Luka Dončić absolutely exploded out of the gate, kicking off the fantasy basketball season by dropping an insane 52 points against the Jazz. That monstrous performance logged the highest score of Week 1 for fantasy hoops, with a stat line that just screams “fantasy gold”: 52 points, 8 rebounds, 10 assists, and 2 steals. If you’re new to High Score this season and have Dončić on your squad, you better get used to seeing these kinds of numbers, because it’s Luka’s show in L.A., and the Jazz are already looking like a team we can pick on all season. Again.
The Usual Suspects Go OFF (and One Major Bounce-Back)
It wasn’t just Luka lighting it up. Nikola Jokić, another name you’re gonna be seeing a lot, turned in a performance we’re all too familiar with: 35 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists, and 5 stocks. That was good for the second-highest score of the week, cementing his spot as a fantasy MVP candidate from day one. He’s got winnable matchups against the Warriors, Pelicans, and Suns in Week 2, so expect that ceiling again.
Anthony Edwards, AKA Ant-Man, came out red hot, too. He dropped 45 points with 10 boards, 3 assists, and 3 stocks in the opener against Miami. This dude is off to a scorching start in his quest for a first scoring title, a bold prediction some analysts threw out there for the season. And let’s be real, this T-Wolves team, with LaMelo Ball in town, should be fun all season long.
Then there’s Jayson Tatum. Talk about a tale of two games! The Celtics star struggled big time in his opener, putting up just 13 points on a brutal 6-of-23 shooting from the floor, including going 0-for-7 from beyond the arc. Ouch. But did he bounce back? YOU BET HE DID. Against the defending champs on Friday, Tatum went off for 36 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals in the victory. That’s the Tatum we know and love, and you should definitely expect more performances like that in Week 2 when Boston takes on the Bulls (twice!), Nets, and Magic.
Breakouts and Sleepers Steal the Show
We also saw some incredible performances from players who might not always get the top billing. Jalen Johnson, last season’s fantasy breakout star, is already off to a fantastic start. The stat-stuffing forward posted 26 points, 9 rebounds, 16 assists, and 2 steals against the Rockets over the weekend. He’ll get that same Houston matchup on Monday, then face the Heat, Cavaliers, and Pelicans later in the week. Keep an eye on him.
But the real shocker of Week 1? Ty Jerome. Seriously, who saw this coming? Jerome stepped in as the starting point guard after Ja Morant was shipped to Portland, and while he was a trendy sleeper pick going into the campaign, he’s looking like an absolute steal already. He dropped a career-high 45 points with 7 rebounds and 6 assists in the opener against Utah! That’s not a typo. He’s already looking like a league-winner, and get this: Jerome tied *two superstars*, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Devin Booker, for that insane Week 1 score. Yeah, the Heat and Antetokounmpo are off to an 0-3 start, but the Greek Freak is generally solid in this High Score format. Meanwhile, Booker’s 43-7-7 line helped lift Phoenix to a win over the Dubs over the weekend. That’s some elite company for Jerome.
Week 2 is already shaping up to be wild. Can Jokić keep that triple-double machine rolling against the Warriors, Pelicans, and Suns? Will Tatum build on that insane bounce-back against the Bulls, Nets, and Magic? And seriously, can Ty Jerome keep this absolute heater going? Get ready, fantasy fiends, because if Week 1 was any indication, this season is gonna be bonkers.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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