 1.9 |
| StealsSTL | 0.9 | 1.2 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.5 | 2.4 |
| Threes3PM | 2.7 | 0.5 |
| Field goal %FG% | 45.5% | 73.4% |
| Free throw %FT% | 89.1% | 62.2% |
| TurnoversTO | 1.5 | 2.3 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 42 | 5 |
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 | Walker Kessler |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 41.1 | 44.6 |
| Points | 26.1 | 16.8 |
| Rebounds | 7.2 | 12.0 |
| Assists | 2.2 | 2.3 |
| Steals | 1.0 | 1.4 |
| Blocks | 0.6 | 2.8 |
| Threes | 2.9 | 0.6 |
| Turnovers | 1.6 | 2.6 |
Each per-game number divided by minutes and scaled to 36: the rate a bigger role would carry.
9-category z-scores
| Category | Lauri Markkanen | Walker Kessler |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | +1.3 | -0.4 |
| ReboundsREB | +0.3 | +1.9 |
| AssistsAST | -0.9 | -0.9 |
| StealsSTL | -0.4 | +0.3 |
| BlocksBLK | -0.3 | +3.5 |
| Threes3PM | +1.0 | -1.2 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | -0.7 | +3.1 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | +1.7 | -2.1 |
| TurnoversTO | +0.6 | -0.4 |
| Total | +2.6 | +3.7 |
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, blocks and field goal percentage flips the 9-cat answer to Lauri Markkanen.
| Punt | Lauri Markkanen | Walker Kessler |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | +1.3 (#26) | +4.0 (#7) |
| REB | +2.3 (#21) | +1.4 (#28) |
| AST | +3.4 (#12) | +4.5 (#8) |
| STL | +3.0 (#14) | +3.1 (#13) |
| BLK | +2.8 (#18) | -0.1 (#68) |
| 3PM | +1.4 (#35) | +4.9 (#5) |
| FG% | +3.5 (#13) | -0.2 (#60) |
| FT% | +0.7 (#42) | +5.8 (#4) |
| TO | +1.9 (#29) | +3.8 (#17) |
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 432 ranked players.
Week 3 (Nov 2-8)
- Lauri Markkanen: 4 games (Mon @SAS, Wed @NOP, Fri @DAL, Sun @MIN).
- Walker Kessler: 4 games (Mon MIA, Wed @SAC, Fri POR, Sun @DET), 1 back-to-back.
Recent games
- Lauri Markkanen: 28.8 fantasy points a game over his last 6 of 2026-27, against 37.6 on the board.
- Walker Kessler: 38.2 fantasy points a game over his last 8 of 2026-27, against 38.0 on the board.
Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Lauri Markkanen playing tonight? · Is Walker Kessler playing tonight?
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Lauri Markkanen or Walker Kessler?
Points leagues: Walker Kessler. 38.0 fantasy points per game against 37.6, 37th on our board to 38th. 9-cat leagues: Walker Kessler again, +3.7 in summed z-scores against +2.6 (12th to 18th).
Who wins more categories, Lauri Markkanen or Walker Kessler?
Category by category, Lauri Markkanen is ahead in 4 (PTS, 3PM, FT% and TO) and Walker Kessler in 4 (REB, STL, BLK and FG%).
Who should I start in Week 3, Lauri Markkanen or Walker Kessler?
Lauri Markkanen plays 4 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Walker Kessler 4. For that week alone, start Walker Kessler: 152.0 projected fantasy points to 150.2 for Lauri Markkanen.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Nov 3, 2026 at 12:36 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number