Skip to main content

Josh Hart or Norman Powell? Week 1

Who to start in fantasy basketball in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), SGs ranked 11th and 16th at the position, compared on 2025-26 and 2026-27 per-game production.

Updated Oct 24, 12:27 PM ET.

Parlae may earn a commission from price links.

FP/G
30.9
9-cat
#56
Last 2 FP
35.9

3 games in Week 1

Week 1 pick in 9-cat leagues.

FP/G
31.4
9-cat
#74
Last 2 FP
28.9

3 games in Week 1, 1 back-to-back

Week 1 pick in points leagues.

The Week 1 call

Points leagues, Week 1 (Oct 19-25): start Norman Powell. Both have 1 game left in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), so it comes down to per game: 31.4 fantasy points to 30.9.

9-cat leagues: Josh Hart instead, 0.1 category value for the week to -0.7, because his category mix is worth more there.

Norman Powell has 1 back-to-back in Week 1, the nights rest days tend to land on.

Josh Hart's minutes are up: 33.1 a game over his last 2 games of 2026-27, against 30.5 on the board.

Norman Powell played 27.4 minutes a game over his last 2 games of 2026-27, in line with his 29.4 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.

Advertisement

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

This weekJosh HartNorman Powell
Games, Week 133
Games counted (left this week)11
Back-to-backs01
Games, Week 233
Minutes, last games33.1 (last 2)27.4 (last 2)
Minutes, board30.529.4
Shots per 36, last games11.919.1
InjuryNone listedNone listed
Projected fantasy points30.931.4
Projected 9-cat value0.1-0.7

Schedule: Josh Hart Tue PHI, Fri @BOS, Sun ORL. Norman Powell Wed @TOR, Fri @MIL, Sat WAS.

Projected totals for the games counted

StatJosh HartNorman Powell
Points12.021.5
Rebounds7.63.6
Assists4.72.3
Steals1.21.1
Blocks0.30.2
Threes1.62.6
Turnovers1.81.8

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: Norman Powell, 31.4 fantasy points per game to 30.9.

9-cat leagues: Josh Hart instead, 56th overall against 74th, because the categories reward a different mix.

Josh Hart vs Norman Powell: the full comparison, per 36 and by punt build

Per game, side by side

StatJosh HartNorman Powell
Fantasy points per game30.931.4
Minutes30.529.4
PointsPTS12.021.5
ReboundsREB7.63.6
AssistsAST4.72.3
StealsSTL1.21.1
BlocksBLK0.30.2
Threes3PM1.62.6
Field goal %FG%49.4%45.6%
Free throw %FT%71.5%82.2%
TurnoversTO1.81.8

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 Josh Hart playing tonight? · Is Norman Powell playing tonight?

Your next move

Common questions

  • Should I start Josh Hart or Norman Powell in Week 1?

    Points leagues, Week 1 (Oct 19-25): start Norman Powell. Both have 1 game left in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), so it comes down to per game: 31.4 fantasy points to 30.9. 9-cat leagues: Josh Hart instead, 0.1 category value for the week to -0.7, because his category mix is worth more there. Norman Powell has 1 back-to-back in Week 1, the nights rest days tend to land on. Josh Hart's minutes are up: 33.1 a game over his last 2 games of 2026-27, against 30.5 on the board. Norman Powell played 27.4 minutes a game over his last 2 games of 2026-27, in line with his 29.4 on the board.

  • Who is better for the season, Josh Hart or Norman Powell?

    Points leagues: Norman Powell, 31.4 fantasy points per game to 30.9. 9-cat leagues: Josh Hart instead, 56th overall against 74th, because the categories reward a different mix.

  • Who wins more categories, Josh Hart or Norman Powell?

    Josh Hart is ahead in 5 (rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, field goal percentage); Norman Powell in 3 (points, threes, free throw percentage), per game.

By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 24, 2026 at 12:27 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number