TRENDING Rays rally, avoid sweep Jayson Tatum buzzer-beater NFL Power Rankings WNBA Finals schedule fiasco Anthony Edwards injury Story by Dan Titus Fantasy analyst Wed, October 28, 2026 at 4:41 PM UTC · 8 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's been a week and a half of injury hell to start the NBA season and the bodies keep dropping. What hurts more is the caliber of players falling victim to unfortunate circumstances. Anthony Edwards, Jalen Williams, Paolo Banchero, Kawhi Leonard, Jalen Duren, 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 through four games. When Edwards missed time with a knee injury at the end of last season, Dosunmu stepped up, averaging 19-6-4 with 1 steal in 33 minutes across seven games. If he's gone, Terrence Shannon Jr. (20%) is the one to grab. He's averaging 13.0 points and 2.5 threes in 22 minutes. Jonathan Kuminga (64%) got his first double-double with the Wolves 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 J-Dub is likely 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 with 5 assists breakout on Monday. He's questionable Wednesday with an ankle sprain against Dallas, so check his status before lineups lock.
Jared McCain (41%) started Monday and had 18 points with 4 3s and he'll be a reliable source of points and 3s going forward.
Aday Mara (18%) is worth a look in deep leagues, with 11 points and 10 boards in 20 minutes Monday while filling in for Holmgren. Chet 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 4-6 weeks. Jalen 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 with 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 yet.
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 re-evaluate him in a week. He's posted 19.5 points, 7.5 boards and 3.5 steals in his first two games. The thing about Kawhi is, we don't know what a period of weeks really means. Is this something that will be an in-and-out of the lineup type of deal? Will the ramp-up and rehab management program be enough to alleviate sporadic load management days? This is part of the frustration with drafting Kawhi — you really don't know when his knee issues will flare up.
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 13.0 points, 2.7 3s and 2.3 steals in 26 minutes per night. Rookie Allen Graves (3%) had 11 points, six boards and four assists 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 re-evaluated in two weeks, so he's looking at a return around Nov. 9. Duren was on my avoid list primarily because he missed a majority of the offseason in a contract dispute with Detroit's front office. The few times I watched Duren this summer, he looked like he stayed in shape and was actively working on his game. Fantasy managers took him confidently in the third rounds but perhaps his conditioning wasn't quite where it should've been. To suffer a hamstring injury so early in the season isn't a good look for anyone. 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, and he's averaging 11.0 points and 8.3 rebounds as the starting center. He had an impressive outing on Tuesday, coming through with 22-9-3 with 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 6-8 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. It was a fluke injury, which makes this even more annoying.
Markkanen left Monday's contest with a wrist injury and did not return. He's listed as day-to-day and is questiolnable for Wednesdsay, 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, scoring at least 17 points with 10 boards and 3 assists and a block. Last year's No. 5 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, seven boards and four 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 Zu as he did on Monday. Expect some inconsistency, as seen by his 14 points with 3 assists and 3 blocks on Sunday, then posting a mere 6 points with 6 boards and no steals on Monday. He did play 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-cat through Tuesday and averages 15.8 points, 5 rebounds and 2.5 3s per game.
Washington Wizards: AJ Dybantsa (ankle): The rookie No. 1 pick (90% rostered) will reportedly to make his debut Wednesday against Cleveland.
Charlotte Hornets: Kon Knueppel (hamstring) and Coby White (calf): Neither has a timeline. Knueppel is 94% rostered and White is 83% and tumbling. Dennis Schröder and Grayson Allen benefit until their stars return to the lineup.
San Antonio Spurs: Tobias Harris (calf): Harris missed valuable preseason time and hasn't suited up in a game this season. Fantasy managers should keep leaning on Julian Champagnie (32%), a strong source of points, 3s and, most recently, blocks.
Chicago Bulls: Nic Claxton (hamstring): He's doing individual drills and hopes to practice next week. Jalen Smith (47%) is averaging 12.5 points and 7.5 boards as the starter. No matter how well Smith plays, the Bulls traded for Clax and if healthy, he'll get the starting spot.
Phoenix Suns: Mark Williams (shoulder): The report lists a February return. Khaman Maluach (56%) has started three games and is averaging 7.7 points and 7.3 rebounds. Not great, but if you need a big man in shallow leagues like High Score, Maluach is an option.
Source: Sports
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