We have made it three (3) days into the NBA season and there has already been some wild stuff. On the court, the action has been good. The Celtics look unbeatable. The Thunder look borderline-unbeatable. The Knicks and Wolves are both trying to figure things out but have not gotten off to great starts — the Wolves at least had a chance to get back on track and did so with a close win over the Kings last night. The Raptors look like one injury away from being at the top of the draft lottery. The Warriors look like they’re going to frustrate everyone with a 12-man rotation. The Blazers don’t look ready to start Scoot Henderson. LaMelo Ball and Lonzo Ball are both back!

Off the court, we have a crazy lawsuit by an ex-Clippers staffer who alleged improper medical treatment for Kawhi Leonard. He has worked with Kawhi since college, and while Leonard probably isn’t going to say anything about ongoing litigation, it will make the office vibes a little strange. Oh, he also dumped some big tampering allegations into the lawsuit just for fun — smoke ’em if you got ’em — and claimed that Clippers execs contacted him to gauge Leonard’s willingness to play for LA and were at three quarters of Toronto’s games during the 2018-19 season. You know who wasn’t at that many of Toronto’s games that season? Kawhi Leonard.

Injuries are already hitting hard too, unfortunately. Beyond Kawhi. Jaren Jackson Jr. missed opening night. Brandon Miller is already out for at least a week. Joel Embiid and Paul George are both on the shelf, and fantasy GMs are stuck in limbo there with their first chance to play coming on Wednesday vs. Detroit. Zion Williamson couldn’t suit up for the opener thanks to an illness. But the biggest injury news so far is that Dejounte Murray will miss 4-to-6 weeks after breaking his left hand, and that deserves a closer look.

The Pelicans (in) Brief

So, the Pelicans already lost their big offseason acquisition and now lose at least a month of chemistry-building and lineup experimentation. It’ll be at least four weeks until the Pelicans get their full roster on the court at once thanks to Zion missing Wednesday’s game. Right off the top, the starting lineup change is easy, as Williamson will simply take a starting spot that Murray used to have, pushing the wings up a position.

CJ McCollum will be the point guard once again, with Jose Alvarado backing him up. Jordan Hawkins will get more action on the wing. Herb Jones and Zion form an impressive forward duo, and for now we would guess that Daniel Theis continues to start at center but won’t play very much. Yves Missi turned in a great NBA debut and looks more impactful than Theis already, so it should only be a matter of time before Missi jumps him. Even then, when (if?) the Pelicans ever get to full health, they could start either Williamson or Jones at center in a position-less build. For now, that logjam is alleviated, making Missi a very compelling pickup who has an opportunity to put his stamp on a role.

Hawkins is the most obvious beneficiary, especially with Trey Murphy (hamstring) still a couple of weeks away. He lit it up early on last year when the Pels were ailing and had a nice effort to kick off his sophomore season. He’ll come off the bench but is essentially a direct replacement for the shooting that is lost with Murphy’s absence, so take a look his way for points and 3-pointers.

The one guy lost in the shuffle of the immediate aftermath? Brandon Ingram. After a summer of trade rumors that didn’t go anywhere, Ingram has been in limbo. The talk was all about Murray’s arrival and the potential of Zion at center, but at the end of the day the Pelicans are in a staredown with a starting wing who can drop 20 points in his sleep. He thinks he’s worth a max contract but New Orleans does not, and they’re in the league majority. If Ingram, who has excelled as a primary ball-handler in the past, takes on some of Murray’s responsibilities over the next 4-to-6 weeks, he could change some hearts and minds out there. His season will be a fascinating one and he’s already had one thing break in his favor. Let’s see what he does with the chance.

Schedule Breakdown

Remember to check out our Schedule Grid so you can get a full look at what each week holds.

Depending on how this weekend goes for you, you could be feeling anxious about making some moves. Be measured in your approach, but if you came into the season planning on streamin’ like a demon, then this is for you. There are some exploitable schedule gaps next week.

Weekly Info

Four-game teams: It’s an abundant week overall, as half the league hits the maximum. ATL, BKN, BOS, CLE, DAL, DEN, DET, MEM, NOR, ORL, POR, SAC, SAS, TOR and UTA all get four games.

Three-game teams: This week there are 14 teams that play three games. CHA, CHI, GSW, HOU, IND, LAC, LAL, MIA, MIL, MIN, NYK, OKC, PHO and WAS.

Two-game teams: One, just one. The Philadelphia 76ers. As if your start/sit decisions weren’t tough enough already.

Daily Info

If you’re playing in leagues with daily lineups, then you can pay a little more attention to the nitty gritty. Although, if you’re in a weekly lineup league, you may realize that one of your low-priority bench players won’t be able to slot into your lineup at all by virtue of only playing on Wednesday and Friday/Saturday; in that case you might want to swap that guy for someone else that you could theoretically tuck into a spot for two of Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

Low traffic days: Tuesday and Thursday have four games apiece, while Sunday only has three.

Low-traffic games: The Mavs are the big winners, as they get three games on low-traffic days. That means you should quite easily slot all your Mavs into a weekly lineup if you’re overloaded on the busy nights, beyond the implications for daily streaming.

The Nets, Pelicans and Jazz get a pair of games on those low-traffic days, while 13 teams have one (ATL, DEN, DET, MEM, ORL, SAC, SAS, GSW, HOU, LAC, MIL, MIN and PHO).

Naturally, that leaves the following as teams who only play on the high-traffic days next week: BOS, CLE, POR, TOR, CHA, CHI, IND, LAL, MIA, NYK, OKC, WAS and PHI

High traffic days: Monday and Wednesday have 11 games. Friday has a much more reasonable nine and Saturday has 10. Spread it out, NBA!

Back-to-back games: The Nuggets, Kings and Blazers all have a pair of back-to-backs. There are 17 teams with one; DAL, BKN, NOR, UTA, ATL, MEM, SAS, GSW, LAC, MIL, MIN, BOS, CLE, TOR, CHA, IND and OKC.

Late-week streamers: When it comes to that final push to swing a matchup, a lot of heavy lifting (in daily leagues) is done in the back half of the week. From Thursday to Sunday, it breaks down like this:

All of CHI, GSW, IND, LAL, MIA, NYK, PHI and WAS get one game in that end-of-week stretch. Everyone else gets a pair. Dallas has their two EOW games on low-traffic days, making them an ideal streaming target. A few teams — ATL, BKN, DET, HOU, LAC, MEM, MIL, NOR, ORL, PHO, SAS and UTA — get one of their EOW games on a low-traffic day.

Best Schedule: You could say the Mavs because they get three of four games on days when you know you’ll have lineup spaces to fill, but they play Minnesota, Orlando, Houston and Utah (not in that order — but in the order of defenses that could wipe out some of the lesser players). Your other choice would be the Kings, who have four games with one on a low-traffic day, no back-to-backs, and dates with the Blazers, Jazz, Hawks and Raptors. One schedule certainly looks easier than the other if streaming considerations don’t come into play.

Worst Schedule: Philadelphia by a mile. Two games, none til Wednesday, and you don’t even know if the big guns are playing. Godspeed to anyone with a Monday lineup lock.

If you’re still not exactly sure how to set your lineup this week, take a look at our Start/Sit tool!

Starts/Sits

Jacob Dunne has cooked up some advice on Starts/Sits for the week!

Starts

P.J. Washington – Washington is an unsung hero in fantasy basketball, contributing subtly across the board without hurting your team’s overall performance. In his season debut on Thursday, the Kentucky product recorded 11 points, six rebounds, two assists, two triples, and one steal. I previously labeled him a “poor man’s triple-one club” producer, and for good reason—last season, he averaged 1.8 three-pointers, 1.0 steals, and 0.8 blocks, along with 12.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. His ability to fill multiple stat lines makes him a valuable asset for any fantasy roster, particularly in deeper leagues. Keep an eye on Washington as a potential game-changer for your lineup.

Christian Braun – Braun kicked off his season in impressive fashion, tallying 16 points, seven rebounds, two steals, two blocks, and one assist while playing 29 minutes in the starting lineup. Currently rostered in just 25% of leagues on Yahoo, he deserves serious consideration in all formats to see if he can maintain this level of performance. His well-rounded game and ability to contribute across multiple categories make him a player worth monitoring as the season progresses.

Your Detroit Pistons – The Pistons have a favorable schedule ahead, playing four games every other day against the Heat, 76ers, Knicks, and Nets. This presents a great opportunity for players like Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr., who have been providing sneaky value, particularly in the three-point department. Their ability to stretch the floor could make them crucial contributors during this busy stretch. Keep an eye on their performances as the games pile up!

Your New Orleans Pelicans – With Dejounte Murray out for 4 to 6 weeks due to a hand injury, opportunities are opening up for Jordan Hawkins and Jose Alvarado to step up, especially next week with favorable matchups against the Warriors twice in a row on Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by games against the Pacers and Hawks. Hawkins has had a stellar start to the season, averaging 18.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 3.5 three-pointers while shooting an impressive 57.1% from the field. Meanwhile, Alvarado has emerged as a sneaky 3-and-D option, averaging two steals per game in the early season. While he may not contribute much outside of a few assists, managers in need of steals should definitely consider him this week. Both players could be key assets as they capitalize on their increased roles.

Sits

Every 76er not named Tyrese Maxey should be benched this week. With Joel Embiid (knee) and Paul George (knee) still sidelined, Maxey has been carrying the offensive load for Philadelphia, so his volume of stats and production should compensate for his limited schedule. While I’ve been advocating for Kelly Oubre Jr. and Kyle Lowry to be rostered in more leagues, their two-game week makes them less reliable options for weekly managers. It’s essential to prioritize players who can provide consistent production during this stretch.

The Bucks face a challenging three-game slate this week, traveling to Boston, then to Memphis, before returning home to play Cleveland. While I’m not advising you to bench Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, or Brook Lopez, it’s important to consider that Bobby Portis, along with Taurean Prince, Gary Trent Jr., and others on the Bucks roster, may struggle to produce consistent fantasy points. Additionally, there’s the looming question of Khris Middleton’s return, which could significantly impact Portis and the other deep-league players who have been performing well at the start of the season. It’s crucial to keep this in mind when making lineup decisions.

Streams

Jaden Hardy (1% rostered) – Hardy made an impressive season debut, scoring 11 points while shooting 3-of-6 from the field, including three 3-pointers. Although it’s a small sample size, the fact that he logged 20 minutes in a competitive game is a promising sign. His ability to contribute efficiently could signal more significant opportunities ahead, making him a player to watch as the season progresses.

Naji Marshall (1% rostered) – Despite a less-than-stellar debut, Marshall still managed to log 21 minutes off the bench, contributing three assists, two points, and a rebound. Given his track record, I believe it’s only a matter of time before he returns to last season’s averages of 7.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.9 three-pointers, and 0.7 steals. As he finds his rhythm, he has the potential to be a valuable asset for fantasy teams looking for reliable depth. Maxi Kleber also left Saturday’s game with a hamstring injury, opening up some minutes at PF that could flow to Marshall.

Early Buy-Lows

There are going to be lots of buy-low opportunities coming out of the first week of action. This is when everyone is still engaged and checking their rosters, and the rush of adrenaline that comes post-draft has still not quite worn off. That means some managers will be particularly frustrated by bad performances from top players, which in turn means that you can slither in like a snake in the grass.

Some buy-low windows are so obvious that they’re not buy-low windows at all, but if you can find the sweet spot you should start floating offers. You need to toe the line of testing the waters without becoming The Annoying Guy in your league. Don’t send people trash. Don’t offer Miles McBride for Josh Giddey. If you can get away with trash-adjacent? Go for it. Speaking from experience — in fantasy football, a friend was able to get Tee Higgins for Cam Akers from another manager who had no healthy RBs a few weeks ago when Akers was starting in Houston — you never know what might get accepted. Just try and be mostly reasonable about it.

And remember, not everyone with some flies in the ointment is a real buy-low. If the current Fred VanVleet manager is worried about a 4-for-18 shooting start? That’s on them. VanVleet has been a top-30 guy for years with an awful FG% on high volume. Although, saying it out loud makes it sound like that’s exactly the type of manager you might be able to send a less-than-reasonable offer just to see what might happen. Don’t ask, don’t get.

It’s never too early to improve your roster and if you can sneak some nice wins after just a couple games, you’ll be set up nicely for the long haul.

Quick Adds

We run a Pickups of the Night article every night so you can review the top potential pickups from each slate, and we’ll have a weekly Working the Wire column for you to peruse as well next week (since we need actual info before making real recommendations), but here’s a few to tide you over.

Dyson Daniels. Should be rostered in all leagues, and should’ve been drafted.

Andre Drummond. Worth rostering for any team that cares about rebounds. That goes double if you’re already punting FT%.

Taylor Hendricks. Should’ve been drafted in all competitive leagues and looks to have a starting spot locked down.

Wendell Carter Jr. Sure, he’ll get hurt eventually, but he’s a solid late-round guy who can hold the fort until you find a can’t-miss guy on waivers.

Santi Aldama. Green light here whenever Jaren Jackson Jr. is out.

We’ll meet back here next week.