Stephen Curry lands in the top five again, sparking a debate on whether a 37-year-old can still carry a fantasy squad. Victor Wembanyama’s ascent to seven signals a coming era of impact, while Ja Morant’s ranking draws heat from Memphis. Cooper Flag’s rookie jump to the 80s adds volatility for dynasty drafts. Paul George slips to 76, Darius Garland sits around 38, and the broader top-100 conversation reshapes redraft and dynasty strategy.

Yahoo’s top-30 pre-ranks spark a late-round pivot for fantasy basketball. Fox faces a usage swing after last season’s Spurs stretch, with his value hinging on how often he gels with a top-2 usage role and free-throw consistency. LeBron remains a fantasy fulcrum despite age, while Curry stays a high-floor anchor. Donovan Mitchell looks for minutes and efficient growth in Cleveland as other stars shift roles. Sengun and Mobley contrast with flashes of upside and some fragility, shaping a nuanced late-second/early-third-round narrative.

Cleveland Cavaliers enter the season with a rotation that mindfully prioritizes rest and postseason readiness. Darius Garland’s toe surgery keeps opening-night minutes uncertain, nudging the backcourt into a shallow, rotation-heavy start that should keep Donovan Mitchell’s workload in check while preserving mobility for April and beyond. Evan Mobley continues to grow into a true two-way engine, expanding his three-point and rim-protection impact, while Jared Allen’s role may shrink slightly as Larry Nance Jr. adds multidimensional lineups that space the floor. De’Andre Hunter and Max Strus bring versatile wings who can slide in as starting options or heavy bench contributors, creating a flexible, playoff-focused environment where high-minute ceilings are balanced with preventive rest. Sam Merrill and Lonzo Ball enter as potential depth options, offering shooting and floor-vision if Garland needs more ramp time. Fantasy managers should watch Garland’s recovery timeline, Mitchell’s planned minutes, and the evolving frontcourt alignments to gauge which Cavaliers will deliver steady fantasy value as the season unfolds.

Indiana plans for a long arc: Carlisle’s extension reinforces a player-development-forward blueprint as Haliburton sits for a gap year, with a core grown around Benedict Mathurin, Aaron Nesmith, Andrew Nemhard, Obi Toppin and Jaylen Smith taking on bigger roles. The move signals stability and a commitment to cultivating internal growth while staying poised for a future East push. John Wall’s retirement adds a bittersweet coda to a peak-filled era. On the playoff rails, Cavaliers and Knicks emerge as the marquee East matchups, Mitchell vs Brunson framing a ceiling-versus-floor dialogue, Mobley and Allen anchoring Cleveland’s depth, and questions lingering about coaching fit and bench strength. Raptors’ Webster stays, Celtics keep Misoula, and NBC’s late-night return keeps fantasy circles eyeing late-season upside. All together, rotation planning, development tracks, and coaching continuity shape early-season fantasy bets and risk assessments.