Fantasy Basketball Week Ahead: Paolo Banchero and Cooper Flagg set to miss time, Ty Jerome’s scorching begin, more

The first week of the 2026-27 season had a lot of highlights and storylines. Unfortunately, it also did not lack impactful accidents, with a number of groups watching key gamers go down. Some accidents have a day-to-day timeline, while others will require prolonged absences. Let’s look back at Week 1 and the storylines that will impression fantasy basketball transferring ahead.

Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg to miss video games with delicate left shoulder sprain

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He was injured when he fell after being fouled on a breakaway dunk, he will be reevaluated this week.

Five Week 2 Storylines

– Orlando’s Paolo Banchero dealing with an prolonged absence: Friday was a tough evening for accidents, as a number of groups lost starters. Orlando was one of them, as Banchero suffered a proper ankle harm in the third quarter of the group’s loss to the Timberwolves. According to the group, an MRI on Saturday confirmed a low-grade high proper ankle sprain. No timeline was offered, but the harm could sideline Banchero for a few weeks.

Anthony Black has yet to play this season due to an ankle harm, but he could be helpful with Banchero sidelined. Another option, and the participant most possible to begin with Banchero unavailable, is Tristan da Silva, who’s rostered in 10 % of Yahoo leagues. Banchero and Franz Wagner’s accidents led to da Silva making 34 begins in 2025-26. In those begins, he averaged 12.0 factors, 4.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.9 three-pointers in 28.8 minutes per recreation.

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After Sunday’s recreation against the Knicks, the Magic won’t play again until Wednesday, giving fantasy managers time to consider their Week 2 choices.

– Hard foul sidelines Dallas’ Cooper Flagg: Dallas lost its star ahead during the second quarter of Friday’s win over the Pacers, when Flagg was on the receiving finish of a laborious foul by Aaron Nesmith. An MRI revealed a sprained left shoulder, which saved him out of Saturday’s loss to the Spurs. It’s unclear how much longer Flagg will sit (he’ll be re-evaluated next week), but his absence makes PJ Washington and Naji Marshall more engaging choices for fantasy managers.

In the 24 hours following Flagg’s harm, Marshall (1st) and Washington (4th) were among the most-added gamers in Yahoo leagues. The former joined the beginning lineup on Saturday and completed with 10 factors, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, one steal, and one three-pointer. Washington added 12 factors, 4 rebounds, and two assists. Marshall affords a little more for managers needing assists, but Dallas was also without Kyrie Irving on Saturday. Dallas performs three video games without a back-to-back on Tuesday, so Irving’s availability should not be an concern.

– Ty Jerome gets off to a red-hot begin: There were a lot of people on the Jerome bandwagon before the season started, and it’s comprehensible why. He’s been given the keys in Memphis, and his manufacturing in 15 video games last season fueled that optimism. That said, few, if any, fantasy managers expected Jerome to begin the season the approach he did in wins over the Jazz and Warriors.

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In those victories, he totaled 73 factors, 9 rebounds, 11 assists and eight three-pointers. Jerome completely torched Utah, capturing 17-of-25 from the area and scoring a career-high 45 factors. In those two video games, the Grizzlies guard shot 28-of-47 (59.6 %) from the area total and 8-of-15 from three. Whatever fantasy managers expect from Jerome for the relaxation of this season, he’s in a great place to ship wonderful fantasy worth.

– Pistons lose Jalen Duren to a hamstring harm: After placing up 22 factors and 9 rebounds in Detroit’s season-opening win over Boston, Duren suffered a hamstring harm Friday evening in Miami. Unfortunately, the Pistons announced on Sunday that he’s been identified with a strained proper hamstring and will be re-evaluated in two weeks. That means one factor: it’s Paul Reed time.

Reed performed 26 minutes against the Heat, ending with 19 factors, 11 rebounds, three assists and two three-pointers. He’ll begin at heart until Duren returns. He’s rostered in 35 % of Yahoo leagues, so “BBall Paul” is still accessible in many 12-team leagues. When Reed heads to the bench, John Collins should see his minutes at heart increase. According to Cleaning the Glass, the offseason addition performed 24 % of his minutes at heart in Detroit’s first two video games. Rostered in 79 % of Yahoo leagues, Collins will be price including in shallow leagues where he’s still accessible.

– Timberwolves roll through Heat, Magic: Minnesota started its season in the Sunshine State, and the vibes were immaculate. Anthony Edwards went off for 45 factors in the season-opening win over the Heat, while seven gamers scored in double figures in the Timberwolves’ rout of the Magic on Friday. It’s only two video games, but the chemistry between Edwards and LaMelo Ball has appeared good, while supporting gamers like Jaden McDaniels and Ayo Dosunmu have been productive.

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If there’s a concern, it may be for those at present rostering Rudy Gobert. He took only two pictures in the win over Miami, but the excellent news is that the 7-footer was more concerned on Friday, capturing 6-of-8 from the area and scoring 14 factors. Could this be an alternative to buy low on the “Stifle Tower”? It would not be a unhealthy thought, particularly for groups needing rebounds and blocks. Gobert hasn’t blocked a shot this season, but he’s averaged at least 1.4 per recreation in every season except his rookie yr (2013-14).

Five more storylines

– Mikal Bridges has gotten off to a very gradual begin: While there was concern amongst Knicks followers early last season about Bridges’ incapability to get to the foul line, he did rating in double figures in each of New York’s first 10 video games. Unfortunately, followers are wishing they’d only have free throws to complain about after the champs’ first two video games this season. Bridges’ totals: 4 factors (2-of-16 FGs), three rebounds, 5 assists, one steal and one blocked shot. And he’s missed all seven of his three-point makes an attempt.

Panicking after two video games is not the best method, but fantasy managers wanting to transfer on from Bridges can’t be blamed, given the numbers he’s produced. However, could this be the time to buy low? He’s been a top-100 fantasy participant for most of his profession, so you could wager Bridges will finally get untracked. The Knicks play three video games in Week 2: two against expected contenders (Detroit and Philadelphia), and one against a group expected to land in the draft lottery (Chicago). Not precisely the best slate for a participant mired in a severe stoop.

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– Yves Missi’s knee harm opens the door for Derik Queen: For all the speak during the preseason about Queen, who has offered stable fantasy worth thus far, the second-year heart still had not earned the beginning job in New Orleans. Instead, the Pelicans selected Yves Missi, the superior defender. Unfortunately, he suffered a bone bruise in his left knee during Friday’s loss to the Jazz. The Pelicans have not announced a return timeline, but he’ll miss some time.

So, this means Queen will be the new beginning heart, proper? No. Veteran DeAndre Jordan was tabbed to fill the emptiness in Saturday’s time beyond regulation loss, taking part in 20 minutes and ending with 9 factors, 9 rebounds, two assists and one block. As for Queen, he logged 24 minutes in Denver, ending with 17 factors, eight rebounds and two assists. He’s unlikely to offer much defensively, but Queen’s fantasy ceiling still gets a slight enhance with Missi out.

– Darius Acuff Jr. bounces back from a shaky opener: One factor we know about the Kings rookie level guard through two video games: he is not bashful as a scorer. Wednesday’s 5-of-24 effort against the Clippers did not shake Acuff’s confidence, as he put up 26 pictures in Friday’s loss to the Trail Blazers. He tallied 33 factors and 4 assists, and his potential to attack Portland’s protection off the dribble earned him 12 free-throw makes an attempt (11 made).

Fantasy managers and Kings followers alike need to see Acuff improve his effectivity. Still, it was clear from the evening he was drafted that Sacramento will give the rookie every alternative to take the reins. And that means taking the expected hits in field-goal proportion and turnovers.

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– Neemias Queta is averaging more minutes per recreation than Mitchell Robinson: Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla has primarily gone with a timeshare at the heart place. While Robinson has began Boston’s first two video games, Queta has performed more, averaging 22.0 minutes per recreation to the former Knicks heart’s 20.5. That break up hasn’t helped either in fantasy worth, with Queta sitting just inside the top-200 while Robinson’s manufacturing has positioned him outside that threshold.

Can one of them make the beginning heart job their own? Will the alternative be there, or will Mazzulla stick with the present minutes break up? Robinson is rostered in 22 % of Yahoo leagues, so his taking part in time is not a main concern for managers in 12-team leagues. However, Queta is rostered in 66 % of Yahoo leagues, and the taking part in time could power some robust selections. The Celtics open Week 2 with a back-to-back, so Robinson’s harm historical past could flip a four-game week into three.

– Raptors will handle Kawhi Leonard’s workload: Unsurprisingly, the Raptors aren’t going to ask too much of their star ahead in his second stint with the franchise. After taking part in 24 minutes in the season-opening win over the Bulls, Leonard logged 28 minutes in Friday’s win over the Wizards. While he hasn’t shot nicely, going 12-of-37 from the area, Kawhi has executed enough in a number of classes to protect his fantasy worth. That contains totals of 15 rebounds and seven steals.

Scottie Barnes has also been efficient across a number of classes, while Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett have returned top-100 worth in class leagues. Leonard does not need heavy minutes to ship worth that matches his third-round ADP, which is excellent news for those rostering him. Toronto’s clear precedence will be to make sure he’s healthy in the spring. The last time they did that with Kawhi, the Raptors won an NBA title.

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Three Questions

1. Could Week 2 be a two-game week for LeBron James, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Haliburton?

2. Is Alex Caruso “back” as a issue in fantasy basketball?

3. Will Jaxson Hayes become a worthwhile pickup in 12-team leagues?

Early Waivers Look (Players rostered in less than 50 % of Yahoo leagues)

G: Grayson Allen (Charlotte Hornets, 32%); Duncan Robinson (Detroit Pistons, 24%); Kris Dunn (LA Clippers, 9%); Kasparas Jakučionis (Milwaukee Bucks, 7%)

F: Naji Marshall (Dallas Mavericks, 42%); Quentin Grimes (Los Angeles Lakers, 41%); Bilal Coulibaly (Washington Wizards, 20%); Aaron Wiggins (Atlanta Hawks, 18%); Obi Toppin (Indiana Pacers, 11%)

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C: Brook Lopez (LA Clippers, 28%); Paul Reed (Detroit Pistons, 21%); Precious Achiuwa (Sacramento Kings, 14%); Jaxson Hayes (Utah Jazz, 11%)

Stats of the Week

18.5 and 9.0: Those are the rebound and help averages of Sacramento’s Domantas Sabonis, who led the league in the former class and ranked third in the latter after Friday’s video games. His feedback forward of Friday’s loss to the Trail Blazers definitely grabbed consideration, but he backed them up with 27 factors, 19 rebounds, 10 assists, and one three-pointer. While developing Darius Acuff Jr. is the Kings’ clear precedence, the rookie can benefit if the group runs more offense through Sabonis, the rotation’s best facilitator.