Week 3 of the 2024-25 season includes the first day off for the entire league, as no one will play on Election Day (Tuesday). All 30 teams are in action on Monday, with games scheduled to start every 15 minutes, starting at 7 PM Eastern. As is the case every week, fantasy managers will have some major injuries to navigate as they set their rosters, especially in leagues in which lineups lock for the week on Monday night. Here are some of the most impactful injuries in fantasy basketball heading into Week 3.
Paul George and Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Well, this weekend brought some clarity regarding the statuses of George (knee) and Embiid (knee). Both participated in 5-on-5 scrimmages with their teammates, with the former said to be closer to a return. George is officially questionable for Monday’s game in Phoenix, while Embiid remains sidelined. Philadelphia plays four games without a back-to-back in Week 3, but expecting George to appear in all four games may be unrealistic, given the time missed.
As for Embiid, is he playing in any of Philadelphia’s games in Los Angeles (Wednesday vs. LAC, Friday vs. LAL)? Or does the return wait until the 76ers’ home game against Charlotte on Sunday? Andre Drummond (Embiid), Kelly Oubre Jr., and Caleb Martin (George) are three players directly affected by the statuses of George and Embiid. Tyrese Maxey’s performance may improve once those two are cleared to play.
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Curry has missed the Warriors’ last three games with a left fibular strain, but a return appears to be on the horizon. He went through his entire pregame routine before Saturday’s overtime win in Houston and is considered questionable for Monday’s game against the Wizards. Saturday’s starting backfield consisted of Brandin Podziemski and Moses Moody, while Buddy Hield remained in a backup role.
Which of Podziemski or Moody moves to the bench once Curry returns? Or could it be both? One change made after Curry’s injury was to move Jonathan Kuminga to the bench, with Steve Kerr citing the team’s offensive spacing as a reason. Kuminga has played well over the last week, but does Curry’s return result in him moving back into the starting lineup? That’s something else to keep an eye on, as the Warriors play four games in Week 3 without back-to-backs.
Lauri Markkanen and Jordan Clarkson, Utah Jazz
Utah’s season started badly, where Will Hardy’s squad is the only undefeated team in the NBA (0-6). And then there are the injuries. Taylor Hendricks (leg/ankle) is done for the season, while Lauri Markkanen (back) missed two games last week and Jordan Clarkson (foot) one. Markkanen’s absence led to rookie Kyle Filipowski moving into the starting lineup, while the previously benched Collin Sexton stepped in for the injured Clarkson. Where can fantasy managers find reliable value on this roster if Markkanen isn’t available? Walker Kessler is all about that at the moment.
Keyonte George played a lot, but the ineffectiveness made him difficult to trust, especially in shallow leagues. John Collins was the best 100 player, but the minutes (22.3 per game) limit his advantage, because he rarely played together with Kessler. Neither Filipowski nor Cody Williams, who replaced Hendricks, have logged starter’s minutes since moving into the starting lineup. If anything, these weeks of keeping tabs on the Jazz are about determining who can add fantasy value once the “silly season” begins in earnest.
Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
After playing in Friday’s win over the Hornets, Brown missed the second game of that back-to-back with a strained hip flexor. He was also ruled out for Monday’s matchup with the Hawks, the first of four games the reigning champions play in Week 3. The Celtics went big on Saturday, starting Luke Kornet along with Al Horford in place of Sam Hauser. Hauser’s recent back issues limit his flow value, as he played 20 minutes off the bench on Saturday. The Celtics player whose value might increase the most with Brown sidelined is Payton Pritchard, who has been a top-50 player thus far. He’s still listed in just 38% of Yahoo leagues, and that number should increase before Week 3 begins.
Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr., Orlando Magic
After starting Week 2 with 50- and 31-point performances against the Pacers and Bulls, Paolo Banchero was sidelined with a torn oblique muscle. He is expected to miss at least four to six weeks, leaving a massive hole in the Magic lineup. And that’s not the only injury the team has to navigate, as knee and foot injuries have limited starting center Wendell Carter Jr. to nine minutes (all in Sunday’s loss to Dallas) in Orlando’s last two games.
The one potential streamer to target, especially before Monday’s game in Oklahoma City, is Moritz Wagner, even if he is ranked outside the top 200 in per-game value. The injuries to Banchero and Carter mean he will have to play more minutes, while younger talents Anthony Black and Tristan da Silva have also seen their playing time increase. Da Silva made his first NBA start on Sunday, struggling in a loss against the Mavericks. He and Black are worth tracking, but also not easy to trust fully as a streamer.
Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets
Murray was injured during the third quarter of Friday’s loss to Minnesota when he collided with Julius Randle. The Nuggets point guard has entered the league’s concussion protocol, and the expectation is that he will miss five to seven days. Russell Westbrook started Saturday’s win over Utah, and performance was a major issue. Is he a worthy pick at this stage of his career? Probably not, even with the chance to start with Murray sidelined. Fantasy managers may better target Julian Strawther at this spot because of his perimeter shooting ability. Also, starter Christian Braun is listed in 41% of Yahoo leagues, which is a bit low with Murray unavailable.
Bradley Beal, Phoenix Suns
Beal dealt with a sore right elbow for most of Week 2, missing Thursday’s win over the Clippers before playing 34 minutes in Saturday’s win over Portland. He returned to the injury report before Monday’s game against Philadelphia, but the listed injury is a sprained elbow instead of the initial pain description. That’s a concern, especially with the Suns playing four games in Week 3. Rookie Ryan Dunn played well as Beal’s replacement in the starting lineup, but Royce O’Neale offered greater fantasy value despite coming off the bench, and he’s a top-75 -player for the season so far.
Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
Not on the Pelicans’ initial injury report before Sunday’s game against the Hawks, Williamson was ruled out with a strain in his right hamstring. Considering the lower-body injuries he’s dealt with throughout his NBA career, Zion being a late scratch isn’t good. Javonte Green replaced him in the starting lineup for Sunday’s loss but offered little production, with Jamal Cain and Brandon Boston Jr. having solid nights off the bench. The potential streamers don’t change much, even with Zion sidelined. Jose Alvarado and Jordan Hawkins are the ones to target, given their status as starters (Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, and Trey Murphy are also gone), and Yves Missi is listed in 17% of Yahoo leagues and has replaced Daniel Theis in the starting lineup before the Pelicans’ win over Indiana.
Kyle Kuzma, Washington Wizards
Kuzma has missed Washington’s last two games, and Monday’s matchup with the Warriors will be three. As a result, the Wizards started three rookies, with Kyshawn George joining Alex Sarr and Bub Carrington. Sarr, who is a top 50 player despite shooting 37.5% from the field, is still listed in only 36% of Yahoo leagues. Carrington (11%) and George (1%) having low listed percentages is understandable, but now may be the time for more managers to roll the dice on Sarr. Another Wizard worth targeting with Kuzma is Bilal Coulibaly (47%), who provided 4th round per-game value, according to Basketball Monster.
Nick Richards, Charlotte Hornets
Already playing without Mark Williams (foot), the Hornets lost Richards to a shoulder injury during Friday’s loss to the Celtics. He sat out the rematch on Saturday and has been ruled out for Monday’s game against the Timberwolves. Grant Williams started in Richard’s place and should retain that role for the foreseeable future due to Charlotte’s lack of options. Moussa Diabate has moved into the rotation as Williams’ backup, but there is even less fluid value to be there. Charlotte’s four-game Week 3 schedule does not feature back-to-backs, which is good news for a team lacking interior depth.
Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, and Isaiah Jackson, Indiana Pacers
Even with their win over the Celtics, Week 2 was rough for the Pacers, especially on the injury front. Myles Turner (ankle) missed a game but later returned, while Nembhard (knee), Nesmith (ankle), and Jackson (Achilles) were all injured. As for Jackson, he is the second Pacers big to suffer a season-ending Achilles tear, with James Wiseman injuring his on opening night. The Jackson injury makes Obi Toppin more likely to spend some time at center, while the Nembhard and Nesmith injuries have most affected Bennedict Mathurin and Jarace Walker, respectively. Indiana plays four games in Week 3 without a back-to-back, starting with the Mavericks on Monday.
