Jayson Tatum drops 40 points in Celtics' one-point win over Nets

Fantasy basketball: Tatum's massive night is more about who he is than a shift in value, and his 42 minutes on the front end of a back-to-back suggest heavy…

By Fantasy Roundup Staff · October 28, 2026

Jayson Tatum posted 40 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 block and 2 threes without a turnover on 10-for-20 shooting and 18-for-22 at the line in 42 minutes as a starter on Tuesday, October 27, when Boston edged Brooklyn 125-124.

The line is exceptional for any player, but Tatum entered the game averaging 44.0 fantasy points per contest over last season (16 games), so his value was already reflected in his roster cost. He ranks 9th overall this season and projects for 46.4 fantasy points a game in default points scoring, making him a top-tier asset in both nine-category and points formats.

Fantasy impact

Player by player

Jayson Tatum

Tatum has started all 4 games this season and is averaging 28.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 8.0 assists in 36.1 minutes. He is using possessions at a 32.7 per cent rate, though his 49.9 per cent true shooting is below where it needs to be for sustained efficiency. Last season he averaged 21.8 points, 10.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.4 steals and 2.9 threes over 16 games, shooting 41.1 per cent from the floor and 82.3 per cent at the stripe in 32.6 minutes.

The Celtics have 1 game left this week, a back-to-back on Tuesday. Tatum logged 42 minutes in the first half of that set, which suggests Boston will lean on him heavily again. He ranks 9th overall this season with 46.4 projected fantasy points per game in default scoring.

What to do

• Keep Jayson Tatum in your starting lineup for the back-to-back on Tuesday.

• Do not overreact to one big scoring night from a player already ranked 9th overall this season.

• Monitor Tatum's true shooting percentage, which sits at 49.9 per cent through 4 games.

Schedule this week