Ja Morant sprained his left ankle in practice and is week-to-week, delaying Memphis' preseason and start of the season. Scotty Pippen Jr. figures to carry primary playmaking duties as the Grizzlies navigate Morant’s absence and a thinner big-man group.

Injuries also loom: Jaren Jackson Jr. rehabbing turf toe, Zach Edey returning from ankle surgery, and Brandon Clarke sidelined with knee synovitis. Offseason moves reshaped the guard depth, with Desmond Bane traded to Orlando for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Anthony waived) and four first-round picks.

Memphis opens preseason vs Detroit and the regular season vs New Orleans on Oct. 22, a daunting start as Morant recovers and the rotation re-stabilizes.

Giannis Antetokounmpo anchors fantasy forward rankings for 2025-26, with Milwaukee’s post-overhaul outlook shaping his ceiling and free-throw risk intact. Anthony Davis and Kevin Durant headline the next tier, but durability and new-team contexts temper their floors. A rising wave—led by Jalen Williams, Jalen Johnson and Cooper Flagg—adds high-end upside, while Zion Williamson’s health and Franz Wagner’s shooting loom large for category formats. The top-50 blends proven stars with a robust rookie-class, emphasizing workload, efficiency and health in a crowded landscape.

Victor Wembanyama anchors the 2025-26 fantasy defense stock market, expected to lead blocks and cross into steals, with a projected 4.9 stocks per game and a notable gap over the next tier. The piece also spotlights blocks specialists like Walker Kessler and Evan Mobley-adjacent names, plus top steals threats including Dyson Daniels and Ausar Thompson. It maps a robust 1+1 Club ecosystem—Wembanyama, Davis, Jackson Jr., and Gilgeous-Alexander—while detailing teams and rotations that sustain defensive production across formats.

Beyond the headline, the analysis catalogs other strong stock targets: Myles Turner’s move to Milwaukee, Amen Thompson and Tari Eason on Houston, and Donovan Clingan anchoring Portland’s frontline. It also assesses guard-scoring hybrids like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Cason Wallace, plus the impact of rim protectors Gobert, Poeltl, and Lively as season-long contributors.

Memphis Grizzlies rookies Javon Small and PJ Hall joined legends Zach Randolph and Tony Allen for a Grizz Take Action Day of Service with Habitat for Humanity, highlighting the franchise’s community-forward ethos. Small, a 2025 second-round pick from Indiana, and Hall on a two-way deal from South Carolina are settling into Memphis as the roster depth grows. Veteran ties run through Ja Morant, GG Jackson, John Konchar, and Jaren Jackson Jr., all connected by Indiana or South Carolina roots.