Jabari Smith Jr. or Rudy Gobert? Week 2
Who to start in fantasy basketball in Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1), PFs ranked 12th and 16th at the position, compared on 2025-26 and 2026-27 per-game production.
Updated Oct 28, 4:33 AM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
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- FP/G
- 31.2
- 9-cat
- #43
- Last 4 FP
- 34.4
4 games in Week 2, 1 back-to-back
Week 2 pick in 9-cat leagues.
- FP/G
- 31.7
- 9-cat
- #148
- Last 4 FP
- 26.9
4 games in Week 2, 2 back-to-backs
Week 2 pick in points leagues.
The Week 2 call
Points leagues, Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1): start Rudy Gobert. Both have 3 games left in Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1), so it comes down to per game: 31.7 fantasy points to 31.2.
9-cat leagues: Jabari Smith Jr. instead, 1.6 category value for the week to -7.1, because his category mix is worth more there.
Jabari Smith Jr. has 1 back-to-back and Rudy Gobert has 2 back-to-backs in Week 2, the nights rest days tend to land on.
Jabari Smith Jr. played 35.5 minutes a game over his last 4 games of 2026-27, in line with his 35.2 on the board.
Rudy Gobert played 32.4 minutes a game over his last 4 games of 2026-27, in line with his 31.6 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.
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Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1), side by side
| This week | Jabari Smith Jr. | Rudy Gobert |
|---|---|---|
| Games, Week 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Games counted (left this week) | 3 | 3 |
| Back-to-backs | 1 | 2 |
| Games, Week 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Minutes, last games | 35.5 (last 4) | 32.4 (last 4) |
| Minutes, board | 35.2 | 31.6 |
| Shots per 36, last games | 11.9 | 6.4 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 93.7 | 95.1 |
| Projected 9-cat value | 1.6 | -7.1 |
Schedule: Jabari Smith Jr. Mon ATL, Wed @MIL, Fri @DAL, Sat OKC. Rudy Gobert Mon @CLE, Wed GSW, Fri LAC, Sat @SAS.
Projected totals for the games counted
| Stat | Jabari Smith Jr. | Rudy Gobert |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 48.0 | 30.9 |
| Rebounds | 20.5 | 36.2 |
| Assists | 6.0 | 4.6 |
| Steals | 2.5 | 2.0 |
| Blocks | 2.8 | 4.2 |
| Threes | 6.9 | 0.0 |
| Turnovers | 3.9 | 4.6 |
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 4 games of 2026-27. Schedule from the NBA's published slate via ESPN.
The season-long call
Points leagues: Rudy Gobert, 31.7 fantasy points per game to 31.2.
9-cat leagues: Jabari Smith Jr. instead, 43rd overall against 148th, because the categories reward a different mix.
Per game, side by side
| Stat | Jabari Smith Jr. | Rudy Gobert |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 31.2 | 31.7 |
| Minutes | 35.2 | 31.6 |
| PointsPTS | 16.0 | 10.3 |
| ReboundsREB | 6.8 | 12.1 |
| AssistsAST | 2.0 | 1.5 |
| StealsSTL | 0.8 | 0.7 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.9 | 1.4 |
| Threes3PM | 2.3 | 0.0 |
| Field goal %FG% | 46.2% | 63.5% |
| Free throw %FT% | 78.8% | 51.9% |
| TurnoversTO | 1.3 | 1.5 |
Bold is the better number. Per-game lines blend last season with this one, the same numbers the rankings use.
Other close calls
Week 2 streamers · NBA waiver wire · Games per team this week
Is Jabari Smith Jr. playing tonight? · Is Rudy Gobert playing tonight?
Your next move
Common questions
Should I start Jabari Smith Jr. or Rudy Gobert in Week 2?
Points leagues, Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1): start Rudy Gobert. Both have 3 games left in Week 2 (Oct 26-Nov 1), so it comes down to per game: 31.7 fantasy points to 31.2. 9-cat leagues: Jabari Smith Jr. instead, 1.6 category value for the week to -7.1, because his category mix is worth more there. Jabari Smith Jr. has 1 back-to-back and Rudy Gobert has 2 back-to-backs in Week 2, the nights rest days tend to land on. Jabari Smith Jr. played 35.5 minutes a game over his last 4 games of 2026-27, in line with his 35.2 on the board. Rudy Gobert played 32.4 minutes a game over his last 4 games of 2026-27, in line with his 31.6 on the board.
Who is better for the season, Jabari Smith Jr. or Rudy Gobert?
Points leagues: Rudy Gobert, 31.7 fantasy points per game to 31.2. 9-cat leagues: Jabari Smith Jr. instead, 43rd overall against 148th, because the categories reward a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Jabari Smith Jr. or Rudy Gobert?
Jabari Smith Jr. is ahead in 6 (points, assists, steals, threes, free throw percentage, turnovers); Rudy Gobert in 3 (rebounds, blocks, field goal percentage), per game.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 28, 2026 at 4:33 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number