On this week’s Risers and Fallers, I check out a scorching Kristaps Porzingis and Fred VanVleet, in addition to dissect why the fantasy worth of fellows like Domantas Sabonis and Giannis Antetokounmpo has taken a dip over the previous few weeks.
Riser
Kristaps Porzingis, PF/C, Washington Wizards
To begin with, Porzingis is wholesome after lacking a while with a sprained ankle not too long ago. Secondly, he went off for 17 factors, 9 rebounds, seven assists, three steals, 5 blocks and a 3-pointer on Monday towards the Spurs. He additionally shot 93% from the road in January, missed 4 free throws for your complete month, and is 18-of-18 from the stripe in his final three video games. He is additionally been blocking pictures, averaging 2.5 per sport over his final 4. Porzingis continues to be a shutdown candidate as soon as the Wizards are out of the playoff hunt however till it occurs, he ought to proceed to rage.
Fred VanVleet, PG/SG, Toronto Raptors
FVV has been a first-round participant for the final couple of weeks and is coming off his finest sport of the season. He had 34 factors, 12 rebounds, 10 assists, a steal, a block and 4 3-pointers on 12-of-25 taking pictures in Monday’s loss to the Jazz. Discuss losing a triple-double, the Raptors additionally wasted top-of-the-line nights of VanVleet’s profession. FVV went on a bizarre stretch the place he scored 14, 11, 11 and three factors in 4 straight video games in mid-January, however has been cash ever since. He is a well-liked identify being thrown round in commerce rumors proper now and if he is seeking to transfer, he is actually pumped up his worth together with his play over the past three weeks.
Jalen Duren, C, Detroit Pistons
Outdoors of a 23-point, 15-rebound, two-steal, two-block sport final Monday towards the Bucks, Duren’s numbers do not precisely fly off the display and leap into your head. Particularly since he is posted a grand whole of simply 18 factors and 9 rebounds over his final two video games. However he is additionally missed simply six pictures in his final 5 video games, shot 79 % from the road in January and completed the month averaging 12.9 factors, 9.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks. He’ll lead the league in discipline aim proportion sooner or later, might be an elite shot blocker and ought to be on the verge of much more than the 26.1 minutes he acquired in January. He is performed between 24 and 31 minutes in every of his final 4 video games and his subsequent explosion might be simply across the nook. And with the Pistons solely enjoying for ping pong balls the remainder of the best way they don’t have any alternative however to let Duren develop and present his stuff the remainder of the best way. He is in all probability my favourite commerce goal proper now and his final two video games (18 factors, 9 boards whole) have put his commerce worth proper the place you need it to be in the event you’re serious about attempting to amass him in a deal. And one of the best information of all is likely to be that he is solely rostered in 22.9% of ESPN leagues.
Buddy Hield, SG/SF, Indiana Pacers
Hield’s inclusion on this listing is a bit bizarre after his 1-of-4 taking pictures, three-point effort towards the Grizzlies on Sunday however he was merely ballin’ earlier than that. He had 14 factors, 5 rebounds, two assists, two steals and two triples in Thursday’s powerful loss to the Lakers and, regardless of that dud on Sunday, is averaging 16.9 factors, 5.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.7 steals and three.8 3-pointers on 33-of-72 (46%) taking pictures over his final six video games. These numbers clearly take a leap in the event you toss out the four-point sport and he ought to proceed to thrive now that Tyrese Haliburton is again from his elbow and knee accidents. Regardless of Thursday’s powerful loss to the Lakers, the Pacers are going to attempt to cobble collectively some wins and get again within the playoff hunt now that Hali is wholesome. And so they’ll want Hield to play nicely if that is going to occur. The one drawback is that his upcoming games-played schedule is not nice (3-2-2-3-3-3).
Gary Trent Jr., SG, Toronto Raptors
Trent is quietly getting it completed for the Raptors and he is been a third-round fantasy worth over the past couple of weeks. He is scored between 16 and 24 factors in his final 10 video games and has been stealing the ball, rebounding, aiding and draining threes whereas taking pictures the ball nicely over that stretch. The Raptors are speaking about buying and selling VanVleet and if he is moved, Trent’s utilization fee may rise. And on condition that he isn’t within the headlines on a nightly foundation, different fantasy managers is probably not conscious of his true worth. Trent’s additionally a superb free throw shooter and would not flip the ball over. In reality, he hasn’t turned it over in 4 straight video games and has simply 5 TOs over his final 12 video games. In case your crew is within the hunt for a championship and you’ve got a gap in your lineup or turnover points, including Trent may repay in an enormous manner.
Fallers
Domantas Sabonis, PF/C, Sacramento Kings
Foul hassle, poor free throw taking pictures, turnovers and a scarcity of steals and blocks have tarnished Sabonis over the previous couple of weeks and he is been worthy of only a sixth-round choose over that stretch. However in the event you throw out these classes, he is additionally been a fantasy monster. Simply by dropping free throw proportion and turnovers he jumps from a sixth-round worth as much as a High 20 participant. He had 34 factors, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, two blocks, two steals and a 3-pointer on 15-of-20 taking pictures on Wednesday and averaged 18.2 factors, 12.5 rebounds and eight.1 assists in January. And if his final two video games are any indication, his steals and blocks could also be on the rise, as he is had three swipes and 4 swats in them. Sabonis is not going to be traded away simply by any fantasy managers, however the free throws and turnovers mixed together with his lack of steals and blocks in January have his rating a lot decrease than it ought to be. And perhaps that is sufficient for you to have the ability to pull off a steal with the best provide. He additionally finishes the season with a 4-4-4 schedule, additional including to his enchantment, particularly in case your fantasy league runs by means of the tip of the common season.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, PF/C, Milwaukee Bucks
Antetokounmpo has been simply an eighth-round fantasy participant over the previous two weeks and identical to Sabonis, dropping free throw proportion and turnovers does wonders for his worth. Take these out and also you’re taking a look at a High 5 fantasy participant over the past two weeks. That is nothing new for Giannis, as his free throws and turnovers have been an issue for your complete season. He is scored 54, 34, 50, 41, 33 and 29 factors in every of his final six video games and he is been powering by means of his sore knee over that stretch. The day-to-day tag goes to get outdated and he will get some relaxation in some unspecified time in the future however the Bucks have rattled off six straight wins behind his monster performances. They nonetheless have a whopping eight back-to-back units left on the schedule so you possibly can in all probability pencil him in for eight or so extra missed video games this 12 months. However in the event you do not care about free throws and turnovers, making a transfer to get him in your roster nonetheless makes a ton of sense. Giannis was large in Thursday’s win over the Clippers and he completed with 54 factors, 19 rebounds and two 3-pointers on 21-of-39 taking pictures. Typically fantasy rankings do not make numerous sense and that is a type of occasions.
Thomas Bryant, C, Los Angeles Lakers
The return of Anthony Davis (foot) has crushed Bryant and he might not even be price rostering in some leagues. He had 11 factors, six rebounds and a block in Thursday’s win at Indiana and had simply 9 factors and one rebound in 16 minutes on Tuesday. All of us knew this was coming when AD got here again and the numbers again it up. When you’re in a deep league you would possibly as nicely cling onto Bryant for the subsequent time Davis heads to the locker room with a bum foot or ankle. However in the event you really feel like it’s worthwhile to drop him for a sizzling free agent, I am not going to cease you.
Tobias Harris, SF/PF, Philadelphia 76ers
Harris has been price only a ninth-round fantasy worth over the previous two weeks and the Tennessee product hasn’t scored 20 factors in any of his final six video games. In reality, he is scored 20 or extra factors simply as soon as in his final 11 video games and the 20-point sport was simply that, when he scored precisely 20 towards the Clippers on Jan. 17. He additionally has amassed simply two steals and two blocks over his final six video games. His taking pictures is okay however if you add in the truth that he hasn’t had greater than seven rebounds in a sport since he had 11 again on Jan. 6, Harris has been the equal of a fantasy pet rock over the past a number of weeks. And so long as Joel Embiid, James Harden, Tyrese Maxey and De’Anthony Melton are wholesome, not a lot goes to vary with Harris. His identify worth in all probability carries extra commerce weight than his sport does at this level.
Jrue Vacation, PG/SG, Milwaukee Bucks
Vacation has been worthy of only a ninth-round fantasy worth over the previous two weeks and turnovers, discipline aim and free throw taking pictures have been the primary points. He is hit simply 20-of-51 (39%) pictures over his final three video games and has 20 turnovers over his final six. He was nice on Tuesday with 15 factors, 13 rebounds, two steals, a 3-pointer and 0 TOs, however hit simply 6-of-20 pictures in that one. The Bucks have gained 5 straight video games and can proceed to journey Vacation onerous, and fantasy managers simply need to hope his taking pictures comes round. He shot 47% in November, December and January, so he is merely in a stoop. But when there was a time so as to add Vacation whereas his fantasy worth is low, now could be the time to do it earlier than the window closes.