Devin Booker or James Harden? Week 1
Who to start in fantasy basketball in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), SGs ranked 3rd and 6th at the position, compared on 2025-26 and 2026-27 per-game production.
Updated Oct 25, 4:29 PM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
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- FP/G
- 40.8
- 9-cat
- #30
- Last 2 FP
- 29.1
2 games in Week 1
Week 2 pick in points and 9-cat leagues.
The Week 2 call
Both have finished Week 1, so this is the call for Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1).
Points leagues, Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1): start James Harden. James Harden has 4 games counted to 2 for Devin Booker, for 163.3 projected fantasy points against 81.6.
9-cat leagues: James Harden again, 7.0 category value for the week to 2.8.
Devin Booker played 33.0 minutes a game over his last 2 games of 2026-27, in line with his 33.5 on the board.
James Harden played 33.2 minutes a game over his last 2 games of 2026-27, in line with his 34.6 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.
Devin Booker rookie cardsJames Harden rookie cards
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Week 1 (Oct 19-25), side by side
| This week | Devin Booker | James Harden |
|---|---|---|
| Games, Week 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Games counted (Week 2) | 2 | 4 |
| Back-to-backs | 0 | 0 |
| Games, Week 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Minutes, last games | 33.0 (last 2) | 33.2 (last 2) |
| Minutes, board | 33.5 | 34.6 |
| Shots per 36, last games | 20.8 | 10.8 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 81.6 | 163.3 |
| Projected 9-cat value | 2.8 | 7.0 |
Schedule: Devin Booker Wed @POR, Sat GSW. James Harden Thu @PHI, Sat BKN.
Projected totals for the games counted
| Stat | Devin Booker | James Harden |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 53.8 | 89.9 |
| Rebounds | 8.1 | 19.5 |
| Assists | 11.7 | 30.9 |
| Steals | 1.5 | 4.2 |
| Blocks | 0.7 | 1.9 |
| Threes | 3.6 | 11.8 |
| Turnovers | 6.2 | 14.7 |
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 2 games of 2026-27. Schedule from the NBA's published slate via ESPN.
The season-long call
Points leagues: James Harden, 40.8 fantasy points per game to 40.8.
9-cat leagues: James Harden again, 30th overall against 34th.
Devin Booker vs James Harden: the full comparison, per 36 and by punt build
Per game, side by side
| Stat | Devin Booker | James Harden |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 40.8 | 40.8 |
| Minutes | 33.5 | 34.6 |
| PointsPTS | 26.9 | 22.5 |
| ReboundsREB | 4.1 | 4.9 |
| AssistsAST | 5.9 | 7.7 |
| StealsSTL | 0.8 | 1.1 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.4 | 0.5 |
| Threes3PM | 1.8 | 2.9 |
| Field goal %FG% | 47.7% | 42.3% |
| Free throw %FT% | 88.1% | 87.4% |
| TurnoversTO | 3.1 | 3.7 |
Bold is the better number. Per-game lines blend last season with this one, the same numbers the rankings use.
Other close calls
Week 1 streamers · NBA waiver wire · Games per team this week
Is Devin Booker playing tonight? · Is James Harden playing tonight?
Your next move
Common questions
Should I start Devin Booker or James Harden in Week 1?
Both have finished Week 1, so this is the call for Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1). Points leagues, Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1): start James Harden. James Harden has 4 games counted to 2 for Devin Booker, for 163.3 projected fantasy points against 81.6. 9-cat leagues: James Harden again, 7.0 category value for the week to 2.8. Devin Booker played 33.0 minutes a game over his last 2 games of 2026-27, in line with his 33.5 on the board. James Harden played 33.2 minutes a game over his last 2 games of 2026-27, in line with his 34.6 on the board.
Who is better for the season, Devin Booker or James Harden?
Points leagues: James Harden, 40.8 fantasy points per game to 40.8. 9-cat leagues: James Harden again, 30th overall against 34th.
Who wins more categories, Devin Booker or James Harden?
Devin Booker is ahead in 4 (points, field goal percentage, free throw percentage, turnovers); James Harden in 5 (rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, threes), per game.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 25, 2026 at 4:29 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number