Derik Queen or Nikola Vučević? Week 3
Who to start in fantasy basketball in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Cs ranked 25th and 35th at the position, compared on 2025-26 and 2026-27 per-game production.
Updated Nov 3, 6:36 AM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
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- FP/G
- 25.5
- 9-cat
- #141
- Last 7 FP
- 10.4
3 games in Week 3, 1 back-to-back
Week 3 pick in 9-cat leagues.
The Week 3 call
Points leagues, Week 3 (Nov 2-8): start Derik Queen. Derik Queen has 3 games counted to 2 for Nikola Vučević, for 86.8 projected fantasy points against 51.0.
9-cat leagues: Nikola Vučević instead, -4.3 category value for the week to -5.0, because his category mix is worth more there.
Nikola Vučević has 1 back-to-back in Week 3, the nights rest days tend to land on.
Derik Queen played 23.7 minutes a game over his last 5 games of 2026-27, in line with his 24.6 on the board.
Nikola Vučević's minutes are down: 11.6 a game over his last 5 games of 2026-27, against 22.4 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 | Derik Queen | Nikola Vučević |
|---|---|---|
| Games, Week 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Games counted (left this week) | 3 | 2 |
| Back-to-backs | 0 | 1 |
| Games, Week 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Minutes, last games | 23.7 (last 5) | 11.6 (last 5) |
| Minutes, board | 24.6 | 22.4 |
| Shots per 36, last games | 12.7 | 12.4 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 86.8 | 51.0 |
| Projected 9-cat value | -5.0 | -4.3 |
Schedule: Derik Queen Mon @MEM, Wed UTA, Fri MIN, Sun @LAC. Nikola Vučević Mon WAS, Thu @PHX, Sat @GSW.
Projected totals for the games counted
| Stat | Derik Queen | Nikola Vučević |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 35.8 | 22.6 |
| Rebounds | 21.8 | 13.3 |
| Assists | 10.0 | 5.4 |
| Steals | 3.2 | 0.8 |
| Blocks | 2.4 | 1.3 |
| Threes | 1.0 | 2.4 |
| Turnovers | 7.0 | 2.1 |
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: Derik Queen, 28.9 fantasy points per game to 25.5.
9-cat leagues: Derik Queen again, 120th overall against 141st.
Derik Queen vs Nikola Vučević: the full comparison, per 36 and by punt build
Per game, side by side
| Stat | Derik Queen | Nikola Vučević |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 28.9 | 25.5 |
| Minutes | 24.6 | 22.4 |
| PointsPTS | 11.9 | 11.3 |
| ReboundsREB | 7.3 | 6.7 |
| AssistsAST | 3.3 | 2.7 |
| StealsSTL | 1.1 | 0.4 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.8 | 0.7 |
| Threes3PM | 0.3 | 1.2 |
| Field goal %FG% | 48.9% | 48.7% |
| Free throw %FT% | 82.2% | 80.0% |
| TurnoversTO | 2.3 | 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 Derik Queen playing tonight? · Is Nikola Vučević playing tonight?
Your next move
Common questions
Should I start Derik Queen or Nikola Vučević in Week 3?
Points leagues, Week 3 (Nov 2-8): start Derik Queen. Derik Queen has 3 games counted to 2 for Nikola Vučević, for 86.8 projected fantasy points against 51.0. 9-cat leagues: Nikola Vučević instead, -4.3 category value for the week to -5.0, because his category mix is worth more there. Nikola Vučević has 1 back-to-back in Week 3, the nights rest days tend to land on. Derik Queen played 23.7 minutes a game over his last 5 games of 2026-27, in line with his 24.6 on the board. Nikola Vučević's minutes are down: 11.6 a game over his last 5 games of 2026-27, against 22.4 on the board.
Who is better for the season, Derik Queen or Nikola Vučević?
Points leagues: Derik Queen, 28.9 fantasy points per game to 25.5. 9-cat leagues: Derik Queen again, 120th overall against 141st.
Who wins more categories, Derik Queen or Nikola Vučević?
Derik Queen is ahead in 6 (points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, free throw percentage); Nikola Vučević in 2 (threes, turnovers), per game.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Nov 3, 2026 at 6:36 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number