Obi Toppin vs RJ Barrett: who to start in Week 1
Obi Toppin plays 3 games in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), RJ Barrett 3. For that week alone, start RJ Barrett: 95.4 projected fantasy points to 64.4 for Obi Toppin. Over the season, RJ Barrett leads in both formats: 31.8 fantasy points a game to 21.5, and 161st against 162nd 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.
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- Points leagues
- #184
- 21.5 FP/G, slot 16.04
- 9-cat leagues
- #162
- -2.7 z, slot 14.06
- Points leagues
- #70
- 31.8 FP/G, slot 6.10, $14
- 9-cat leagues
- #161
- -2.7 z, slot 14.05
The pick in points and 9-cat leagues.
The call
Points leagues: RJ Barrett. 31.8 fantasy points per game against 21.5, 70th on our board to 184th.
9-cat leagues: RJ Barrett again, -2.7 in summed z-scores against -2.7 (161st to 162nd).
Category by category, Obi Toppin is ahead in 4 (3PM, FG%, FT% and TO) and RJ Barrett in 5 (PTS, REB, AST, STL and BLK).
Per 36 minutes, Obi Toppin produces more: 42.6 fantasy points to 38.1, on 18.1 minutes a night against 30.0. He does it in fewer minutes, so a bigger role would widen the gap.
Obi Toppin plays 3 games in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), RJ Barrett 3. For that week alone, start RJ Barrett: 95.4 projected fantasy points to 64.4 for Obi Toppin.
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 | Obi Toppin | RJ Barrett |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 21.5 | 31.8 |
| Minutes | 18.1 | 30.0 |
| PointsPTS | 12.1 | 19.3 |
| ReboundsREB | 4.3 | 5.2 |
| AssistsAST | 2.2 | 3.3 |
| StealsSTL | 0.6 | 0.7 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.0 | 0.3 |
| Threes3PM | 1.7 | 1.6 |
| Field goal %FG% | 51.0% | 49.6% |
| Free throw %FT% | 89.0% | 70.4% |
| TurnoversTO | 1.1 | 1.7 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 24 | 57 |
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 | Obi Toppin | RJ Barrett |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 42.6 | 38.1 |
| Points | 24.1 | 23.2 |
| Rebounds | 8.6 | 6.2 |
| Assists | 4.4 | 4.0 |
| Steals | 1.2 | 0.8 |
| Blocks | 0.1 | 0.4 |
| Threes | 3.4 | 1.9 |
| Turnovers | 2.2 | 2.0 |
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 | Obi Toppin | RJ Barrett |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | -0.8 | +0.5 |
| ReboundsREB | -0.7 | -0.3 |
| AssistsAST | -0.7 | -0.2 |
| StealsSTL | -1.2 | -0.9 |
| BlocksBLK | -1.3 | -0.7 |
| Threes3PM | +0.1 | -0.1 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | +0.3 | +0.2 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | +0.6 | -1.5 |
| TurnoversTO | +1.0 | +0.2 |
| Total | -2.7 | -2.7 |
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 points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and field goal percentage flips the 9-cat answer to Obi Toppin.
| Punt | Obi Toppin | RJ Barrett |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | -2.0 (#165) | -3.3 (#234) |
| REB | -2.1 (#137) | -2.8 (#182) |
| AST | -2.1 (#151) | -2.7 (#183) |
| STL | -1.6 (#124) | -1.9 (#139) |
| BLK | -1.5 (#109) | -2.2 (#142) |
| 3PM | -2.9 (#177) | -2.7 (#172) |
| FG% | -3.1 (#163) | -3.6 (#187) |
| FT% | -3.4 (#188) | -1.4 (#111) |
| TO | -3.8 (#169) | -3.0 (#139) |
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)
- Obi Toppin: 3 games (Wed @NOP, Fri DAL, Sun @BKN).
- RJ Barrett: 3 games (Wed CHI, Fri @WAS, Sun @MIN).
Recent games
- Obi Toppin: 31.1 fantasy points a game over his last 1 of 2026-27, against 21.5 on the board.
- RJ Barrett: 28.3 fantasy points a game over his last 1 of 2026-27, against 31.8 on the board.
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Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Obi Toppin playing tonight? · Is RJ Barrett playing tonight?
Rookie cards: RJ Barrett
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Obi Toppin or RJ Barrett?
Points leagues: RJ Barrett. 31.8 fantasy points per game against 21.5, 70th on our board to 184th. 9-cat leagues: RJ Barrett again, -2.7 in summed z-scores against -2.7 (161st to 162nd).
Who wins more categories, Obi Toppin or RJ Barrett?
Category by category, Obi Toppin is ahead in 4 (3PM, FG%, FT% and TO) and RJ Barrett in 5 (PTS, REB, AST, STL and BLK).
Who should I start in Week 1, Obi Toppin or RJ Barrett?
Obi Toppin plays 3 games in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), RJ Barrett 3. For that week alone, start RJ Barrett: 95.4 projected fantasy points to 64.4 for Obi Toppin.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 22, 2026 at 8:57 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number