Victor Wembanyama leads the league through week 1 with 223 total fantasy points.
Stellar debuts. Underwhelming results. New expectations.
There was a little bit of everything in the first week of the 2025-26 regular season. In NBA Fantasy — Salary Cap Edition, the landscape is already shifting as fantasy general managers try to anticipate whatever might come next.
Here’s what you need to know entering Week 2:
Last Week’s Story
The regular season is in its infancy, but the San Antonio Spurs (3-0) have already established a winning brand of basketball. They opened with a convincing triumph over the Dallas Mavericks (1-2) and followed suit with victories over the New Orleans Pelicans (0-2) and Brooklyn Nets (0-3), earning a tie for first place in the Western Conference. They’re laying a foundation for what they hope will become their first trip to the playoffs since 2018-19.
Victor Wembanyama has been exceptional. The 2023-24 NBA Rookie of the Year now leads the league with 223 total fantasy points (TFP), and has scored no less than 69 in any of his three outings thus far. His latest performance was his finest — 80 fantasy points against the Nets last Sunday by way of his third straight double-double.
His 100 points scored and 18 blocks through San Antonio’s first three contests have no precedent. The 21-year-old center is now the only player in NBA history to do so, and fantasy general managers have reaped rewards accordingly. Wembanyama, at 40.3%, has been drafted more than any other player and owns a ridiculous 74.3 fantasy points per game (FPPG).
Game To Watch
Oklahoma City Thunder (3-0) at Dallas Mavericks (1-2), Monday (8:30 ET, League Pass)
Opening week was exhausting for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the Thunder went to double overtime in back-to-back games. But they remain unblemished, and the reigning MVP has sustained elite play en route to a fifth-best 65.0 FPPG. He set a new career high with 55 points scored Thursday, and furthered by eight rebounds and five assists, hit 82 fantasy points in all.
It represents the Mavericks’ first shot at the defending champions. Anthony Davis has been their wire-to-wire leader with a team-high 162 TFP — pitching in a double-double each night — and reaching 60 fantasy points last Friday against the Washington Wizards (1-2). The 10-time All-Star has enjoyed a clean bill of health entering 2025-26 after missing 31 games last year.
But tonight also marks another breakout opportunity for No. 1 overall draft pick Cooper Flagg. He had 22 points scored in 28 minutes played for Dallas in the team’s first win of the season last night, improving from 18 and 10 last Friday and Wednesday, respectively. Still hunting his first fantasy 50-piece, Flagg’s 101 TFP ranks third on the Mavericks behind P.J. Washington.
Transaction Tips
Austin Reaves should be at the top of your list for potential roster additions. The fifth-year guard will take on a starting role for the Los Angeles Lakers (2-1) with Luka Dončić out for the week with a finger/leg injury. At a price tag of $13.0M, adding Reaves will require you to move some players around, but he showed tremendous value last night with 51 points scored, 11 rebounds, nine assists and two steals — 86 fantasy points. The Lakers have four games this week, too.
Offering even greater value without breaking the bank is Ajay Mitchell. Playing behind Gilgeous-Alexander at the point, he came off the bench to drop 40-plus fantasy points in each of Oklahoma City’s last two outings. The sophomore guard has a salary of just $4.5M, but more TFP than players like Desmond Bane ($14.0M), Ivica Zubac ($16.0M) and Jaren Jackson Jr. ($14.0M) in as many games played.
Should Kyshawn George maintain his level of play in the front court, he could also be worth an investment. He racked up 68 fantasy points last Friday via a well-rounded performance of 34 points scored, 11 rebounds, four assists, three blocks and two steals. Now in his second season, George was listed as a guard last year, but is now playing at forward for the Wizards. He’s submitted 46.3 FPPG at a cost of $7.6M to fantasy general managers.
