Category-by-category for 2026-27, using per-game projections scored against the draftable pool. Dereck Lively carries more total 9-cat value, by 0.58, but he wins only 2 of the nine categories against 3. His edge comes from the size of his advantages in Blocks and Turnovers, not their number. In a points league or a roto season that is the better player. In weekly head-to-head, where you win by taking more categories, Jakob Poeltl may suit you better.
| Category | Dereck Lively | Jakob Poeltl | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 8.6 | 10.3 | Jakob Poeltl by 0.33 |
| Rebounds | 7.4 | 7.6 | Even |
| Assists | 1.9 | 2.4 | Jakob Poeltl by 0.24 |
| Steals | 0.6 | 0.9 | Jakob Poeltl by 0.97 |
| Blocks | 1.6 | 0.8 | Dereck Lively by 1.46 |
| Threes made | 0.0 | 0.0 | Even |
| Field goal percentage | 0.714 | 0.659 | Even |
| Free throw percentage | 0.609 | 0.627 | Even |
| Turnovers | 1.2 | 1.6 | Dereck Lively by 0.56 |
| Total 9-cat value | -1.75 | -2.33 | Dereck Lively |
| Overall rank | 124 | 142 | |
| Status | DTD | Available |
Full profiles: Dereck Lively and Jakob Poeltl. To compare any other players, or to see who actually plays tonight, use Start or Sit.
Dereck Lively carries more total 9-cat value, by 0.58, but he wins only 2 of the nine categories against 3. His edge comes from the size of his advantages in Blocks and Turnovers, not their number. In a points league or a roto season that is the better player. In weekly head-to-head, where you win by taking more categories, Jakob Poeltl may suit you better.
Per-game projections for 2026-27 converted to z-scores against the draftable pool, one per category, then totalled. A positive z means above the pool average in that category. No editorial judgement is applied.
Not necessarily. This page is 9-cat. Points leagues ignore the percentage categories and treat turnovers differently, which usually favours high-usage scorers. Switch format on the rankings page to see the other view.
Projections already carry an expected minutes load, but they cannot price a player who is ruled out. Current status is shown beside each name, so check it before acting.