-
October 21, 2026, 3:49 pmLast Updated on October 21, 2026 3:49 pm by Keston Paul | Published: October 21, 2026
Three games into the NBA season, and we already have enough material to start questioning some of our draft decisions. Jayson Tatum couldn’t buy a basket, Paul George looked like he’d discovered the fountain of youth, Jared McCain caught fire from beyond the arc, and the Thunder reminded us that having an incredibly deep roster isn’t always a good thing for fantasy basketball.
But here’s the problem with Opening Night. We spend months preparing for the season, and after 48 minutes of basketball, we’re suddenly tempted to throw everything out the window.
That’s exactly what we shouldn’t be doing.
The first few games are about identifying opportunities, not drawing definitive conclusions. Minutes matter, roles matter, and how players are being used can tell us considerably more than a hot shooting night or an ugly box score.
Thursday gives us just two games, with the Cavaliers visiting Philadelphia and the Nuggets traveling to Oklahoma City. That makes it one of the most valuable streaming days of the opening week, particularly with 12 games scheduled for Friday.
If you’re in a daily-lineup league, this is where an extra game could provide an immediate advantage. We’re looking for players who can help right now, potential pickups who might deserve a longer look, and the situations that could shape fantasy value moving forward.
Let’s get into it!
Top Pickups
Want full access to our Daily Fantasy Basketball Cheat Sheet with Pickups, Slate Notes & Streamers?ย You’ll need to have an Ethos 360, All-Sport or NBA FantasyPass membership. Click here to learn more and sign up!ย Premium Access Required ย
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
From the cliffs of Porto Moniz to the forests of Latvia. With a degree in business and a background in finance, I traded balance sheets for projection models, following a lifelong love of the game. Iโve played it, Iโve lived it and Iโve had the privilege of working inside team front offices at both the club and national level.
For over 20 years, Iโve also been immersed in the world of Fantasy Basketball, studying trends, finding edges and living the grind season after season. That passion has brought me here, to SportsEthos, where Iโm honored to be part of our management team alongside the great Aaron Bruski. My mission is simple: help SportsEthos thrive as the premier home for Fantasy Sports and sports coverage. A place where users get real value and where every member of the team can sharpen their craft, find joy in the work and build something special that feels like home.
NBA FantasyPass HomePage
Go to 2025 NBA Draft Guide
Go To NFL FantasyPass
Go To MLB FantasyPass
Go To WagerPass
Go To DFS Pass
In-season Bruski 150
Blurb Feed
Live Injury Report
Discord
ROS Projections/Rankings
The Layup Line
Pickups of the Night
Daily Projections
Working The Wire
The Week Ahead
Buy Low/Sell High
H2H Matchup Breakdown
Trade Analyzer
My Team Breakdown
Weekly Projections
Depth Charts
Streaming Schedule
Schedule Grid
Dynasty Rankings
Dynasty Check-In
