8 Fantasy Basketball Streamers for Week 1

Welcome to Fantasy Basketball Streamers for Week 1!

It has been 128 days since the New York Knicks won the NBA championship. They defeated the Spurs 94–90 in San Antonio to clinch the series 4–1. Since then, massive offseason moves have reshaped the entire league landscape. The West has shifted significantly. Eastern powerhouses have re-tooled. The competitive balance across both conferences has completely flipped. Safe to say, I cannot wait to grab my popcorn and watch Week 1 unfold.

Your draft might already be in the books. Or you may be drafting on Opening Day. Either way, this guide will help you optimize those final roster spots. If you stashed injured players on IL, grab these targets off the waiver wire immediately.

Week 1 is traditionally tricky to navigate for streamers. Most NBA rosters enter Opening Day at full health. That makes early opportunity crucial. You want under-rostered players positioned for expanded roles right out of the gate.

My priority rankings are written through a Points league lens. However, 9-Cat managers can easily adapt these choices based on specific category needs. We’re targeting starting players with safe production floors and high-upside bench assets. Let these streamers guide your roster build as we kick off the season.

Note: The player spotlights below are listed for detailed breakdown purposes. For my official streaming order, check out the Week 1 Streaming Priority Rankings at the bottom of the article!

NBA Games Played

4 Games: 76ers

3 Games: Nets, Hornets, Bulls, Mavericks, Pistons, Warriors, Rockets, Pacers, Clippers, Lakers, Grizzlies, Heat, Bucks, Timberwolves, Pelicans, Knicks, Thunder, Magic, Kings, Spurs, Raptors, Jazz, Wizards

2 Games: Cavaliers, Nuggets, Suns, Blazers

Back-to-Back Schedule

Tuesday–Wednesday Gilbert Arenas (0)

Wednesday–Thursday Russell Westbrook (0)

Thursday–Friday Jeremiah Fears (0)

Friday–Saturday Wizards, Warriors, Spurs, Heat, Bucks, Hornets, Pelicans, Rockets, Bulls, Mavericks, Hawks

Saturday–Sunday 76ers, Nets

Week 1 Fantasy Basketball Streamers

Yves Missi, C, New Orleans Pelicans

Missi has logged the starting center nod for the Pelicans in every preseason contest he’s played and delivered excellent numbers across the board. Drafted 21st overall by New Orleans in 2024, the 22-year-old Baylor product made himself virtually untouchable during trade discussions last season—a clear sign of how high this organization is on his future. Across 66 games last year, the Brussels native averaged 5.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in 19.7 minutes per night while shooting a hyper-efficient 54.4% from the field. While many managers were eager to see rookie Derik Queen claim immediate center minutes, Missi enters Week 1 with the bulk of the interior workload. Expect solid glass-cleaning and rim protection out of the gate.

Moussa Diabaté, C, Charlotte Hornets

When Diabaté stepped into the starting lineup last season, he delivered exceptionally consistent fantasy value. Across 73 games for Charlotte in 2025–26, the 24-year-old Michigan product averaged 7.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.0 block, and 0.8 steals while shooting 63.1% from the floor in 26.0 minutes per game. Most notably, in his 47 starts last year, he elevated his production to 8.0 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per contest. The Paris native is currently listed as day-to-day ahead of Wednesday’s opener in Brooklyn due to a right elbow injury, but reports suggest it’s a minor concern. As long as he takes the floor in his starting role, Diabaté provides one of the safest double-double floors on the waiver wire this week.

Gui Santos, SF/PF, Golden State Warriors

Santos was officially named a starter for Golden State following Steve Kerr’s recent press conference. Selected 55th overall by the Warriors in 2022, the 24-year-old Brazilian international made significant strides last season, averaging 9.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 20.5 minutes across 68 games. Most importantly for fantasy managers, in his 30 games as a starter last year, Santos averaged 14.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.2 steals per contest—numbers that will definitely play in points leagues. Locked into Steve Kerr’s starting unit, Santos is a premium stream to start the year.

Keaton Wagler, SG, Los Angeles Clippers

I’m always a sucker for high-upside rookies who get thrust directly into starting lineups. Selected fifth overall in the 2026 NBA Draft, the 19-year-old Illinois product steps right into a major backcourt role alongside Darius Garland. With Brandon Ingram recovering from a partially torn Achilles, Wagler is positioned to absorb heavy early-season usage. He flashed his scoring and playmaking tools in Wednesday’s preseason win over Denver, dropping 12 points (3–7 3PT), five rebounds, and four assists in 28 minutes. He is one of the most intriguing first-year guards on the board, and I am more than willing to stream him to tap into that immediate ceiling.

Jalen Smith, PF/C, Chicago Bulls

Smith is expected to slide directly into Chicago’s starting frontcourt with Nicolas Claxton currently sidelined. Drafted 10th overall by Phoenix back in 2020, the 26-year-old Maryland product has proven time and again that he produces whenever extended minutes open up. Last season for the Bulls, he recorded 22.8 fantasy points per game across limited run, and he recently put up 15 points (3–5 3PT), seven rebounds, two assists, and a block in 21 preseason minutes against Milwaukee. His ability to stretch the floor, crash the glass, and supply defensive stats makes him a prime target as long as Claxton remains out.

Isaiah Jackson, C, Los Angeles Clippers

Jackson has been a personal fantasy favorite of mine ever since he entered the league as a first-round pick in 2021. Renowned for his per-minute efficiency, the 24-year-old Kentucky product posted 6.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks on 63.7% shooting in just 16.5 minutes per game across 55 appearances last year. Now, head coach Ty Lue has officially confirmed Jackson as the Clippers’ starting center for Opening Day against Sacramento. Stepping into a 20-plus minute role, expect “I-Jax” to deliver elite category impact in rebounds, blocks, field goal percentage, and steals.

Zaccharie Risacher, SF/PF, Dallas Mavericks

The No. 1 overall pick from the 2024 NBA Draft gets a fresh chapter with Dallas. The 21-year-old wing showed encouraging signs in his final preseason outing, putting together 18 points (8–12 FG), five rebounds, and four assists across 27 minutes against Atlanta. In his sophomore campaign last year, he averaged 9.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.4 threes, and nearly a steal per game. Expected to start in the season opener against Houston, Risacher gives managers a solid floor with intriguing upside as he settles into this new offense alongside Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving. He’s well worth taking a shot on to start Week 1.

Duncan Robinson, SG/SF, Detroit Pistons

If you’re looking for purely safe, category-specific streaming, Robinson remains one of the most reliable options available on waiver wires. The 32-year-old Michigan product spent last season as a full-time starter in Detroit, averaging 12.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 2.9 three-pointers per game on 41.0% shooting from beyond the arc across 77 games. He comes into the opener hot after knocking down four triples and scoring 15 points in 24 preseason minutes against Minnesota. He provides dependable deep-league value for three-pointers, scoring, and supplementary stats.

Week 1 Streaming Priority Rankings

1. Gui Santos

2. Isaiah Jackson

3. Yves Missi

4. Keaton Wagler

5. Jalen Smith

6. Moussa Diabaté

7. Zaccharie Risacher

8. Duncan Robinson

These rankings prioritize players offering the best combination of weekly game volume, favorable scheduling spots, recent production, and the potential for increased minutes and usage during this stretch.

Final Thoughts

That’s the blueprint for Week 1.

Early on, it’s all about staying active, trusting opportunity over name recognition, and maximizing your total games played. The managers who adapt quickly, capitalize on rotation shifts, and set an aggressive tone early are the ones who control their leagues from day one.

Be sure to follow me on X @AintDunneYet for daily pre-draft rankings, streaming targets, and strategy updates.

God bless, and let’s set the tone with a Week 1 victory! 🏆