Five breakout candidates to watch in fantasy basketball this season are Matas Buzelis, Desmond Bane, Andrew Nembhard, Kevin Porter Jr., and Sam Hauser. Buzelis Michał‑style growth could push him into a steady starting role with Chicago, especially with the Bulls balancing a playoff push and developing his outside shot. Desmond Bane could see a higher usage bucket after roster moves, while Nembhard and Porter Jr. stand to benefit from increased minutes and multi‑category production. Hauser offers late‑round threes and rebounds with strong shooting history and a path to bigger minutes in Boston.

The piece emphasizes role shifts, longer seasons, and the potential for career-best numbers as rookies mature and veterans adapt to new supporting casts. It also notes how air-tight shooting and multi‑cat contributions can unlock value in adjacent categories, making these players appealing targets late in drafts and in daily fantasy leagues.

Memphis opens 2025-26 with three straight at FedExForum, then heads for Berlin and London on a globe-trotting schedule. Five home dates stand out for fantasy managers: Oct. 31 vs LeBron James and the Lakers, Nov. 5 vs Kevin Durant and the Rockets, Nov. 7 vs Cooper Flagg and the Mavericks, Nov. 9 vs Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder, and Feb. 25 vs Stephen Curry and the Warriors. Desmond Bane is out, shifting offensive responsibilities, while Ja Morant leads a new-era Grizzlies under Tuomas Iisalo. These matchups will drive pace, scoring bursts, and rotation tinkering, making these nights prime targets for DFS slates and season-long value picks.

Expect Lakers’ stars to test Memphis’ perimeter defense, Rockets to push pace with Durant in a new setup, and Dallas to lean into rookie hype as Flagg climbs into big-minute roles. Oklahoma City visits bring a playoff-rematch jitters, while Golden State brings explosive shooting and transition chances. The schedule highlights Memphis’ home-heaviness and the club’s focus on offensive balance and defensive schemes in Iisalo’s system, creating clear targets and risk for fantasy managers across formats.

Jaren Jackson Jr. enters his eighth Grizzlies season with a symbolic reset: switching to No. 8 as a signal of new beginnings, discipline, and a deeper purpose inspired by his father and his faith. He explains how to handle the extra attention and double teams, and how the journey—built on daily habits and accountability—shapes his personal and team goals. Memphis emphasizes a disciplined, all-hands approach, holding each other accountable while chasing a relentless, nightly effort. The backdrop includes Ja Morant’s injury absence and Desmond Bane’s June trade, framing a laboratory-like season for a franchise focused on stability, growth, and a culture that wants to be known for producing every night.

Jackson’s No. 8 is more than a number; it’s a mindset. He talks about energy sources, recovery, and signing a contract with himself—finding strength in growth over proving others wrong. The interview also traces the Grizzlies’ identity shift toward disciplined leadership and sustained habits, painting a picture of a veteran core guiding Memphis back toward elite competitiveness while balancing off-court responsibilities and family ties that fuel the mission. For fantasy fans, the message is clear: expect steadier, more intentional production, anchored by elite talent who front-load consistency and accountability.

Steph Curry’s era in Golden State remains the anchor, but the Warriors pushed to maximize the window by eyeing a high-end upgrade around him. Talks with Derrick White never materialized, as Boston’s tax concerns and asset gap kept Jaylen Brown and White off the table. Fantasy managers should notice the underlying thesis: GS wants elite floor spacing and on-ball defense to sustain Curry’s elite efficiency, even as the guard rotation evolves.

Team USA memories from last summer surfaced again, with White praising Curry’s Olympic surge and Curry delivering key moments in the gold-medal run. The broader rumor mill tied into a cascade of 3&D guards across the league, spotlighting players like White and Bridges as potential fits, while Celtics moves to trim tax burdens helped seal the reality that big trades for Brown or White were never close. Fantasy impact centers on who anchors the spacing and who benefits from Curry’s gravity.

Meanwhile, the Celtics’ pivot around Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis reshaped the East narrative, while Curry’s partners—whether on-court rookies stepping up or veterans absorbing more creation—will define fantasy ceilings. The Olympic glow hinted at Curry’s late-career prime still humming, but the forward-looking question remains: which complementary guard rises to unlock the next chapter of Curry’s scoring machine?