Week 1 of the 2025-26 NBA season delivered spectacular fantasy performances, with elite two-way players dominating scoring systems across all positions. Fantasy managers who rostered the league's most versatile stars were rewarded with massive point totals.
Must-Starts: Week 1 Elite Producers
Victor Wembanyama (SAS) - Forward: 275.5 pts
Across 4 games this week, Wembanyama delivered 124 points, 55 rebounds, 11 assists, 19 blocks, 6 steals, and 6 turnovers.
The Spurs' phenom was an automatic start given his rare combination of scoring and elite shot-blocking. His 19 blocks across just four games provided category dominance that few players can match, while his 124 points and 55 rebounds made him a top-five fantasy contributor regardless of league settings.
Austin Reaves (LAL) - Guard: 231.4 pts
Across 4 games this week, Reaves posted 143 points, 27 rebounds, 34 assists, 7 steals, and 16 turnovers.
Reaves' explosion as a scoring and playmaking force made him impossible to bench. His 143 points and 34 assists across four games positioned him as one of the week's top producers, delivering the kind of dual-category excellence that wins fantasy matchups.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC) - Guard: 222.9 pts
Across 4 games this week, Gilgeous-Alexander generated 143 points, 22 rebounds, 23 assists, 6 steals, and 4 blocks, with 11 turnovers.
SGA's balanced stat line made him a weekly lock. The Thunder guard matched Reaves' 143 points while adding consistent playmaking and steals, proving that elite guards could carry fantasy rosters with well-rounded production.
Strong Starts: Reliable Options
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL) - Forward: 203.1 pts across 3 games with 108 points, 48 rebounds, and 21 assists, delivering all-around excellence despite limited games played.
- Anthony Davis (PHX) - Forward: 202.9 pts across 4 games with 100 points, 47 rebounds, 11 assists, and 7 steals, proving reliable week-to-week production.
- Julius Randle (NYK) - Forward: 176.9 pts across 4 games with 100 points, 27 rebounds, and 21 assists, offering consistent scoring and facilitating ability.
- Nikola Jokić (DEN) - Center: 181.7 pts across 3 games with 60 points, 46 rebounds, and 35 assists, showcasing his all-around impact despite fewer games.
- Evan Mobley (CLE) - Center: 178.5 pts across 4 games with 73 points, 35 rebounds, 8 blocks, and 19 assists, providing rim protection alongside scoring.
Tough Sits: Disappointing Weeks
- Devin Booker (PHX) - Guard: Despite 114 points across 4 games, his 20 turnovers and minimal defensive stats at 159.7 pts made him a liability compared to elite guard production elsewhere.
- Paolo Banchero (ORL) - Forward: With 157.8 pts across 4 games and 10 turnovers, Banchero's inefficiency and limited assist numbers underperformed relative to peer forwards like Randle and Davis.
- LaMelo Ball (CHA) - Guard: His 11 turnovers across just 3 games and 168.5 pts disappointed given the limited floor time and turnover burden he created for teams.
- Chet Holmgren (OKC) - Center: At 169.7 pts across 4 games, Holmgren's 12 turnovers and modest scoring output lagged behind elite center options like Jokić and Mobley.
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