Pascal Siakam vs Walker Kessler: who to start in Week 3
Pascal Siakam plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Walker Kessler 4. For that week alone, start Walker Kessler: 152.0 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for Pascal Siakam. Over the season, Pascal Siakam leads in points leagues (38.7 fantasy points a game to 38.0) and Walker Kessler in 9-cat leagues (12th against 142nd). 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 2, 8:35 PM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
Parlae may earn a commission from price links.
- Points leagues
- #34
- 38.7 FP/G, slot 3.10, $24
- 9-cat leagues
- #142
- -2.1 z, slot 12.10, $3
Out (Rest)
The pick in points leagues.
- 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 9-cat leagues.
The call
Points leagues: Pascal Siakam. 38.7 fantasy points per game against 38.0, 34th on our board to 37th.
9-cat leagues: Walker Kessler instead, +3.7 in summed z-scores against -2.1 (12th to 142nd), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Category by category, Pascal Siakam is ahead in 3 (PTS, AST and 3PM) and Walker Kessler in 6 (REB, STL, BLK, FG%, FT% and TO).
Per 36 minutes, Walker Kessler produces more: 44.6 fantasy points to 42.4, on 30.7 minutes a night against 32.8. He does it in fewer minutes, so a bigger role would widen the gap.
Pascal Siakam plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Walker Kessler 4. For that week alone, start Walker Kessler: 152.0 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for Pascal Siakam.
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 | Pascal Siakam | Walker Kessler |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 38.7 | 38.0 |
| Minutes | 32.8 | 30.7 |
| PointsPTS | 23.1 | 14.3 |
| ReboundsREB | 6.9 | 10.3 |
| AssistsAST | 3.9 | 1.9 |
| StealsSTL | 1.0 | 1.2 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.3 | 2.4 |
| Threes3PM | 1.5 | 0.5 |
| Field goal %FG% | 48.9% | 73.4% |
| Free throw %FT% | 68.0% | 62.2% |
| TurnoversTO | 2.5 | 2.3 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 62 | 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 | Pascal Siakam | Walker Kessler |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 42.4 | 44.6 |
| Points | 25.4 | 16.8 |
| Rebounds | 7.5 | 12.0 |
| Assists | 4.2 | 2.3 |
| Steals | 1.1 | 1.4 |
| Blocks | 0.3 | 2.8 |
| Threes | 1.7 | 0.6 |
| Turnovers | 2.7 | 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 | Pascal Siakam | Walker Kessler |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | +1.2 | -0.4 |
| ReboundsREB | +0.5 | +1.9 |
| AssistsAST | +0.0 | -0.9 |
| StealsSTL | -0.1 | +0.3 |
| BlocksBLK | -0.8 | +3.5 |
| Threes3PM | -0.2 | -1.2 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | +0.2 | +3.1 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | -2.3 | -2.1 |
| TurnoversTO | -0.6 | -0.4 |
| Total | -2.1 | +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
No punt changes the answer: Walker Kessler stays ahead whichever category you give up.
| Punt | Pascal Siakam | Walker Kessler |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | -3.4 (#245) | +4.0 (#7) |
| REB | -2.8 (#186) | +1.4 (#28) |
| AST | -2.4 (#172) | +4.5 (#8) |
| STL | -2.2 (#154) | +3.1 (#13) |
| BLK | -1.5 (#113) | -0.1 (#68) |
| 3PM | -2.0 (#144) | +4.9 (#5) |
| FG% | -3.1 (#167) | -0.2 (#60) |
| FT% | +0.0 (#55) | +5.8 (#4) |
| TO | -1.5 (#99) | +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)
- Pascal Siakam: 3 games (Mon ATL, Wed @MEM, Sat DEN), 1 back-to-back, listed Out.
- Walker Kessler: 4 games (Mon MIA, Wed @SAC, Fri POR, Sun @DET), 1 back-to-back.
Recent games
- Pascal Siakam: 35.9 fantasy points a game over his last 7 of 2026-27, against 38.7 on the board.
- Walker Kessler: 37.8 fantasy points a game over his last 7 of 2026-27, against 38.0 on the board.
Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Pascal Siakam playing tonight? · Is Walker Kessler playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Pascal Siakam
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Pascal Siakam or Walker Kessler?
Points leagues: Pascal Siakam. 38.7 fantasy points per game against 38.0, 34th on our board to 37th. 9-cat leagues: Walker Kessler instead, +3.7 in summed z-scores against -2.1 (12th to 142nd), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Pascal Siakam or Walker Kessler?
Category by category, Pascal Siakam is ahead in 3 (PTS, AST and 3PM) and Walker Kessler in 6 (REB, STL, BLK, FG%, FT% and TO).
Who should I start in Week 3, Pascal Siakam or Walker Kessler?
Pascal Siakam plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Walker Kessler 4. For that week alone, start Walker Kessler: 152.0 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for Pascal Siakam.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Nov 2, 2026 at 8:35 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number