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Donovan Clingan or Jaren Jackson Jr.? Week 1

Who to start in fantasy basketball in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), Cs ranked 12th and 13th at the position, compared on 2025-26 and 2026-27 per-game production.

Updated Oct 21, 8:56 PM ET.

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FP/G
34.7
9-cat
#30
Last 10 FP
33.6

2 games in Week 1

FP/G
34.5
9-cat
#42
Last 10 FP
39.1

3 games in Week 1

Week 1 pick in points and 9-cat leagues.

The Week 1 call

Points leagues, Week 1 (Oct 19-25): start Jaren Jackson Jr.. Jaren Jackson Jr. has 2 games counted to 1 for Donovan Clingan, for 69.1 projected fantasy points against 34.7.

9-cat leagues: Jaren Jackson Jr. again, 1.6 category value for the week to 1.5.

Donovan Clingan played 26.5 minutes a game over his last 5 games of 2025-26, in line with his 27.2 on the board.

Jaren Jackson Jr.'s minutes are down: 27.4 a game over his last 5 games of 2025-26, against 30.3 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.

Donovan Clingan rookie cards

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Week 1 (Oct 19-25), side by side

This weekDonovan ClinganJaren Jackson Jr.
Games, Week 123
Games counted (left this week)12
Back-to-backs00
Games, Week 233
Minutes, last games26.5 (last 5)27.4 (last 5)
Minutes, board27.230.3
Shots per 36, last games12.522.4
InjuryNone listedNone listed
Projected fantasy points34.769.1
Projected 9-cat value1.51.6

Schedule: Donovan Clingan Wed PHX, Fri @SAC. Jaren Jackson Jr. Wed @MEM, Fri NOP, Sun LAL.

Projected totals for the games counted

StatDonovan ClinganJaren Jackson Jr.
Points12.138.8
Rebounds11.611.3
Assists2.13.9
Steals0.62.2
Blocks1.72.9
Threes1.13.5
Turnovers1.24.5

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 2025-26. Schedule from the NBA's published slate via ESPN.

The season-long call

Points leagues: Donovan Clingan, 34.7 fantasy points per game to 34.5.

9-cat leagues: Donovan Clingan again, 30th overall against 42nd.

Donovan Clingan vs Jaren Jackson Jr.: the full comparison, per 36 and by punt build

Per game, side by side

StatDonovan ClinganJaren Jackson Jr.
Fantasy points per game34.734.5
Minutes27.230.3
PointsPTS12.119.4
ReboundsREB11.65.7
AssistsAST2.12.0
StealsSTL0.61.1
BlocksBLK1.71.4
Threes3PM1.11.8
Field goal %FG%52.0%47.6%
Free throw %FT%68.0%80.3%
TurnoversTO1.22.2

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 Donovan Clingan playing tonight? · Is Jaren Jackson Jr. playing tonight?

Your next move

Common questions

  • Should I start Donovan Clingan or Jaren Jackson Jr. in Week 1?

    Points leagues, Week 1 (Oct 19-25): start Jaren Jackson Jr.. Jaren Jackson Jr. has 2 games counted to 1 for Donovan Clingan, for 69.1 projected fantasy points against 34.7. 9-cat leagues: Jaren Jackson Jr. again, 1.6 category value for the week to 1.5. Donovan Clingan played 26.5 minutes a game over his last 5 games of 2025-26, in line with his 27.2 on the board. Jaren Jackson Jr.'s minutes are down: 27.4 a game over his last 5 games of 2025-26, against 30.3 on the board.

  • Who is better for the season, Donovan Clingan or Jaren Jackson Jr.?

    Points leagues: Donovan Clingan, 34.7 fantasy points per game to 34.5. 9-cat leagues: Donovan Clingan again, 30th overall against 42nd.

  • Who wins more categories, Donovan Clingan or Jaren Jackson Jr.?

    Donovan Clingan is ahead in 5 (rebounds, assists, blocks, field goal percentage, turnovers); Jaren Jackson Jr. in 4 (points, steals, threes, free throw percentage), per game.

By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 21, 2026 at 8:56 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number