Jaren Jackson Jr. out 6-8 weeks with torn MCL; Lauri Markkanen dealing with wrist sprain

Fantasy basketball: Jackson's torn MCL sidelines him for at least two months, while Markkanen's shooting wrist sprain could cost the Jazz their two best…

By Fantasy Roundup Staff · October 27, 2026

Jaren Jackson Jr. will miss six to eight weeks after sustaining a torn MCL in his right knee during Monday's 105-110 loss to Memphis, and Lauri Markkanen exited the same game in the first half after injuring his right wrist. X-rays on Markkanen came back negative, but an MRI on Tuesday revealed a sprain to his shooting wrist.

Both players are out for the immediate future, leaving fantasy managers with major holes to fill. Jackson was projected for 30.5 fantasy points per game in default points scoring and ranked 81st overall, while Markkanen projected for 34.3 fantasy points and ranked 42nd overall with a nine-category value of 2.33.

Fantasy impact

Player by player

Jaren Jackson Jr.

Jackson cannot play and does nothing for a fantasy lineup until he is cleared. He managed just 6 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists on 2-of-5 shooting in 10 minutes as a starter on Monday, October 26 before the injury ended his night. Over his previous 48 games last season, he averaged 19.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.4 blocks and 1.8 threes in 30.3 minutes a game.

The torn MCL wipes out his fantasy value for at least two months, and Utah has no games left this week regardless. Managers must drop Jackson in all formats and cannot count on him returning until late December at the earliest. The Jazz frontcourt rotation opens up significantly, though with Jusuf Nurkic also out with a partial plantar plate tear in his right foot, Utah has lost two key big men.

Lauri Markkanen

Markkanen is listed as day-to-day, so managers must check he is active before tip. He played just 6 minutes on Monday, October 26, scoring 2 points on 0-of-2 shooting before exiting with the wrist injury. The sprain is to his shooting wrist, which is particularly problematic given his role as a volume three-point shooter who averaged 2.7 threes per game over his previous 42 games last season.

The injury cost him the second half of Monday's game and puts his near-term availability in doubt, though the Jazz are hopeful he will not miss an extended period. Markkanen's 34.3 projected fantasy points and elite nine-category value make him too valuable to drop, but managers cannot start him until he is cleared. With Utah having no games left this week, his next opportunity to play comes whenever the team determines his wrist is ready.

Jusuf Nurkić

Nurkic cannot play and has yet to suit up this season due to a partial plantar plate tear of the second toe in his right foot, an injury scheduled to be reevaluated in early November. Over his previous 41 games last season, he averaged 10.9 points, 10.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.3 steals in 26.4 minutes a game, posting a nine-category value of -1.99.

The Jazz frontcourt has now lost all three of its key big men, with Jackson and Markkanen joining Nurkic on the injury report. Nurkic's timeline extends at least another two weeks before reevaluation, and managers in shallow leagues should consider dropping him given the uncertainty. Utah has no games left this week, and Nurkic offers no fantasy value until he is cleared to return.

What to do

• Drop Jaren Jackson Jr. in all formats, as his six-to-eight-week absence eliminates his fantasy value through at least late December.

• Hold Lauri Markkanen but bench him until he is cleared, checking his status before every game given the day-to-day designation on his shooting wrist.

• Consider dropping Jusuf Nurkic in shallow leagues, as his early November reevaluation provides no concrete return date and Utah's frontcourt is now completely depleted.

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