Damian Lillard or Fred VanVleet? Week 3
Who to start in fantasy basketball in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), PGs ranked 20th and 21st at the position, compared on 2025-26 and 2026-27 per-game production.
Updated Nov 3, 4:36 AM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
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- FP/G
- 31.9
- 9-cat
- #136
- Last 6 FP
- 31.9
4 games in Week 3, 1 back-to-back
Week 3 pick in points leagues.
The Week 3 call
Points leagues, Week 3 (Nov 2-8): start Damian Lillard. Damian Lillard has 3 games counted to 2 for Fred VanVleet, for 95.6 projected fantasy points against 62.6.
9-cat leagues: Fred VanVleet instead, 1.3 category value for the week to -6.1, because his category mix is worth more there.
Damian Lillard has 1 back-to-back in Week 3, the nights rest days tend to land on.
Damian Lillard played 30.2 minutes a game over his last 5 games of 2026-27, in line with his 29.2 on the board.
Fred VanVleet played 29.9 minutes a game over his last 5 games of 2026-27, in line with his 29.8 on the board.
This is the call for one lineup slot across the week, the way weekly-lock leagues play it. In a daily-lineup league, start whichever of the two plays that night, and both when they fit.
Week 3 (Nov 2-8), side by side
| This week | Damian Lillard | Fred VanVleet |
|---|---|---|
| Games, Week 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Games counted (left this week) | 3 | 2 |
| Back-to-backs | 1 | 0 |
| Games, Week 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Minutes, last games | 30.2 (last 5) | 29.9 (last 5) |
| Minutes, board | 29.2 | 29.8 |
| Shots per 36, last games | 16.9 | 13.7 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 95.6 | 62.6 |
| Projected 9-cat value | -6.1 | 1.3 |
Schedule: Damian Lillard Mon @DEN, Wed @PHX, Fri @LAL, Sat SAS. Fred VanVleet Mon BOS, Wed MIN, Sat @PHX.
Projected totals for the games counted
| Stat | Damian Lillard | Fred VanVleet |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 58.0 | 24.3 |
| Rebounds | 13.0 | 7.3 |
| Assists | 12.0 | 13.7 |
| Steals | 3.0 | 3.3 |
| Blocks | 0.5 | 0.3 |
| Threes | 8.5 | 4.7 |
| Turnovers | 6.5 | 2.0 |
Each projection is the board's per-game line times the games counted; a player listed Out counts none. 9-cat value is the per-game category score (z-scores against the top 156) times games. Minutes and shots per 36 come from the last 5 games of 2026-27. Schedule from the NBA's published slate via ESPN.
The season-long call
Points leagues: Damian Lillard, 31.9 fantasy points per game to 31.3.
9-cat leagues: Fred VanVleet instead, 42nd overall against 136th, because the categories reward a different mix.
Per game, side by side
| Stat | Damian Lillard | Fred VanVleet |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 31.9 | 31.3 |
| Minutes | 29.2 | 29.8 |
| PointsPTS | 19.3 | 12.2 |
| ReboundsREB | 4.3 | 3.7 |
| AssistsAST | 4.0 | 6.8 |
| StealsSTL | 1.0 | 1.7 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| Threes3PM | 2.8 | 2.3 |
| Field goal %FG% | 39.8% | 36.9% |
| Free throw %FT% | 80.5% | 84.6% |
| TurnoversTO | 2.2 | 1.0 |
Bold is the better number. Per-game lines blend last season with this one, the same numbers the rankings use.
Other close calls
Week 3 streamers · NBA waiver wire · Games per team this week
Is Damian Lillard playing tonight? · Is Fred VanVleet playing tonight?
Your next move
Common questions
Should I start Damian Lillard or Fred VanVleet in Week 3?
Points leagues, Week 3 (Nov 2-8): start Damian Lillard. Damian Lillard has 3 games counted to 2 for Fred VanVleet, for 95.6 projected fantasy points against 62.6. 9-cat leagues: Fred VanVleet instead, 1.3 category value for the week to -6.1, because his category mix is worth more there. Damian Lillard has 1 back-to-back in Week 3, the nights rest days tend to land on. Damian Lillard played 30.2 minutes a game over his last 5 games of 2026-27, in line with his 29.2 on the board. Fred VanVleet played 29.9 minutes a game over his last 5 games of 2026-27, in line with his 29.8 on the board.
Who is better for the season, Damian Lillard or Fred VanVleet?
Points leagues: Damian Lillard, 31.9 fantasy points per game to 31.3. 9-cat leagues: Fred VanVleet instead, 42nd overall against 136th, because the categories reward a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Damian Lillard or Fred VanVleet?
Damian Lillard is ahead in 4 (points, rebounds, threes, field goal percentage); Fred VanVleet in 4 (assists, steals, free throw percentage, turnovers), per game.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Nov 3, 2026 at 4:36 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number