Hey, if you’re managing a fantasy basketball team heading into 2026, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s return from his right calf strain couldn’t have timed better. After missing several weeks following the early December injury, the Greek Freak came back strong just before the new year, delivering vintage stat lines right away.
The Bucks, who struggled without him, now get a major boost during a four-game Week 11 with exploitable matchups. This piece dives into his post-injury games, rest-of-season fantasy outlook, impact on Milwaukee’s supporting cast, and advice for managers navigating trade rumors or roster decisions.
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Giannis’s Injury Timeline and Return Games
The Calf Strain Details
Giannis Antetokounmpo hurt his right calf muscle on Dec. 3, 2025, in a game against the Detroit Pistons. It was a no-contact Injury. Analysts say the injury was caused by the Bucks rushing him back too early, after he had just recovered from a different leg injury. Such a short period of recovery only made this calf problem worse because his body was not fully ready. The injury was a soleus muscle strain, which is a key lower leg muscle. As a result of the Injury, he missed eight games in total.
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First Games Back Performance
Giannis came back on Dec. 28, 2025, and in his first game back, he had 29 points against the Chicago Bulls in just under 25 minutes. He then scored 24 points in his second game and 33 points in his third game. Such massive returns shows you just how much he was missed.
Minutes and Ramp-Up Plan
Upon his return, Doc Rivers put a minutes restriction on him that saw him play only 25 minutes in each of the first two games. The team carefully planned when to use him in the game to get the most impact, and it worked well. By his third game back, his playing time increased to nearly 30 minutes, and the restriction was almost entirely lifted soon after as he felt good and played without issue.
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Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo wasted no time returning to form, posting massive stat lines in his first games back. Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Week 11 Schedule Boost for Bucks
Four-Game Slate Matchups
The Milwaukee Bucks have a busy Week 11, playing four games. This high number of games is great for fantasy basketball. They face the Wizards, Pacers twice, and the Trail Blazers. These teams give up lots of fantasy points. This schedule sets up Giannis for a huge performance, as the matchups are relatively easy, and Ideal for his comeback.
Projected Stat Explosion
With easy opponents and four games, experts predict amazing stats for Giannis. The expectation is that he has a good point return, as well as multiple rebounds. Chances are high that he goes on to snag multiple double-doubles, or even maybe a triple-double. The sheer thought of that is getting his fantasy managers quite excited.
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Team Context Improvement
Having Giannis back makes the whole Bucks team better. His presence has a creative way of making everyone’s job simpler. He attracts many defenders, leaving teammates open. This, in turn, makes the team’s offense flow smoother as well as helping their backcourt.
Giannis’ Rest-of-Season Fantasy Value
Category Contributions
Giannis is a major contributor in every area, ranging from points, rebounds, steals and blocks. He is a good passer. All those attributes make him the one player you need to fill up your stat sheet, as well as to give you an edge in many different fantasy categories.
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Points League Dominance
In fantasy “points leagues,” where every stat adds up to one total score, Giannis is a top pick. Because he does so many things well, scoring, rebounding, defending, he consistently earns huge point totals. He is a weekly powerhouse who almost guarantees big numbers, making him one of the best, most valuable players to have on any fantasy roster.
Risks (Health, Rumors)
The main concern for Giannis is staying healthy after his calf issue. Players coming back from injury always face the risk of getting hurt again. There are also occasional rumors about him wanting to play for a different team later, which could affect the Bucks’ future plans. For now, his health is the biggest worry for fantasy owners.
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Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis saw expanded usage during Giannis’ absence, but his fantasy role shrinks with the superstar back.the ball.© Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Impact on Bucks Teammates
Usage Shifts for Portis, Kuzma
When Giannis plays, other players see fewer opportunities. Bobby Portis and Kyle Kuzma are two who feel this most. They had more chances to shoot and score while he was out. Now, their usage and stat production will likely decrease. Fantasy managers should expect less from these players, as Giannis is the main focus of the offense again.
Streaming Options Affected
“Streaming” means picking up a player for a short time to help your fantasy team. Players like Pat Connaughton and Jae Crowder were good streaming options when Giannis was hurt. With Giannis back, they play less important roles. They are less likely to get the minutes needed for good stats, so they are no longer good players to stream this week.
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Manager Advice: Hold, Trade, or Stream?
For Giannis’ owner, you must hold. He is a top player who will dominate. The trade window has closed; no one will give you fair value now that he’s healthy. Other Bucks players who filled in should be streamed or dropped. Portis is a marginal hold, but others can go. For non-Giannis managers, now is the time to sit back and watch him explode in Week 11 and beyond.
People Also Ask
When did Giannis Antetokounmpo come back from his injury?
Giannis returned in late December 2025 after missing time with a right calf strain, and he looked like himself right away.
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How many games do the Bucks play in Week 11?
Milwaukee has a four-game Week 11 schedule, which is a big boost for fantasy managers, especially with favorable matchups.
Is Giannis a must-start now that he’s back?
Absolutely. Once he returned, his elite production picked right back up, making him an automatic start.
What happens to Bobby Portis’ fantasy value with Giannis back?
Portis sees fewer minutes and less usage now that Giannis is healthy, so his fantasy upside takes a hit.
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Do Giannis trade rumors matter for fantasy basketball?
Not really in the short term. As long as he’s healthy and playing, fantasy managers should hold and enjoy the production.
Who are the Bucks playing in Week 11?
The Bucks face softer defensive teams in Week 11, setting up Giannis for strong fantasy stat lines.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jan 8, 2026, where it first appeared in the Fantasy section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
