Week 1 Mindset

Here’s a guide to surviving (and thriving) in the early days of the fantasy season:

1. Don’t Panic Over Small Sample Sizes

Yes, the box scores are real. But in fantasy basketball, one or two games don’t define a player’s season. Your top pick may shoot 2-for-15 in the opener, but guess what? It happens. The best fantasy managers understand that stars like Luka Dončić and Nikola Jokić will have the occasional off night. Stay the course and resist the urge to start making trades or hitting the waiver wire just because someone had an early dud. Don’t send your All-Star packing after two bad games—you’ll regret it when they drop a triple-double the next night.

2. Waiver Wire Habits

It’s going to be tempting to scoop up that guy who just had a breakout game. Maybe he’s a rookie who exploded for 25 points and 10 rebounds in 18 minutes. Before you rush to grab him, remember this: there’s a reason you drafted the guys on your roster.

• Check the player’s minutes and role.
• Are they benefiting from an early injury?
• Is the team playing them temporarily?

It’s better to hold on to stable contributors than to chase one-hit wonders in Week 1.

That said, don’t sleep on emerging talent. If someone’s minutes are trending up and their role is solidified, you might just snag the next big sleeper before the rest of your league catches on. (Feel free to ask Brenden for advice before clicking the confirmation button.)

3. Don’t Fall in Love with Your Roster

We all know the feeling—these are your guys! I personally get overly attached and can’t let them go (my therapist might have a few thoughts on that, but we’ll save that for another time).

Fantasy basketball is about adapting. Injuries, rotations, and coaching decisions will shift as the season progresses. Your $15 pick may suddenly become unplayable, and a random pick-up could turn into a must-start. Don’t be rash, but definitely be willing to cut a bitch when necessary. Don’t let draft-day nostalgia keep you from making tough calls.

4. Injuries Are Inevitable

Every season, fantasy teams are dealt the cruel hand of injury. But in Week 1, that hand feels particularly harsh. If your star player gets banged up early on (pre-season injuries? ugh), it’s easy to feel like the basketball gods are conspiring against you. The key is to plan for the long haul—stash players on IL spots, look for capable fill-ins on the wire, and don’t blow up your roster in a fit of Week 1 frustration. Patience is a fantasy manager’s best friend.

5. Keep An Eye On Game Distribution

Watch game distribution to maximize player starts, avoid potential rest days during back-to-backs, and take advantage of streaming opportunities. Players often perform better in home games, and knowing which teams have more favourable schedules can improve lineup decisions. Additionally, keeping an eye on weekend back-to-backs helps plan for potential rest days affecting the next week’s games.

Week 1 – Three-Game Teams:

Teams with No Back-to-Back Games in Week 1:

• Nets, Celtics, Warriors, Timberwolves, Pelicans, 76ers

Teams with No Back-to-Backs in Week 1, but a Game on Sunday Starting a B2B:

• Hawks, Blazers, Pacers, Bucks

Teams with All Home Games in Week 1:

• Lakers, Blazers

The Bottom Line: Don’t Be Hard on Yourself

It’s easy to spiral in the early weeks, thinking every decision is a make-or-break moment. But here’s the thing: you’re going to make mistakes. Maybe you’ll bench the wrong player or pick the wrong waiver target. It happens to the best of us. The key is not to let one misstep turn into a string of rash decisions. Be confident in your ability to adjust, and remember that each move is a lesson learned for the long season ahead.

At the end of the day, fantasy basketball is supposed to be fun. So don’t let the pressure get to you. You’ll win some matchups, you’ll lose some, but in the end, the goal is to enjoy the ride.

And hey, as long as you avoid the dreaded Sacko, you’re still in the game.