Fantasy Basketball Week 2 is here.
Today, we'll have game distribution and injury updates, and we'll debut risers and fallers for the season because, well, you can't really do that in Week 1.
Off we go.
WEEK 1 GAME DISTRIBUTION
Four-Game Teams:
Atlanta Hawks
Boston Celtics
Brooklyn Nets
Cleveland Cavaliers
Dallas Mavericks
Denver Nuggets
Detroit Pistons
Memphis Grizzlies
New Orleans Pelicans
Orlando Magic
Portland Trail Blazers
Sacramento Kings
San Antonio Spurs
Toronto Raptors
Utah Jazz
Notes:
No back to backs during Week 2 for the Hawks, Pistons and Magic. Of these teams, the Celtics, Cavs, Nuggets, Grizzlies, Blazers, Kings, Spurs, Raptors and Jazz don't play on Sunday, which means, players from those games will have four games in six nights, giving you healthy streaming options.
Three-Game Teams:
Charlotte Hornets
Chicago Bulls
Golden State Warriors
Houston Rockets
Indiana Pacers
Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Lakers
Miami Heat
Milwaukee Bucks
Minnesota Timberwolves
New York Knicks
Oklahoma City Thunder
Phoenix Suns
Washington Wizards
The Hornets, Clippers and Thunder don't play until Wednesday. None of these teams play on Sunday. The Lakers, Knicks, Pacers and Bulls don't play on Saturday or Sunday, so after Friday, they are done for the week. The Hornets and Clippers are home for all three.
Two-Game Teams:
Philadelphia 76ers
Notes:
The 76ers play Wednesday and Saturday, both at home, and are the only team we see just twice this week.
INJURY RADAR
Key players injured during Week 1 who are likely to miss some or all of Week 2.
- Atlanta Hawks: G Bogdan Bogdanovic (hamstring)
- Atlanta Hawks: F DeAndre Hunter (knee)
- Golden State Warriors: G Steph Curry (ankle)
- Indiana Pacers: C James Wiseman (Achilles, out for the season)
- New Orleans Pelicans: G Dejounte Murray (hand)
- Phoenix Suns: G Bradley Beal (elbow)
- San Antonio Spurs: G Tre Jones (ankle)
- Toronto Raptors: G Immanuel Quickley (pelvis)
Notes:
Of these injury, Murray was, by far, the most fantasy-relevant given that he is expected to miss at least 4-to-6 weeks, per ESPN.
That was until Curry rolled his ankle Sunday. As of this writing, his status is to be determined as he is awaiting an MRI. Wiseman wasn't a big name but was intriguing in deep leagues given what he showed late last season, but he's now expected not to return for the 2024-25 campaign.
Jones is expected to miss two weeks, according to KENS 5 San Antonio.
Barrett hasn't played this season and is questionable to start the week, while Quickley has one played a game and is doubtful Monday.
Beal — perhaps the second-biggest name here — has elbow soreness and sat Saturday's win over the Mavs, but isn't expected to be sidelined forever.
RISERS & FALLERS:
Stock Up, Stock Down for Week 2 of Fantasy Hoops
Risers
Golden State Warriors
F Jonathan Kuminga
Curry's ankle injury was described as a "mild or moderate" sprain by head coach Steve Kerr. It's the NBA and it's 2024 — it'd be surprising to see Curry not miss any time. If he does, Kuminga is a must-add if any impatient fantasy GM cut bait after a slow start.
Andrew Wiggins, Buddy Hield, De'Anthony Melton and Brandin Podziemski are worth a look, too, but it stands to reason that Kuminga would make the biggest leap from a fantasy perspective.
Toronto Raptors
F Gradey Dick
Dick is on the rise for the short-handed Raptors. The unfortunately named swingman averaged 16.3 points and hit 2.3 of 6.3 threes per game (36.8 percent) in his first three games this season, while hitting all eight of his free throw attempts.
The Raptors have been dealing with injuries already, including Barrett, Quickley and Kelly Olynyk, who hasn't played yet. As long as Toronto is missing guys, Dick should continue to elevate.
Memphis Grizzlies
G Scotty Pippen Jr.
Scottie Pippen's son is good. The younger Pip has averaged 10 points, 7.7 assists, 3.7 boards and 1.7 steals in three games off the bench. Off the bench! Four games this week. Continue to ride the hot streak.
New Orleans Pelicans
G Jordan Hawkins
The Pels are down DeJounte, so Hawkins will get an extended look. He is averaging close to 20 points per game already, and while he's been weak in the assists department, he's been a revelation in the young season and will get opportunities in the short-term.
Honorable Mentions:
- G/F Christian Braun – Denver Nuggets
- F Julian Champagnie – San Antonio Spurs
- G/F Buddy Hield – Golden State Warriors
- F Andrew Wiggins – Golden State Warriors
- G/F Caris LeVert – Cleveland Cavaliers
Fallers:
Philadelphia 76ers
C Andre Drummond
A popular stream last week, Andre Drummond has just two games this week. And while he could fill up the stat sheet, he'll be tough to keep around with the light schedule in shallow leagues, especially since you only see him Wednesday or Saturday.
Joel Embiid will play at some point, though as of this writing, no one knows when, but given that we know he'll take time off regardless, Drummond is rosterable in non-shallow leagues — his stock just takes a hit this week and will anytime Embiid is active.
Brooklyn Nets
G Ben Simmons
Your curiosities aren't unwarranted, and he could be a stream given the four-game week, but no, it doesn't appear that that Ben Simmons will be back yet, if ever again.
Simmons has taken 12 field goal attempts in 72 minutes — that's one shot every six minutes. The rebounds and assists aren't bad, but if his stocks are moderate, as they have been since he left his peak, then he's a tough hold in non-deep leagues, especially given the lack of scoring, which has been the case for three years.
Houston Rockets
G/F Amen Thompson
Houston has too many mouths to feed, and until they firmly figure it out — or at least provide extended opportunities for Amen Thompson to emerge like many of us who snagged him late in drafts hope — it's worrisome.
He's too talented to drop, especially this early, but averages rounded up to 8-5-2 with one stock in three games won't cut it, neither will 22 minutes per game.
Honorable Mentions:
- G Jrue Holiday – Boston Celtics
- F Herb Jones – New Orleans Pelicans
- F Tobias Harris – Detroit Pistons
