Welcome to this week’s roundup of fantasy basketball’s biggest rises and falls!
As the season progresses, player performance continues to shake up rankings and impact fantasy rosters. Whether you’re a rising star making waves or a struggling veteran who’s losing ground, staying ahead of the trends is crucial to your fantasy success.
In this weekly breakdown, we’ll highlight top performers moving up the charts and those whose value is falling, helping you make smarter roster decisions.
elevators
Keon Ellis, Sacramento Kings, SG (6% enrolled in ESPN leagues)
After being ignored by Sacramento for much of the season, Ellis got his big break when coach Mike Brown was fired and replaced by Kings legend Doug Christie. Ellis was inserted into the starting lineup alongside De’Aaron Fox on January 1 and remained a starter. Add in the fact that Fox has missed the last two games and it’s been something of a perfect storm for Ellis’ fantasy value. He scored 17 points in 49 minutes of Monday’s double-overtime win against the Miami Heat and has averaged 12.5 points per game, 3.0 points per game, 1.0 points per game and 2.3 points per game since who joined the titular unit. Additionally, the Kings are 4-0 since making the change. Ellis should be included in all leagues in the future.
Donté DiVincenzo, Minnesota Timberwolves, SG (44.7% on roster)
DiVincenzo struggled through the early part of the season, but got a fantasy boost when the Wolves decided to bench Mike Conley and make DiVincenzo the starting point guard on January 6. The Wolves have won three straight since making the switch and DiVincenzo has scored in double figures. in all three and also contributed rebounds, assists, steals and triples in 28 minutes per game. He looks like he should stay in the starting lineup the rest of the way and has been one of the best additions in fantasy basketball over the past week.
Russell Westbrook, Denver Nuggets defenseman (80.2%)
The Nuggets were reeling from the loss of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope earlier in the season and players like Christian Braun and Julian Strawther simply weren’t giving Mike Malone’s team what they needed to dominate the opposition on a nightly basis. Westbrook entered the starting lineup on December 16 and has been there ever since, flirting with triple-doubles in almost every game. He has played at least 29 minutes in seven of his last eight and appears to be locked into a starting role for the rest of the season. He should provide as much value in fantasy as he does for the Nuggets on the court and has finally found a home in Denver.
Spencer Dinwiddie, Dallas Mavericks PG/SG (9.2%)
Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are currently out for the Mavericks, and after a slow start, Dinwiddie has started two straight games and has averaged 18 points per game, 5.5 points per game, and 6.5 points per game. PJ Washington has also improved his game, but Dinwiddie should be the starting point guard in Dallas until Doncic returns from his calf injury. Dinwiddie seems like a much better fantasy option than MinMike Conley of Nesota (29.8% enrolled)who was benched for Donte DiVincenzo. Pick up Dinwiddie and play with him until Doncic returns to action.
Jaime Jáquez Jr., Miami Heat, SG/SF (40%)
Jáquez Jr. was finally inserted into the Heat’s starting lineup on January 6 and has played very well in place of the suspended Jimmy Butler. Jáquez Jr. has played at least 29 minutes in four consecutive games and recorded a triple-double in an overtime loss to the Sacramento Kings last Monday. His numbers are improving and he could be locked into the starting five for the rest of the season. Nikola Jovic (7.4% of the squad) He’s also worth a look, but Jaquez Jr. should be one of the top fantasy options right now.
Falleros
Deandre Ayton, Portland Trail Blazers, C (72.1%)
Ayton has been solid all season, but played just 21 minutes with six points and six rebounds in Thursday’s loss to the Mavericks. Donovan Clingan (9.3% enrolled)who has been limited to less than 15 minutes most nights, played 24 minutes with 11 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks in Thursday’s game and could be ready to make a second-half run for fantasy managers. The Blazers are likely lottery-bound and need to get Clingan more reps in preparation for next year. They don’t seem likely to continue with Ayton at center every night going forward and it could only be a matter of time before they turn to Clingan full-time. Now is the time to add Clingan to their squad, while Ayton’s management needs to be prepared for an eventual changing of the guard.
Payton Pritchard, Boston Celtics, PG (61%)
Pritchard has been fantastic for the Celtics this season and is the favorite for Sixth Man of the Year. Maybe it’s just a slump, but Pritchard has really calmed down in December, scoring just nine points or fewer in three of his last four games. He will likely continue to try to hold off De’Andre Hunter for the Sixth Man of the Year award and should come out of his slump in the near future. If you’ve been thinking about making a play to acquire Pritchard, now is the time to do it as he has scored a total of three points in his last two games.
De’Andre Hunter, Atlanta Hawks, SF/PF (41%)
Bogdan Bogdanovic is healthy again for the Hawks and Hunter’s production has taken a hit as a result. After stringing together 20-point scoring nights in six of seven games, Hunter has failed to score more than 18 points in his last four outings. Hunter has had a fantastic season and is in the hunt for Sixth Man of the Year, but the return of Bogdanovic has slowed his progress. Now is a good time to make a move for Hunter, as Bogdanovic will likely have trouble staying healthy for the rest of the season.
Khris Middleton, Milwaukee Bucks, SF (53.4%)
Middleton finally made his season debut on December 6 and after a slow start, he stringed together seven consecutive double-digit scoring outings, making him a great fantasy option. However, his ankles remain an issue and not only has he struggled in his last two games, but he has also been demoted to a bench role in Milwaukee. The Bucks will likely tread carefully with him going forward in hopes of getting him healthy for the playoffs, and I expect Middleton’s fantasy value to steadily decline the rest of the way. It was a good run for the 33-year-old, but it’s time to buy him out and get him off your team before it’s too late. He won’t bring much back in a trade, so moving on from Middleton for an attractive free agent is also something managers should consider.
Mike Conley, Minnesota Timberwolves, PG (29.8%)
Conley, whose production hasn’t been great this season and I don’t expect to re-enter the Wolves’ starting unit while DiVincenzo is healthy. Conley’s fantasy arrow points down, so consider dumping Conley for DiVincenzo (or Dinwiddie) and don’t look back. Conley’s player count should drop in the coming weeks, as there are simply much better options for most managers on waivers.
