LeBron James or Stephen Curry? Week 3
Who to start in fantasy basketball in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), PFs ranked 5th and 6th 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
- 41.0
- 9-cat
- #7
- Last 6 FP
- 44.3
3 games in Week 3, 1 back-to-back
Week 3 pick in 9-cat leagues.
The Week 3 call
Points leagues, Week 3 (Nov 2-8): start LeBron James. LeBron James has 3 games counted to 2 for Stephen Curry, for 123.2 projected fantasy points against 82.0.
9-cat leagues: Stephen Curry instead, 11.4 category value for the week to 0.9, because his category mix is worth more there.
Stephen Curry has 1 back-to-back in Week 3, the nights rest days tend to land on.
LeBron James played 33.0 minutes a game over his last 5 games of 2026-27, in line with his 33.2 on the board.
Stephen Curry played 30.3 minutes a game over his last 5 games of 2026-27, in line with his 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.
LeBron James rookie cardsStephen Curry rookie cards
Week 3 (Nov 2-8), side by side
| This week | LeBron James | Stephen Curry |
|---|---|---|
| Games, Week 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Games counted (left this week) | 3 | 2 |
| Back-to-backs | 0 | 1 |
| Games, Week 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Minutes, last games | 33.0 (last 5) | 30.3 (last 5) |
| Minutes, board | 33.2 | 30.3 |
| Shots per 36, last games | 15.1 | 22.3 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 123.2 | 82.0 |
| Projected 9-cat value | 0.9 | 11.4 |
Schedule: LeBron James Mon CHI, Wed @DET, Fri @CLE, Sun @CHI. Stephen Curry Mon PHX, Thu MIA, Sat ORL.
Projected totals for the games counted
| Stat | LeBron James | Stephen Curry |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 58.7 | 55.1 |
| Rebounds | 19.0 | 7.5 |
| Assists | 21.7 | 9.3 |
| Steals | 3.9 | 2.4 |
| Blocks | 2.0 | 0.7 |
| Threes | 3.5 | 8.9 |
| Turnovers | 8.4 | 5.2 |
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: LeBron James, 41.1 fantasy points per game to 41.0.
9-cat leagues: Stephen Curry instead, 7th overall against 53rd, because the categories reward a different mix.
LeBron James vs Stephen Curry: the full comparison, per 36 and by punt build
Per game, side by side
| Stat | LeBron James | Stephen Curry |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 41.1 | 41.0 |
| Minutes | 33.2 | 30.3 |
| PointsPTS | 19.6 | 27.5 |
| ReboundsREB | 6.3 | 3.7 |
| AssistsAST | 7.2 | 4.7 |
| StealsSTL | 1.3 | 1.2 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.7 | 0.3 |
| Threes3PM | 1.2 | 4.4 |
| Field goal %FG% | 49.8% | 46.8% |
| Free throw %FT% | 70.6% | 94.6% |
| TurnoversTO | 2.8 | 2.6 |
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 LeBron James playing tonight? · Is Stephen Curry playing tonight?
Your next move
Common questions
Should I start LeBron James or Stephen Curry in Week 3?
Points leagues, Week 3 (Nov 2-8): start LeBron James. LeBron James has 3 games counted to 2 for Stephen Curry, for 123.2 projected fantasy points against 82.0. 9-cat leagues: Stephen Curry instead, 11.4 category value for the week to 0.9, because his category mix is worth more there. Stephen Curry has 1 back-to-back in Week 3, the nights rest days tend to land on. LeBron James played 33.0 minutes a game over his last 5 games of 2026-27, in line with his 33.2 on the board. Stephen Curry played 30.3 minutes a game over his last 5 games of 2026-27, in line with his 30.3 on the board.
Who is better for the season, LeBron James or Stephen Curry?
Points leagues: LeBron James, 41.1 fantasy points per game to 41.0. 9-cat leagues: Stephen Curry instead, 7th overall against 53rd, because the categories reward a different mix.
Who wins more categories, LeBron James or Stephen Curry?
LeBron James is ahead in 5 (rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, field goal percentage); Stephen Curry in 4 (points, threes, free throw percentage, turnovers), per game.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Nov 3, 2026 at 2:36 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number