Fantasy Basketball: Giannis Antetokounmpo out 2-4 weeks, Zion Williamson and Joel Embiid injury issues put managers in tough spot

Dan Titus examines how some of the latest NBA headlines will impact the fantasy basketball landscape.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Future talks heat up as Bucks slide — calf injury raises new question

The Giannis Antetokounmpo situation escalated before Wednesday’s game, when he and his agent, Alex Saratsis, reportedly began discussing his long-term future with the Bucks — conversations that could determine whether the superstar is available ahead of the Feb. 5 NBA Trade Deadline. Nothing is imminent and Antetokounmpo hasn’t asked out, but Milwaukee’s 10-13 start (10th in the Eastern Conference) and rising frustration across the organization have accelerated the urgency around his evaluation window.

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Last night, however, the basketball world got another scare as Antetokounmpo slipped on the floor early in the first quarter against the Pistons, favoring his right leg. He was able to walk off under his own power, but did not return to the game. Fortunately, it appears Giannis dodged a serious injury, as Antetokounmpo will be out 2-4 weeks with a calf strain.

Bobby Portis becomes a must-add player once again, he’s available in over 70% of Yahoo leagues. In deeper leagues, Kyle Kuzma (21% rostered) is an option while Giannis recovers from his calf injury.

Zion Williamson

3 weeks out and trade buzz is brewing

Zion Williamson’s outlook is a bit more concerning. He’s set to miss at least three weeks with an adductor injury, and the rumblings around his future in New Orleans are getting louder. Multiple reports suggest the Pelicans could be open to trade conversations, which isn’t surprising given he’s played in just 55% of career games and the team is trending toward the bottom of the standings again.

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For fantasy managers, it’s beyond frustrating having to deal with another multi-week injury with uncertain vibes on the back end. Saddiq Bey (37% rostered) should be started everywhere — his scoring and rebounding have held steady — and Derik Queen (44%) is a strong add thanks to his efficient per-minute production when thrust into a larger role. In shallow leagues like High Score, Zion…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy/article/fantasy-basketball-giannis-antetokounmpo-out-2-4-weeks-zion-williamson-and-joel-embiid-injury-issues-put-managers-in-tough-spot-182934007.html

Author : Dan Titus

Publish date : 2025-12-04 18:29:00

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