Category-by-category for 2026-27, using per-game projections scored against the draftable pool. Walker Kessler carries more total 9-cat value, by 0.73, but he wins only 4 of the nine categories against 5. 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, Jalen Duren may suit you better.
| Category | Jalen Duren | Walker Kessler | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 18.5 | 14.2 | Jalen Duren by 0.82 |
| Rebounds | 11.2 | 12.0 | Walker Kessler by 0.32 |
| Assists | 2.5 | 1.8 | Jalen Duren by 0.36 |
| Steals | 0.8 | 0.7 | Jalen Duren by 0.31 |
| Blocks | 1.1 | 2.7 | Walker Kessler by 3.00 |
| Threes made | 0.0 | 0.5 | Walker Kessler by 0.53 |
| Field goal percentage | 0.657 | 0.643 | Jalen Duren by 0.75 |
| Free throw percentage | 0.750 | 0.632 | Jalen Duren by 1.43 |
| Turnovers | 2.1 | 1.7 | Walker Kessler by 0.55 |
| Total 9-cat value | +1.39 | +2.12 | Walker Kessler |
| Overall rank | 36 | 24 | |
| Status | Available | Available |
Full profiles: Jalen Duren and Walker Kessler. To compare any other players, or to see who actually plays tonight, use Start or Sit.
Walker Kessler carries more total 9-cat value, by 0.73, but he wins only 4 of the nine categories against 5. 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, Jalen Duren 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.