Fred

VanVleet

VanVleet did not play in Saturday’s win over the Hawks, as it was Houston’s second game in as many nights. His return will bump Reed Sheppard to the bench.

VanVleet had 14 points in the win over the Spurs on Friday. He’ll sit out with right knee injury management against the Hawks on Saturday. Marcus Smart will likely start in his absence.

Reed Sheppard will still be involved in Houston’s rotation, but Smart - who signed a two-year deal with the Rockets in July - will be the next man up when VanVleet sits out one leg of back-to-back sets. Smart’s fantasy value is largely tied to VanVleet’s availability, giving him little standalone appeal outside of deep leagues.

VanVleet, who will make $25 million next season, did not play at all in 2025-26 after suffering a torn ACL weeks before the start of training camp. In his first two seasons with the Rockets, the point guard averaged 15.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 6.9 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.9 three-pointers per game. Last season, Houston missed VanVleet’s on-court leadership and ability to organize, which factored into the team’s first-round playoff elimination. It’s unknown whether VanVleet will be a full go at training camp in late September, but his availability would be a big deal for the Rockets.

Fred VanVleet (knee) suffered a torn ACL just before the start of training camp. While he has not officially been ruled out for the entire 2025-26 season, a DPE can only be granted if the player will not play. Per the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, the exemption would be equivalent to 50 percent of the injured player’s annual salary. VanVleet is due to make $25 million this season. The exemption would give the Rockets more room to account for VanVleet’s absence, which would impact Reed Sheppard’s role if another guard is added to the roster.

Houston’s rotation for Thursday’s preseason finale was limited, as head coach Ime Udoka rested most of his key players. However, that decision opened things up for Sheppard, who took advantage of the opportunity. In addition to shooting efficiently and making plays for others, the second-year guard was an absolute menace defensively. Sheppard’s role on Thursday did not resemble what he’ll be asked to do once the games count. However, his solid play throughout the preseason was encouraging, especially with Fred VanVleet (knee) possibly missing the entire season. Sheppard isn’t an automatic top-100 pick in standard drafts, but he should not last too far beyond that threshold.

After an occasionally shaky performance in Houston’s preseason opener on Monday, Sheppard looked more comfortable Wednesday night. Having Kevin Durant on the floor certainly helps, but the second-year guard deserves credit for his improved production and efficiency. With Durant, Amen Thompson and Alperen Şengün on the court, there won’t be too much pressure on Sheppard if he were to begin the regular season as Fred VanVleet’s (knee) replacement in the starting lineup. Selecting him with a top-100 pick would be too much, but Sheppard should be drafted in all standard leagues.

While the Rockets have not decided who will step into the role left vacant by the injured Fred VanVleet (knee), they’ll likely give 2024 lottery pick Sheppard every opportunity to win the job. The second-year guard played 14 minutes in Monday’s preseason opener, offering limited production in that role. Starting center Alperen Şengün is a capable playmaker for others, so the ball will be in his hands more with VanVleet unavailable. As a result, Sheppard’s assist production may not spike if he’s allowed to start once the regular season begins.

With the offseason acquisition of Kevin Durant, there has been plenty of optimism surrounding the Houston Rockets. Their hopes of winning the loaded Western Conference took a significant hit with Monday’s news regarding VanVleet. While the veteran point guard shot just 37.8 percent from the field, the lowest mark for VanVleet since his rookie season, he remained a key figure for a team that finished with the second-best record in the West. Also, the low field goal percentage did not prevent VanVleet from offering close to top-50 value in fantasy basketball. His absence means Houston will need second-year guard Reed Sheppard to hit the ground running, with Aaron Holiday providing additional depth at the point. Sheppard is well worth the risk in standard leagues, while Holiday is someone to target in deeper formats. However, Amen Thompson’s fantasy value may receive the most significant boost, especially after he filled in well as Houston’s primary playmaker when VanVleet missed time last season.

The Rockets will decline VanVleet’s $44.9 million team option for the upcoming season to put the new deal in place. He has a player option for the second season of this deal, so he could opt out again next summer. If he accepts the option, he’ll be under contract through the 2026-27 season. VanVleet is the best point guard option on a team that is looking to win a championship after trading for Kevin Durant, adding the lethal scorer to the team that finished as the No. 2 seed in the West this past season.