Paolo Banchero expected to miss four to six weeks with ankle sprain

Fantasy basketball: The Magic forward sustained a low-grade high ankle sprain on Friday and will be out multiple weeks, leaving a major hole in Orlando's…

By Fantasy Roundup Staff · October 24, 2026

Paolo Banchero sustained a low-grade high ankle sprain in the third quarter of Friday's 115-93 loss to the Timberwolves and is expected to miss four to six weeks, according to reports. He did not return after the injury and finished with 14 points, six rebounds, five assists and one steal in 26 minutes.

Banchero is out, so he does nothing for fantasy managers until he is cleared. Last season he averaged 22.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.6 blocks and 1.2 threes across 72 games, delivering 40.8 fantasy points per contest in default points scoring while ranking as a top-50 overall asset in nine-category formats.

Fantasy impact

Player by player

Paolo Banchero

Banchero left Friday's contest after sustaining the ankle injury in the third quarter and was ruled out for the remainder of the game. He shot 6-of-11 from the floor and 2-of-4 from the free-throw line while contributing across multiple categories in his 26 minutes as a starter. The timeline of four to six weeks means he will miss significant time for Orlando.

The Magic have no games left this week, and Banchero will sit out for an extended period. His absence creates a substantial hole in Orlando's rotation, as he had been playing 33.8 minutes per game this season while averaging 24.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 7.5 assists through two contests. Managers should keep him on their roster through the injury but should explore their waiver options to replace his production during his absence.

What to do

• Move Banchero to an injured list spot if your league format allows it and keep him on your roster through the four-to-six-week absence.

• Scan the waiver wire for available forwards who can provide points, rebounds and assists to replace his production while he recovers.

• Monitor Orlando's rotation over the coming games to identify which players absorb his minutes and usage.

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