Weekly Pulse on Fantasy Hoops Before the 2025-26 Season Tips Off
What's up, fantasy hoops fiends? September is here, the NFL is on TV, but real ones are prepping their rosters for another wild NBA season. If you're reading this, that means you've already got that championship mindset. Let's walk through every major shift and industry scoop. I'll break down injury news, draft strategies, breakout projections, and rookie hype, all from the expert angle and totally up-to-date for this week.
Injury Updates Turning Draft Boards Upside Down
This week, Achilles injuries are dominating headlines. Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Haliburton, and Damian Lillard are all dealing with serious setbacks that could leave them out for most, if not the entire, season. Most industry experts are saying to cross them off first-round projections. With Haliburton sidelined, Andrew Nembhard is getting buzz as an emerging breakout for Indy. People are projecting career-high minutes and stats for him right now.
Over in Cleveland, Darius Garland and Max Strus are out to start the season. That opens an even bigger offensive role for Donovan Mitchell and forces fantasy managers to reconsider Cavs depth options for early value.
Who’s Got the Early Draft Edge?
Nikola Jokić is still the clear number one in most expert rankings. There is almost zero debate. His floor and ceiling are unmatched. Victor Wembanyama is creeping into the number two territory, possibly leapfrogging past Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Dončić. Some analysts are describing his multi-cat potential as historic for a second-year player, putting him in league-winning conversations right away.
Second-Year Surge and Breakout Watch
Industry consensus marks this class way stronger than last year's rookie group. Matas Buzelis is flying up draft boards after his boost in production late last season. Jaylen Wells in Memphis could see a big leap now that Desmond Bane is gone. The minutes are wide open and people expect a spike in usage.
Late-round value is being tossed around for Kevin Porter Jr. following his move to Milwaukee and Sam Hauser is gaining momentum in Boston with the mounting injury list there.
The New Rookie Class: Hype vs. Reality
There is plenty of excitement for Cooper Flagg in Dallas, and while he is going high in dynasty drafts, most experts believe patience is required. He might not deliver from week one. Dylan Harper, VJ Edgecombe, and Ace Bailey are all sleeper picks with big upside but preseason usage and depth charts will tell the real story for fantasy.
Team-By-Team Hot Takes
Orlando landing Desmond Bane is shifting Magic rotations and catch and shoot prospects. Charlotte's injury problems have industry watchers targeting unexpected volume in their backcourt. With Kevin Durant and Clint Capela joining Houston, several role players are expected to pop with better team structure. D'Angelo Russell's arrival in Dallas is also shaking up the point guard landscape.
Trends Insiders Are Watching
The consensus approach now leans heavily on stacking players who contribute in five or more categories. These stat stuffers are league winners, especially with big names sidelined. Chet Holmgren and Domantas Sabonis headline big-man tiers, offering stable rebound, block, and efficient scoring. Don't sleep on the evolution of punt strategy this year. Injuries and roster changes are creating entirely new targets for those who master categorical sacrifice and streaming.
Looking Ahead
Training camps kick off soon and rotation news will come fast. The first preseason box scores will set the tone so pay close attention to how injuries translate to depth chart shakeups. This is the prime time to mock draft, lock in sleepers, and monitor ADP movement.
If you want the comfortable path, this newsletter isn't for you. I'm about helping you stay ahead of the curve, adapt instantly, and snipe value wherever industry consensus slips.
Stay tuned.
Robbin Marx
🚨🚨PS‼️‼️
I need some help. YouTube just launch their “HYPE” button. It’s like a super like. If you could just check out this video, click “LIKE” and when the “HYPE” button pops up please click that too. We’re testing to see what kind of impact it has on our videos.
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👉🏽https://youtu.be/B1p5CPwNQ-0
