Deni Avdija
Avdija is Portland's featured scorer and playmaker, and he has stayed the focal point of the offense through two games even with Lillard and Morant in the backcourt.
Role
He played 23 minutes in the 124-83 opener against Phoenix (the blowout likely cut his run, though no source says so) and a team-high 38 to 39 minutes in the 128-120 win at Sacramento, per ESPN and CBS. He scored 18 on 16 shots in the opener and 26 on 16 shots at Sacramento. CBS and NBC both call him the focal point, and NBC notes he led the Blazers' starters with 15 attempts in a preseason game against the Warriors. I did not find a published rotation or minutes tracker, so I cannot say who he competes with for touches beyond Lillard and Morant. The wire report lists him as questionable for Wednesday's game against the Suns with right ankle soreness. That is a new flag, and I found no practice report or coach's update after it. Wednesday's availability is unconfirmed.
NBC and CBS argue his usage held up despite the new backcourt: shot volume stayed near last season's 16.1 attempts, and he is still the ball-dominant forward. He is coming off a career-best 2025-26 in which he averaged 24.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.7 assists and made the All-Star team. NBC puts his fantasy ceiling in top-50 territory, especially in turnover-punt builds.
Lillard and Morant now run the backcourt, so Avdija's touches and playmaking could shrink as the three settle in. The sample is only two regular-season games. His ankle was an issue before the opener, when he was a game-time decision, and it is back on the wire as soreness. He also carries turnover risk, with 3 against Sacramento and 2 against Phoenix.
Where analysts split
Broad agreement on his role among the sources I found: they say he is still the focal point. The open question is health, specifically whether the right ankle soreness costs him Wednesday against the Suns or any later games. RotoWire read the ankle as not lingering after the Sacramento game, but the new questionable tag came after that.
Research confidence: reported. Outlooks are grounded in web search over current reporting and refreshed through the season.
Others at PF
Fantasy Memo reads your league and answers that every Monday, and checks your lineup on the days you play.
Connect your league: 14 days free