The 76ers’ Tyrese Maxey continues to craft a career-best season with 58.0 fantasy points per game.
New year. New opportunities. Same game.
The calendar has turned to 2026, and as we near the midway point of the fantasy season, there’s still plenty for general managers in NBA Fantasy — Salary Cap Edition to get excited about.
Here’s what you need to know entering Week 12:
Last week’s story
There was a ground-shaking event in the NBA fantasy world. It wasn’t a monstrous performance or memorable record, but it’s impossible to ignore, nonetheless. This one moment figures to change the game’s landscape for the near future.
Nikola Jokić suffered a hyperextended left knee on Dec. 29 in what became a 147-123 loss for the Denver Nuggets (23-12) to the Miami Heat (20-16). He’ll be out for at least four weeks, per ESPN senior NBA insider Shams Charania, and therefore absent from the fantasy picture.
The three-time MVP has long been a performer like no other. He leads the league with 70.0 fantasy points per game (FPPG) and 2243 total fantasy points (TFP), and had not missed a game all season. Now, there’s a major gap in production for fantasy GMs to address.
Peak performances
New Year’s Day had major implications for fantasy, as the three highest single-game scores of Week 11 all came on Thursday. Cade Cunningham was the best among them with 76 fantasy points despite a 118-112 loss by the Detroit Pistons (26-9) to the Heat. The fifth-year guard submitted 31 points scored, eight rebounds, 11 assists, two blocks and three steals. Cunningham is a dominant force — his 59.4 fantasy points per game (FPPG) and 1962 total fantasy points (TFP) are both third-best in the league.
Also starring in Thursday’s show was Tyrese Maxey. The 25-year-old guard rattled off 74 fantasy points amid a 123-108 victory for the Philadelphia 76ers (19-14) over the Dallas Mavericks (13-23). His effort featured 34 points scored, eight rebounds, 10 assists, two blocks and two steals, marking a fifth consecutive game with 50-plus in fantasy. Maxey continues to craft a career-best year with 58.0 FPPG — a number topped by only three other players.
Kawhi Leonard, too, rang in 2026 with some stellar play of his own. He pitched in 70 fantasy points to power the LA Clippers’ (12-22) defeat of the Utah Jazz (12-22) by a 118-101 score. The six-time All-Star piled up 45 points scored, seven rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals, further extending his recent tear. Leonard has averaged a ridiculous 63.2 FPPG across his last eight games to improve his overall average to 50.1 for the 2025-26 campaign.
Transaction tips
The most pressing move for fantasy GMs to make is to efficiently replace the production lost by Jokić’s absence. After all, the $22.3M freed up by releasing him affords a wealth of options. Acquiring a bona fide superstar is the natural choice, but if you also swap out one of your lower-value players, you could balance out your roster with two higher-value pieces. Make no mistake, there are multiple paths to success without Jokić.
If you’re going to bring in a big name, look to Maxey or Jalen Johnson. The former offers 58.0 FPPG for $15.2M while the latter contributes 56.4 FPPG at an even more affordable $14.1M. Both players are worthy investments not just because of their numbers, but because of their reliability — they’ve only missed six games combined this season.
Alternatively, consider making the moves to acquire Deni Avdija and/or Keyonte George, who cost $12.9M and $10.9M, respectively. Each of their stocks are on the rise, with Avdija averaging 59.2 FPPG across his last eight games compared to his 51.6 season-long average. George has produced 51.5 FPPG in his last 11 outings against an overall average of 45.7.
