Jayson Tatum or Kevin Durant? Week 3
Who to start in fantasy basketball in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), SFs ranked 2nd and 4th at the position, compared on 2025-26 and 2026-27 per-game production.
Updated Nov 3, 2:36 AM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
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- FP/G
- 44.7
- 9-cat
- #26
- Last 7 FP
- 46.4
4 games in Week 3, 1 back-to-back
Week 3 pick in points and 9-cat leagues.
The Week 3 call
Points leagues, Week 3 (Nov 2-8): start Jayson Tatum. Jayson Tatum has 3 games counted to 2 for Kevin Durant, for 134.2 projected fantasy points against 79.0.
9-cat leagues: Jayson Tatum again, 6.3 category value for the week to 5.4.
Jayson Tatum has 1 back-to-back in Week 3, the nights rest days tend to land on.
Jayson Tatum played 34.3 minutes a game over his last 5 games of 2026-27, in line with his 33.4 on the board.
Kevin Durant's minutes are down: 31.5 a game over his last 5 games of 2026-27, against 35.4 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 | Jayson Tatum | Kevin Durant |
|---|---|---|
| Games, Week 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Games counted (left this week) | 3 | 2 |
| Back-to-backs | 1 | 0 |
| Games, Week 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Minutes, last games | 34.3 (last 5) | 31.5 (last 5) |
| Minutes, board | 33.4 | 35.4 |
| Shots per 36, last games | 19.3 | 13.0 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 134.2 | 79.0 |
| Projected 9-cat value | 6.3 | 5.4 |
Schedule: Jayson Tatum Mon @HOU, Wed MIL, Fri @CHA, Sun @MIL. Kevin Durant Mon BOS, Wed MIN, Sat @PHX.
Projected totals for the games counted
| Stat | Jayson Tatum | Kevin Durant |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 70.3 | 48.3 |
| Rebounds | 26.2 | 10.8 |
| Assists | 18.4 | 8.4 |
| Steals | 3.5 | 1.5 |
| Blocks | 0.8 | 2.3 |
| Threes | 7.5 | 4.1 |
| Turnovers | 7.8 | 6.2 |
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: Jayson Tatum, 44.7 fantasy points per game to 39.5.
9-cat leagues: Kevin Durant instead, 19th overall against 26th, because the categories reward a different mix.
Per game, side by side
| Stat | Jayson Tatum | Kevin Durant |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 44.7 | 39.5 |
| Minutes | 33.4 | 35.4 |
| PointsPTS | 23.4 | 24.2 |
| ReboundsREB | 8.7 | 5.4 |
| AssistsAST | 6.1 | 4.2 |
| StealsSTL | 1.2 | 0.7 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.3 | 1.2 |
| Threes3PM | 2.5 | 2.0 |
| Field goal %FG% | 41.4% | 52.3% |
| Free throw %FT% | 84.5% | 85.8% |
| TurnoversTO | 2.6 | 3.1 |
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 Jayson Tatum playing tonight? · Is Kevin Durant playing tonight?
Your next move
Common questions
Should I start Jayson Tatum or Kevin Durant in Week 3?
Points leagues, Week 3 (Nov 2-8): start Jayson Tatum. Jayson Tatum has 3 games counted to 2 for Kevin Durant, for 134.2 projected fantasy points against 79.0. 9-cat leagues: Jayson Tatum again, 6.3 category value for the week to 5.4. Jayson Tatum has 1 back-to-back in Week 3, the nights rest days tend to land on. Jayson Tatum played 34.3 minutes a game over his last 5 games of 2026-27, in line with his 33.4 on the board. Kevin Durant's minutes are down: 31.5 a game over his last 5 games of 2026-27, against 35.4 on the board.
Who is better for the season, Jayson Tatum or Kevin Durant?
Points leagues: Jayson Tatum, 44.7 fantasy points per game to 39.5. 9-cat leagues: Kevin Durant instead, 19th overall against 26th, because the categories reward a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Jayson Tatum or Kevin Durant?
Jayson Tatum is ahead in 5 (rebounds, assists, steals, threes, turnovers); Kevin Durant in 4 (points, blocks, field goal percentage, free throw percentage), per game.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Nov 3, 2026 at 2:36 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number