Ryan Kalkbrenner vs T.J. McConnell: who to start in Week 3
Ryan Kalkbrenner plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), T.J. McConnell 3. For that week alone, start Ryan Kalkbrenner: 55.9 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for T.J. McConnell. Over the season, T.J. McConnell leads in both formats: 22.1 fantasy points a game to 18.6, and 174th against 175th 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, 2:36 AM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
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- Points leagues
- #244
- 18.6 FP/G, slot 21.04
- 9-cat leagues
- #175
- -3.0 z, slot 15.07
- Points leagues
- #181
- 22.1 FP/G, slot 16.01
- 9-cat leagues
- #174
- -2.9 z, slot 15.06
Out (Hamstring)
The pick in points and 9-cat leagues.
The call
Points leagues: T.J. McConnell. 22.1 fantasy points per game against 18.6, 181st on our board to 244th.
9-cat leagues: T.J. McConnell again, -2.9 in summed z-scores against -3.0 (174th to 175th).
Category by category, Ryan Kalkbrenner is ahead in 4 (REB, BLK, FG% and TO) and T.J. McConnell in 5 (PTS, AST, STL, 3PM and FT%).
Per 36 minutes, T.J. McConnell produces more: 46.3 fantasy points to 34.0, on 17.2 minutes a night against 19.7. He does it in fewer minutes, so a bigger role would widen the gap.
Ryan Kalkbrenner plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), T.J. McConnell 3. For that week alone, start Ryan Kalkbrenner: 55.9 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for T.J. McConnell.
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 | Ryan Kalkbrenner | T.J. McConnell |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 18.6 | 22.1 |
| Minutes | 19.7 | 17.2 |
| PointsPTS | 6.4 | 9.4 |
| ReboundsREB | 5.1 | 2.2 |
| AssistsAST | 1.0 | 5.1 |
| StealsSTL | 0.4 | 1.0 |
| BlocksBLK | 1.4 | 0.2 |
| Threes3PM | 0.0 | 0.3 |
| Field goal %FG% | 75.2% | 53.8% |
| Free throw %FT% | 73.8% | 86.2% |
| TurnoversTO | 0.9 | 1.1 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 69 | 56 |
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 | Ryan Kalkbrenner | T.J. McConnell |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 34.0 | 46.3 |
| Points | 11.8 | 19.6 |
| Rebounds | 9.3 | 4.6 |
| Assists | 1.9 | 10.7 |
| Steals | 0.8 | 2.1 |
| Blocks | 2.5 | 0.4 |
| Threes | 0.0 | 0.6 |
| Turnovers | 1.7 | 2.4 |
Each per-game number divided by minutes and scaled to 36: the rate a bigger role would carry.
9-category z-scores
| Category | Ryan Kalkbrenner | T.J. McConnell |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | -1.8 | -1.3 |
| ReboundsREB | -0.3 | -1.6 |
| AssistsAST | -1.4 | +0.7 |
| StealsSTL | -1.7 | -0.2 |
| BlocksBLK | +1.4 | -1.0 |
| Threes3PM | -1.7 | -1.4 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | +1.5 | +0.7 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | -0.3 | +0.1 |
| TurnoversTO | +1.3 | +1.0 |
| Total | -3.0 | -2.9 |
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, assists, steals, threes and free throw percentage flips the 9-cat answer to Ryan Kalkbrenner.
| Punt | Ryan Kalkbrenner | T.J. McConnell |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | -1.1 (#116) | -1.6 (#149) |
| REB | -2.9 (#187) | -1.5 (#115) |
| AST | -1.5 (#125) | -3.7 (#234) |
| STL | -1.3 (#110) | -2.8 (#179) |
| BLK | -4.7 (#258) | -2.1 (#135) |
| 3PM | -1.1 (#97) | -1.6 (#120) |
| FG% | -4.9 (#249) | -3.9 (#201) |
| FT% | -2.5 (#172) | -3.0 (#185) |
| TO | -4.5 (#190) | -4.1 (#178) |
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 438 ranked players.
Week 3 (Nov 2-8)
- Ryan Kalkbrenner: 3 games (Mon DET, Wed @BKN, Fri BOS).
- T.J. McConnell: 3 games (Mon ATL, Wed @MEM, Sat DEN), 1 back-to-back, listed Out.
Recent games
- Ryan Kalkbrenner: 15.8 fantasy points a game over his last 8 of 2026-27, against 18.6 on the board.
- T.J. McConnell: 24.5 fantasy points a game over his last 10 of 2025-26, against 22.1 on the board.
Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Ryan Kalkbrenner playing tonight? · Is T.J. McConnell playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Ryan Kalkbrenner
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Ryan Kalkbrenner or T.J. McConnell?
Points leagues: T.J. McConnell. 22.1 fantasy points per game against 18.6, 181st on our board to 244th. 9-cat leagues: T.J. McConnell again, -2.9 in summed z-scores against -3.0 (174th to 175th).
Who wins more categories, Ryan Kalkbrenner or T.J. McConnell?
Category by category, Ryan Kalkbrenner is ahead in 4 (REB, BLK, FG% and TO) and T.J. McConnell in 5 (PTS, AST, STL, 3PM and FT%).
Who should I start in Week 3, Ryan Kalkbrenner or T.J. McConnell?
Ryan Kalkbrenner plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), T.J. McConnell 3. For that week alone, start Ryan Kalkbrenner: 55.9 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for T.J. McConnell.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Nov 3, 2026 at 2:36 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number