James Harden or Tyrese Maxey? Week 1
Who to start in fantasy basketball in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), PGs ranked 3rd and 6th at the position, compared on 2025-26 and 2026-27 per-game production.
Updated Oct 24, 2:27 PM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
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- FP/G
- 49.1
- 9-cat
- #4
- Last 2 FP
- 52.5
4 games in Week 1, 1 back-to-back
Week 1 pick in points and 9-cat leagues.
The Week 1 call
Points leagues, Week 1 (Oct 19-25): start Tyrese Maxey. Tyrese Maxey has 2 games counted to 1 for James Harden, for 98.1 projected fantasy points against 41.2.
9-cat leagues: Tyrese Maxey again, 14.9 category value for the week to 2.2.
Tyrese Maxey has 1 back-to-back in Week 1, the nights rest days tend to land on.
James Harden played 32.9 minutes a game over his last 1 game of 2026-27, in line with his 34.7 on the board.
Tyrese Maxey's minutes are up: 40.6 a game over his last 2 games of 2026-27, against 38.3 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.
James Harden rookie cardsTyrese Maxey rookie cards
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Week 1 (Oct 19-25), side by side
| This week | James Harden | Tyrese Maxey |
|---|---|---|
| Games, Week 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Games counted (left this week) | 1 | 2 |
| Back-to-backs | 0 | 1 |
| Games, Week 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Minutes, last games | 32.9 (last 1) | 40.6 (last 2) |
| Minutes, board | 34.7 | 38.3 |
| Shots per 36, last games | 13.1 | 18.6 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 41.2 | 98.1 |
| Projected 9-cat value | 2.2 | 14.9 |
Schedule: James Harden Thu @PHI, Sat BKN. Tyrese Maxey Tue @NYK, Thu CLE, Sat MIL, Sun DET.
Projected totals for the games counted
| Stat | James Harden | Tyrese Maxey |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 23.1 | 57.0 |
| Rebounds | 4.7 | 8.1 |
| Assists | 7.8 | 12.9 |
| Steals | 1.1 | 3.9 |
| Blocks | 0.4 | 1.7 |
| Threes | 3.1 | 6.0 |
| Turnovers | 3.7 | 4.8 |
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: Tyrese Maxey, 49.1 fantasy points per game to 41.2.
9-cat leagues: Tyrese Maxey again, 4th overall against 29th.
Per game, side by side
| Stat | James Harden | Tyrese Maxey |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 41.2 | 49.1 |
| Minutes | 34.7 | 38.3 |
| PointsPTS | 23.1 | 28.5 |
| ReboundsREB | 4.7 | 4.1 |
| AssistsAST | 7.8 | 6.5 |
| StealsSTL | 1.1 | 1.9 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.4 | 0.9 |
| Threes3PM | 3.1 | 3.0 |
| Field goal %FG% | 43.3% | 46.7% |
| Free throw %FT% | 87.9% | 88.1% |
| TurnoversTO | 3.7 | 2.4 |
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 James Harden playing tonight? · Is Tyrese Maxey playing tonight?
Your next move
Common questions
Should I start James Harden or Tyrese Maxey in Week 1?
Points leagues, Week 1 (Oct 19-25): start Tyrese Maxey. Tyrese Maxey has 2 games counted to 1 for James Harden, for 98.1 projected fantasy points against 41.2. 9-cat leagues: Tyrese Maxey again, 14.9 category value for the week to 2.2. Tyrese Maxey has 1 back-to-back in Week 1, the nights rest days tend to land on. James Harden played 32.9 minutes a game over his last 1 game of 2026-27, in line with his 34.7 on the board. Tyrese Maxey's minutes are up: 40.6 a game over his last 2 games of 2026-27, against 38.3 on the board.
Who is better for the season, James Harden or Tyrese Maxey?
Points leagues: Tyrese Maxey, 49.1 fantasy points per game to 41.2. 9-cat leagues: Tyrese Maxey again, 4th overall against 29th.
Who wins more categories, James Harden or Tyrese Maxey?
James Harden is ahead in 4 (rebounds, assists, threes, free throw percentage); Tyrese Maxey in 5 (points, steals, blocks, field goal percentage, turnovers), per game.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 24, 2026 at 2:27 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number