Memphis

Grizzlies

Stewart was expected to be re-evaluated on Friday, but the doubtful tag is an indicator that he may return soon. Quinten Post should be the backup center for the opener and will remain in that role until Stewart is available.

The Grizzlies are among the teams still finalizing their Opening Night rosters ahead of Monday’s 5 PM Eastern cutdown deadline. As a result, Clayton is on the trade block, with Sacramento reportedly as a possible destination. With Ben Simmons (Achilles) suffering an injury expected to be season-ending during Sunday’s practice, Clayton may have room at the back end of the Kings’ roster. Wherever he is after the 5 PM deadline, Clayton’s status will be more impactful in dynasty leagues than redraft leagues.

Jerome has remained the starting point guard this preseason. While the Grizzlies should continue to play a deep rotation this year, Jerome averaged 19.7 points, 5.7 assists and 2.8 threes in 15 games last year while he only averaged 22.7 minutes. He should pay of his eighth-round cost in fantasy drafts without a significant minutes increase and would be a steal with additional minutes.

Edey made his preseason debut earlier this week after returning from offseason ankle surgery. The 24-year-old big man from Purdue played well in 16 minutes. He had 10 points, five rebounds, two steals and a block. Healthy again, Edey is a solid pick in the middle of the fifth-round of fantasy drafts this year.

Jerome was excellent as the 29-year-old point guard gets ready for the regular season. In just 14 minutes, he had 16 points, four assists and four three-pointers. Jerome played only 15 games for Memphis last year, but averaged 19.7 points, 5.7 assists and 2.8 threes. He’s coming off the board in the eighth-round of fantasy drafts this year.

Stewart’s preseason debut with the Grizzlies lasted just two minutes when he sprained his left ankle in Monday’s game against the Pistons. He has since been diagnosed with a moderate sprain and will be re-evaluated in two weeks. Based on the timeline, Stewart will miss the regular-season opener on October 21, but could return shortly after. His absence won’t significantly affect fantasy basketball, especially since Zach Edey is healthy.

Boozer, the third-overall pick from the 2026 NBA Draft, projects as an instantly impactful fantasy contributor in redraft leagues thanks to his unique playmaking ability and all-around skillset. The 19-year-old forward does a little bit of everything from an offensive standpoint as he’s adept at using his size to attack the basket, while also being able to knock down a handful of three-pointers. He’s a phenomenal passer and should be a factor in the rebounding department as well. Simply put, Boozer looks like the type of foundational player that Memphis should be able to rebuild around for years to come. He’s a mid-round selection with plenty of upside as a high-volume all-around contributor in redraft leagues.

Edey made his preseason debut in this one and managed to pile up four rebounds in a statsheet-stuffing performance that lasted just 10 minutes. The 24-year-old center is one of the more challenging big men to forecast for fantasy purposes because he’s shown some flashes of immense all-around potential as an impact interior defender with significant offensive upside. He was limited to just 11 games last year due to lingering left ankle issues that ultimately required season-ending surgery. It’s unrealistic to count on Edey from a volume standpoint, but even a moderately healthy campaign would make him easily worthy of an early-round pick as a top-60 range selection in fantasy drafts this fall.

Stewart, acquired from the Pistons in late June, played just two minutes on Monday before exiting wth a left ankle injury. The forward/center landed awkwardly after attempting to block a shot and did not return. With Zach Edey still out, Quinten Post (eight points, four rebounds and two three-pointers) would have added fantasy value if neither is available when the regular season begins. Post started Monday’s game and logged 12 minutes.

The Grizzlies have ostensibly turned the franchise over to Boozer, the third-overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, after moving on from both Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant in separate trades over the last few months. There are zero obstacles standing in the way of Boozer blossoming into a high-volume, all-around impact contributor for redraft leagues during his rookie campaign. There’s enough talent in his supporting cast to envision a scenario where he thrives as a playmaking facilitator that is also capable of attacking the basket with his size and strength. He certainly looked the part with Memphis rolling out nearly their full lineup with the exception of center Zach Edey in their first exhibition contest.