NBA Fantasy Basketball: Risers and Fallers This Week
Let’s take a stroll around the NBA this week, shall we? The league is buzzing with standout performances, surprising slumps, and everything in between. Jalen Johnson is absolutely on fire, Josh Hart continues to log massive minutes for the Knicks, and Tyrese Haliburton is finding his groove despite some road struggles. On the flip side, DeMar DeRozan is struggling to fit in with the Kings, and even the great LeBron James has been ice-cold from beyond the arc. It’s time to break down this week’s Risers and Fallers in fantasy basketball!
Risers
Jalen Johnson, PF, Atlanta Hawks (96.5% rostered in ESPN leagues)
Jalen Johnson is having a breakout moment, and fantasy managers are reaping the rewards. Over his last seven games, Johnson has been a top-five fantasy player, averaging 22.4 points, 9.3 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.3 blocks, and 1.9 three-pointers per game. He’s shooting an impressive 59% from the field and 91% from the free-throw line. The Hawks are heating up, and Johnson’s all-around contributions are a big reason why. If you’ve got him on your roster, you’re probably smiling right now.
Josh Hart, SG/SF, New York Knicks (89.3% rostered)
Josh Hart is proving the doubters wrong. Despite concerns that the Knicks’ crowded roster might limit his role, Hart has been a top-12 fantasy player over his last seven games. He’s averaging 13.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 2.1 steals, 0.7 blocks, and 1.6 three-pointers while shooting 60% from the field and 91% from the line. Oh, and he’s playing a whopping 37 minutes per game. Tom Thibodeau clearly trusts him, and Hart is delivering in a big way. Fantasy managers, take note: Hart is a star right now.
Tyrese Haliburton, PG/SG, Indiana Pacers (99.9% rostered)
Tyrese Haliburton is back in the spotlight. Over his last eight games, he’s been a top-12 fantasy player, averaging 21.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 8.4 assists, 1.4 steals, and 4.1 three-pointers while shooting 48% from the field and 92% from the line. However, his home/road splits are a bit concerning. At home, he’s been stellar, but on the road, his numbers dip significantly. Still, Haliburton is too talented to stay down for long. If you can trade for him at a discount, now might be the time.
- Malik Monk, SG/SF, Sacramento Kings (58.6% rostered): Monk has been on fire since returning from injury, averaging 21.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 7.8 assists over his last five games.
- Payton Pritchard, PG, Boston Celtics (55.1% rostered): Pritchard is making a case for Sixth Man of the Year with his recent performances, including 19.1 points and 4.0 three-pointers per game over his last seven.
- P.J. Washington, PF, Dallas Mavericks (70.0% rostered): Washington has solidified his role as the Mavs’ power forward, averaging 16.4 points and 9.0 rebounds over his last eight games.
Fallers
DeMar DeRozan, SF/PF, Sacramento Kings (98.9% rostered)
DeRozan has been a disappointment lately, ranking as just a top-125 fantasy player over his last five games. He’s averaging 21.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.2 assists, but his lack of three-pointers (zero over this stretch) is a glaring issue. The Kings are struggling to integrate him into their system, and his mid-range-heavy game isn’t helping. If you can trade him based on name value, now might be the time.
LeBron James, SF/PF, Los Angeles Lakers (99.9% rostered)
Even the King isn’t immune to slumps. LeBron has been a top-170 fantasy player over his last seven games, largely due to his struggles from three-point range. He’s averaging 18.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 8.6 assists, but his shooting woes (44% from the field and just 0.6 three-pointers per game) are dragging him down. The Lakers need him to turn it around, and so do fantasy managers.
Bradley Beal, SG/SF, Phoenix Suns (84.0% rostered)
Bradley Beal has been a top-180 fantasy player over his last three games, and his injury history is always a concern. He’s averaging 16.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists, but his lack of steals and assists is troubling. With Kevin Durant sidelined, Beal has a chance to step up. Fantasy managers will be hoping he does.
That’s it for this week’s NBA fantasy risers and fallers. Whether you’re riding the Jalen Johnson wave or trying to figure out what to do with DeMar DeRozan, the fantasy basketball landscape is as unpredictable as ever. Stay tuned for more updates as the season unfolds!
Originally Written by: Eric Karabell
