The first week of the NBA season has come and gone, and man – it was a good one!
LeBron James and the 76ers rolled to a 3-0 document before struggling their first loss of the season to the Eastern Conference’s only undefeated staff – the Pistons.
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Six groups stay unbeaten out West, including the new-look Timberwolves that includes the dynamic backcourt of LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards.
Portland’s new backcourt of Damian Lillard and Ja Morant has won two straight, and the “rebuilding” Memphis Grizzlies have won three straight thanks to sturdy play from Cameron Boozer and breakout Ty Jerome, who dropped a staggering 45 factors in the opener.
For all of the enjoyable and pleasure of Week 1, there were sadly some main accidents as effectively.
Paolo Banchero is out 4-6 weeks due to a high ankle sprain, and Jalen Suggs injured his knee. Jalen Duren is out at least two weeks with a hamstring pressure. Ivica Zubac is dealing with an ankle sprain, and Cooper Flagg injured his shoulder.
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Jalen Williams suffered a grotesque harm on Sunday against the Clippers, and his season is nearly assuredly over. It’s a heartbreaking blow for Williams who battled through accidents last 12 months after breaking out during OKC’s title run.
With new alternatives out there for injured teammates, I’ve put collectively my high waiver wire provides heading into Week 2.
Waiver wire provides are primarily based on 8-cat scoring, and roster percentages come from Yahoo! leagues. Only gamers rostered in 50% or less will be included.
Priority Adds
1. Anthony Black
2. Jaylen Wells
3. Alex Caruso
4. Jay Huff
5. Tristan da Silva
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6. Zaccharie Risacher
7. Brook Lopez
8. Kris Dunn
9. Grayson Allen
10. Aaron Wiggins
Others to think about: Quentin Grimes (41%), Jared McCain (30%), Precious Achiuwa (29%), Reed Sheppard (29%), Jaxson Hayes (27%), Dennis Schroder (25%), Obi Toppin (21%), Ziaire Williams (9%), De’Anthony Melton (7%)
Anthony Black, Orlando Magic (46 p.c rostered)
Banchero’s prolonged absence provided Black the alternative for more enjoying time, but the current harm to Suggs all but ensures 30+ minutes per night time.
Black logged his first sport of the season on Sunday, ending with a stable 18/3/5/2 line and knocking down 5 triples.
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Across 39 healthy begins last season, Black averaged 16.9 factors, 3.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.9 triples and 2.2 “stocks.” He’s got stat-stuffing upside and lots of enjoying time, making him this week’s high add.
Brook Lopez, Los Angeles Clippers (46 p.c rostered)
BroLo averaged 18 factors across his first three video games of the season, including 5.3 boards, 1.7 blocks and two triples.
The veteran hasn’t averaged 18+ since his closing season in Brooklyn, 10 years in the past. He’s capturing a career-best 64.5% from the discipline and placing up these lofty scoring numbers in just 23.3 minutes off the bench.
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Regression is doubtless coming, but even when it does, Lopez is still value a look for his three-and-D contributions that are significantly useful in the world of fantasy hoops.
Grayson Allen, Charlotte Hornets (34 p.c rostered)
With accidents to both Kon Knueppel and Coby White, Allen has seen important enjoying time in Charlotte’s backcourt, and he’s a Top-75 participant through the first week of the season.
Allen is averaging 17.3 factors, 2.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 4.0 triples across 27.3 minutes, doing it all off the bench.
It’s unclear when Knueppel or White will return, but even once they’re back on the flooring, Allen should soak up minutes as a spark plug off the bench for a staff that loves capturing threes.
Alex Caruso, Oklahoma City Thunder (24 p.c rostered)
With Jalen Williams doubtless executed for the season, Caruso is the precedence add out of Oklahoma City. Ajay Mitchell is rostered in 53% of leagues and does not qualify for this article or else he would be featured here.
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Jared McCain (30 p.c rostered) is a worthwhile pickup too, but he’s a score-first guard with restricted peripheral contributions.
Caruso does not offer much in the scoring division, but he rebounds, facilitates and racks up defensive stats that make him a more viable option in class leagues. If you’re enjoying in a factors league, McCain is the higher add.
Jaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies (30 p.c rostered)
The Grizzlies are one of the most entertaining early-season surprises, and Wells is one of the causes why the staff has been profitable.
The Washington State product is averaging 15 factors, 4.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 2.3 triples across 28.3 minutes.
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He’s began all but 5 video games since his rookie season in 2024-25, and Wells is locked into a featured position with a younger and ascending Memphis squad. He ranks 69th in per-game fantasy worth through three contests.
Aaron Wiggins, Atlanta Hawks (30 p.c rostered)
Through three video games, Wiggins is averaging 17 factors, 3.0 boards, 1.7 steals and 3.3 triples.
Wiggins spent the first 5 years of his profession enjoying largely off the bench for OKC in a restricted capability. He’s still coming off the bench in Atlanta, but Wiggins is having fun with a true Sixth Man position for the Hawks thanks to his career-high 27.3 minutes per sport.
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His capturing is ultimately going to cool down, but Wiggins still has lots of appeal as a microwave scorer who can knock down threes and rack up steals.
Zaccharie Risacher (27 p.c rostered)
Don’t look now, but Risacher is a Top-75 participant heading into Week 2!
The 2024 No. 1 choose spent two lackluster seasons in Atlanta before getting traded to Dallas, and the new locale is doing wonders for his sport and for his fantasy worth.
Points, rebounds and assists have not been plentiful, but his defensive contributions have been phenomenal, and given his skillset as a long and athletic disruptor, they are largely sustainable.
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Risacher is averaging 2.3 steals and 1.7 blocks per contest while logging a career-high 30.3 minutes. He’s got a featured position on the rebuilding Mavs regardless of Flagg’s standing, but if Flagg misses time, Risacher has the likelihood to see even more enjoying time.
Kris Dunn, Los Angeles Clippers (20 p.c rostered)
The 11-year veteran has logged a career-high 31 minutes per sport over the first week of the season, and primarily based on LA’s roster, Dunn’s position and enjoying time seem sustainable.
Through three video games, Dunn is averaging 9.7 factors, 4.3 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.3 triples, 3.3 steals and 1.3 blocked pictures. Unlike his minutes, Dunn’s defensive contributions are doubtless to sluggish down, but even a small drop off there won’t dim Dunn’s general appeal.
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Tristan da Silva, Orlando Magic (17 p.c rostered)
Just like Anthony Black, da Silva will be called on to step up in the absences of Banchero and Suggs.
Through three video games, da Silva is averaging 12.7 factors, 2.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 3.3 triples and 1.4 “stocks” across 28 minutes.
Through the first week of play, da Silva ranks one hundred and tenth in per-game fantasy worth, but his position and enjoying time should grow transferring ahead, making him a high quality add, significantly if you miss out on Black.
Jay Huff, Indiana Pacers (8 p.c rostered)
Zubac sprained his ankle against the Nets on Sunday, and he’s not expected to play Monday. The large man suffered the harm early in the sport, and Huff began the second half, ending with 14 factors, two rebounds, three assists, two triples and three blocked pictures.
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Huff was a fantasy darling for a giant stretch of last season, and he’s value including if Zubac is compelled to miss time beyond Monday. The Pacers play 4 video games this week, and Huff affords upside in factors, three-pointers and blocks.
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