Ten stat-based predictions shape Boston's season: Payton Pritchard should push his assists above five per game as he expands his playmaking role. Jaylen Brown eyes top-five scoring, while Anfernee Simons could emerge as a dynamic secondary scorer. Derrick White projects higher defensive impact, Neemias Queta earns 20+ minutes, and Boston nets a less prolific rebounding season.

Expect volatility: five-game win and five-game losing streaks, a possible late return for Jayson Tatum if contention demands it, and a 44-38 finish to grab the 6 seed. The Celtics won’t lead the league in 3s, but a more versatile attack should keep them dangerous in a crowded East.

Payton Pritchard embraces any role for Boston, stressing that winning trumps starting status. He’s positioned to spark the offense, lead a second wave, and share duties with Anfernee Simons as the Celtics pursue a title. His past first-quarter impact and improving playmaking suggest meaningful fantasy upside whether he enters as a sub or a starter.

With a contract locked through 27/28, Pritchard projects as a versatile cog who can sustain efficiency while taking on creation duties when teammates rest. The focus on pull-up threes, off-ball gravity, and screen-setting hints at a path to steady, flexible value for managers who balance floor time with usage in a crowded Boston backcourt.

The spark narrative underscores a season where role clarity, pace, and spacing drive wins. If Pritchard remains efficient and outspoken about team goals, he becomes a high-upside bench staple or late-rotation starter, delivering fantasy-relevant contributions in multiple lineups.

Mid-round fantasy pivots with big upside: Kevin Porter Jr. steps into a primary role in Milwaukee, offering scoring, playmaking and three-point help as a high-usage option. Onyeka Okongwu benefits from Clint Capela’s departure, likely seeing expanded minutes and offensive touches. Payton Pritchard projects for a starter’s workload in Boston with growth in playmaking and off-ball scoring. Brandon Miller, Ausar Thompson, Andrew Nembhard, Kel'el Ware and Matas Buzelis all carry clear paths to meaningful roles and incremental production, giving managers multiple swing-for-value targets in the middle rounds.

These picks blend proven scoring with breakout potential and defensive impact, designed to stabilize weekly floors while offering ceiling leaps in minutes and usage as training camp and early-season rotations unfold. If you hit your early-rounds strong and target a couple of these mid-round pieces, you’ll diversify risk while maintaining upside across categories like points, assists, 3-pointers and stocks in rebounds/blocks.