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Multiple injuries have come about to start the NBA season, with a number of stars falling victim to unfortunate circumstances. Anthony Edwards, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, Paolo Banchero, Kawhi Leonard, Jalen Duren, Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., Cason Wallace, Jalen Suggs and Ivica Zubac are all out — with a handful of others who haven’t played yet.
Here’s who’s hurt, how long they might be gone and the viable fantasy replacements.
Edwards is set to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right knee and is expected to miss up to two months, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. That’s a gut punch after a start that included two 40-plus-point games, including 47 in Monday’s overtime loss at Cleveland. He had been playing through knee pain and fantasy managers will be disappointed to have to stash him on IR until at least January. In what looked like the start of an MVP-like campaign, Edwards won’t be eligible for seasonal awards but hopefully will return during the second half of the season to help the Timberwolves (and fantasy managers) get a championship.
The replacements: Ayo Dosunmu (75% rostered) is the obvious next man up to replace Edwards in the starting unit. He’s averaging 12-4-4 in 26 minutes across four games. When Edwards missed time with a knee injury at the end of last season, Dosunmu stepped up. If he’s gone, Terrence Shannon Jr. (20%) is the one to grab. He’s averaging 13 points and 2.5 3-pointers in 22 minutes. Jonathan Kuminga (64%) got his first double-double with Minnesota on Monday and should also see an expanded role in the rotation.
Williams has a dislocated left ankle and a fractured fibula and will need surgery. No recovery timeline has been provided, but he could be out for the rest of the season. For fantasy purposes, he’s a drop in most leagues unless you have an IL spot that you’re not using and want to wait for an update on the slim chances for a return late in the season.
Wallace has a torn labrum in his left shoulder and will need surgery. He’s expected to miss most, if not all, of the season.
Holmgren is dealing with right knee patellar tendinitis, which has kept him out for one game thus far. By all accounts, Holmgren’s injury seems more like a day-to-day issue. Still, fantasy managers need to keep tabs on it.
The replacements: Ajay Mitchell (75%) is the biggest winner, averaging 16-3-4 with 2.5 stocks after a 30-point, 5-assist breakout on Monday. He’s questionable for Wednesday’s game with an ankle sprain, so check his status before lineups lock.
Jared McCain (41%) started Monday and had 18 points with 4 3-pointers. He’ll be a reliable source for points and deep shooting going forward.
Aday Mara (18%) is worth a look in deep leagues, with 11 points and 10 rebounds in 20 minutes on Monday while filling in for Holmgren. Holmgren remains out on Wednesday, leaving the door open for another Mara stream.
Banchero has a low-grade high-ankle sprain that he suffered against the Timberwolves last week and is expected to miss four-to-six weeks. Suggs will miss at least the next two weeks after suffering a mild bone bruise in his right knee. The non-contact injury occurred late in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s win over the New York Knicks. Suggs will be reevaluated in two weeks and fortunately, there was no structural damage.
The replacements: Franz Wagner stands to benefit most, but from a waiver wire perspective, Tristan da Silva (22% rostered) will earn more minutes along with Anthony Black (68% rostered).
Black is coming off a strong season debut, scoring 18 points (5 3s) and 5 assists. Da Silva is averaging 13-2-2 with 3 3s per game in 28 minutes. Jase Richardson (1%) is a deep league option, though; he’s yet to surpass 20 minutes in any game.
Leonard is expected to miss a period of weeks with swelling in his left knee, per Charania. An MRI revealed no structural damage and Toronto will reevaluate him in a week. He’s averaged 19.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 steals through two games. The thing about Leonard is, we don’t know what a period of weeks really means. Is this an in-and-out-of-the-lineup situation? Will the ramp-up and rehab management program be enough to alleviate sporadic load management days? This is the biggest note when drafting Leonard.
The replacements: Ja’Kobe Walter (23%) started in his place Sunday and will be a decent source of points, 3s and steals. So far this season, Walter is averaging 13 points, 2.7 3s and 2.3 steals in 26 minutes per night. Rookie Allen Graves (3%) had 11 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists on Sunday and is a deep-league stash. Expect to see more RJ Barrett, Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles taking more shares on offense.
Duren will be reevaluated in two weeks, so he’s looking at a return around Nov. 9. The few times I watched him this summer, he looked to be in shape and was actively working on his game. Many fantasy managers took him with confidence in the third round, but to suffer a hamstring injury so early in the season is unfortunate. Time can heal, so let’s be optimistic that we’ll see him at full strength by early November.
The replacements: Paul Reed (55%) is the add. He’s up from 11% last Thursday, averaging 13.8 points and 8.5 rebounds as the starting center. He had an impressive outing on Tuesday, coming through with 22-9-3 and 3 stocks in just 26 minutes. John Collins (83%) is likely rostered already.
Jackson has a torn MCL in his right knee and will miss six-to-eight weeks according to Charania. He’s out until at least mid-December, but the injury is nothing to play with. The timeline sounds good, but with rehab, minutes restrictions and a ramp-up period required, those steps may make the injury drag out longer than the initial timeline.
Markkanen left Monday’s contest with a wrist injury and did not return. He’s listed as day-to-day and is questionable for Wednesday, so fantasy managers will have to be patient. At least it wasn’t anything too serious to keep him out longer.
The replacements: Ace Bailey (62%) is the add if he’s out there. He’s put together two strong nights in a row, putting up at least 17 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 block. Last year’s top-five NBA Draft pick is getting a chance to showcase his talent. Jusuf Nurkić (foot) is also on the shelf, but when he’s ready, he’ll likely assume the starting center spot.
For the deepest of leagues, Mo Bamba (10%) had 14 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocks in his first game of the season. His appeal fades if Jaxson Hayes (shoulder, 19%) and Markkanen return Wednesday.
Zubac rolled his left ankle Sunday against Brooklyn and is out Wednesday against Philadelphia. He’s day-to-day as well, but no timetable has been provided for his return to play.
The replacements: In the meantime, Jay Huff (18%) will likely start in place of Zubac as he did on Monday. He posted 14 points, 3 assists and 3 blocks on Sunday, but followed with 6 points and 6 rebounds Monday. There hasn’t been much consistency, as he played at least 20 minutes in each of those games.
He’s not a must-add for me, but someone else to watch is Obi Toppin (30%). Toppin ranks 61st in 9-category leagues through Tuesday and is averaging 15.8 points, five rebounds and 2.5 3s per game.
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