NBA opening week spotlight centers on Victor Wembanyama’s healthy return and Zion Williamson’s best conditioning in years, with LeBron James sidelined early for the Lakers and Kyrie Irving ramping up for Dallas. Injury updates ripple across the league: Embiid’s knee uncertainty, Garland’s early absence, Morant’s ankle risk, and the evolving workloads for Porzingis, Ball, and Markkanen. Fantasy managers should prep for early heat checks, rotation shuffles, and opportunistic adds as stars scale into the season.

Jalen Johnson could surge to a top-10 roto finish if health cooperates, tapping a 20/10 floor with blocks, steals, and 3s. LaMelo Ball’s usage stays sky-high even with injury risk, while Desmond Bane and Zion Williamson carry immense scoring upside, and Desmond Bane’s value hinges on his endurance. James Harden and Luka Doncic anchor fantasy rosters with elite counting stats, Embiid’s ceiling remains obscene but health is the wild card. Holmgren’s 20/10 ceiling looms large for the thin Thunder, and Embiid’s workload remains a key lever for the season.

Across teams from the Celtics’ wings to the Pistons’ guards and the Spurs-adjacent rookies, the article maps out bold, sometimes contradictory outcomes, emphasizing durability and role changes as the season’s X-factors. The overarching theme: expect big swings, but identify which players own the clearest paths to massive fantasy leverage and pounce when narratives align with value in drafts and in-season moves.

Nick Nurse is installing a free-flowing offense for the 2025-26 season, aiming for more ball movement and off-ball action rather than heavy Embiid-Maxey pick-and-rolls. Through three preseason games, Philly emphasizes reps, buy-in, and a broader offensive palette as new pieces learn the system, with Grimes back and Embiid's health still a variable. A final tune-up versus Minnesota awaits before the regular season.

Maxey already notes progress in cohesion, crediting extra practice and Abu Dhabi camp reps for the growing chemistry. The win over Orlando and the depth questions highlighted as VJ Edgecombe sat show depth will test the system’s versatility. The early signals are promising: a more fluid, shared offense with a growing capability across the lineup as the team readies for the opener.

Andre Drummond rediscovered the joy of basketball after a brutal 2024-25 season defined by injuries and overthinking. He embraced a reset, focusing on serving the team and letting the game come to him instead of forcing production.

With a healthier Sixers roster and a renewed mindset, he’s happier, ready to do whatever helps the group win, and committed to playing the kid’s game with less pressure.

Philly pivots from last season’s chaos toward youth and athleticism. Embiid’s health and minutes loom as the defining risk, while a reshaped supporting cast—Edgecombe, Broome, Edwards—adds upside alongside Maxey’s growing two-way impact. Re-signings and shrewd, cheap adds hint at a faster, deeper rotation. If Embiid returns to form and health cooperates, the 2025-26 Sixers could contend, but durability remains the big question mark.

The fallout is a real fantasy pivot: younger wings with two-way potential, a better defensive profile, and a path to bigger minutes for Edgecombe and the two-way guards. The plan hinges on health and consistency, turning a nightmare season into a springboard for a more versatile, playoff-ready roster.