Wembanyama Shrugs Off 'Villain' Label — and He's Still the No. 1 Big in Fantasy
The Spurs star is averaging 52.6 fantasy points per game this season and sits at No. 3 overall in our rankings. The off-court noise changes nothing.
No. 1 at his position and 52.6 FPTS/G — there's no sit scenario.
- Wemby: 52.6 FPTS/G this season (2026-27)
- Ranked No. 3 overall, No. 1 among forwards
- Last 5 games: +3.7 FPTS vs his season average
- Spurs lost 2026 Finals to Knicks in 5 games
- 60 Minutes interview airs Sun, Nov. 1, 7:30 ET
Victor Wembanyama spent most of his first three NBA seasons as a universally adored highlight machine. Then came a playoff run that flipped the script — an elbow to Naz Reid in the second round, a shove on Jalen Brunson in the Finals, and suddenly the 7-foot-4 Frenchman was wearing the villain hat, especially in New York. In a 60 Minutes sit-down with Jon Wertheim airing Sunday night, Wembanyama said the label never got to him because during the Finals he wasn't paying attention to any of the chatter — and figures nobody else on the floor was either.
None of it has dented the fantasy value. Through four games this season (2026-27), Wembanyama is posting 22.3 points, 10.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists for 52.6 fantasy points per game — good for No. 3 overall and No. 1 at his position in our rankings. The Spurs lost the 2026 Finals to the Knicks in five, but Wemby walked away with Defensive Player of the Year, All-NBA honors, and MVP favoritism heading into this year.
What the Interview Actually Reveals
The more interesting bit isn't the villain comment — it's the self-awareness. Wembanyama admitted the postseason physicality pushed him past his own limits at times, and he joked that you don't need to beat people up to win basketball games. At 23, he's clearly treating last spring as a lesson in walking the competitive line without stepping over it.
For fantasy purposes, that's a non-issue. A more disciplined Wemby means fewer technical and flagrant risks, not a watered-down production profile. His game is built on blocks, boards and spacing, not cheap shots. The physical edge that earned the label was a byproduct, not the engine.
The Fantasy Fallout
Wembanyama is a locked-in weekly start and arguably the first big off the board in any format — his last five games sit +3.7 fantasy points above his season average, so the trend is pointing up, not down. As for the players he tangled with: Brunson (No. 30 overall, 34.5 FPTS/G this season) is a reliable guard play with his own +3.7 recent surge, while Naz Reid (No. 83, 34.4 FPTS/G) is a streaky bench-scoring option trending down -3.6 over his last five.
Bottom line: start Wembanyama everywhere and don't overthink the headlines. The villain narrative is a storyline for TV, not a factor for your lineup. If anything, a smarter, more measured version of the best defensive player alive is a reason to buy, not sell.
