Golden State Warriors
Yaxel Lendeborg – We are about to find out if Lendeborg’s impressive preseason was real or a mirage. Either way, we will need to hold him. If he struggles, that’s not ideal, but it doesn’t mean he won’t be very useful this year. On a Warriors team that is going to be without Kristaps Porzingis and Jimmy Butler for most of the season, there will be a lot of touches available. Lendeborg should be considered the favorite to be the third option in San Francisco.
Gui Santos – Santos is also going to benefit from the Warriors’ injury woes and the team striking out in free agency. He should be the team’s fourth option early in the season, which means he will be the second or third option in plenty of lineups. As we saw down the stretch of the 2025-2026 season, Santos is capable of top-100 numbers when he is in a featured role. In 12-team leagues, he should be rostered. In anything shallower, he needs to be watched very closely.
De’Anthony Melton – Melton should be the third guard in the rotation. That’s a role that likely means minutes in the mid-20s, which is a range he has proven he can produce useful numbers in. He is also behind two guards who head into the season with minor injuries. If Steph Curry or Brandin Podziemski is limited early, Melton should benefit. In 14-team leagues, he is a must-roster. In 12-team leagues, he is a reasonable hold.
Charles Bassey – With Kristaps Porzingis’ future very uncertain and the rest of the Warriors’ center rotation being ancient, Bassey could eventually find himself in a sizable role this year. That is exciting news for us fantasy players, as the big man has always been an exceptionally strong per-minute producer. He’s never going to be a 30 MPG player, but he is one of those players who can be interesting in a low-20s role. He’s a solid flier in 16+ team leagues and should be watched in shallower leagues.
26/27 Players To Watch in Week 1 – Western Conference
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