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Fantasy 30: Bam Adebayo, Robert Williams III are trending up

Dec. 29, 2022
Fantasy 30: Bam Adebayo, Robert Williams III are trending up

The best fantasy basketball managers make a habit of looking at the NBA schedule, examining box scores and scouring the news for any tidbit that can help give them the edge in their leagues.

Luckily, Eric Moody does all that work for you each and every Thursday with the Fantasy 30, helping answer the tough questions such as whom to start, who are the best fantasy basketball sleepers out there and what's the latest injury news with key players around the league.

Here's the latest fantasy news from each of the 30 teams around the league.

Atlanta Hawks: John Collins is returning to form with three consecutive games with 34 or more fantasy points following his return from an ankle injury. The trade market for Collins should heat up in the near future as the deadline draws closer. The Wizards, Nets, Jazz, Mavericks and the Heat are teams that lack depth at power forward. Collins is an intriguing trade target in fantasy hoops, regardless of whether the Hawks keep him or trade him.

Boston Celtics: Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 77 points against the Rockets on Tuesday. It was their most combined points in a regulation game and tied for their second-most overall. The play of Robert Williams III continues to trend up as well. He scored 37 fantasy points against the Rockets, a season-high. Williams is only rostered in 69.7% of ESPN leagues and his statistical production continues to trend in the right direction.

Brooklyn Nets: During their 10-game win streak, the Nets' offense has been a juggernaut. Brooklyn is shooting 54.8% from the field, their highest mark in any 10-game span since joining the league in 1976. TJ Warren plays very well off the bench and is a perfect complement to Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. In three of her last four games, Warren has scored 27 or more fantasy points. He is only rostered in 5.0% of ESPN leagues.

Charlotte Hornets: Kelly Oubre Jr., has averaged 20.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.6 steals per game this season despite coming off the bench, and now he is dealing with a sprained left hand. Jaden McDaniels is who should fantasy managers should prioritize as a streamer while Oubre is out; he's averaged 26.1 fantasy points per game this season. McDaniel has scored 35 or more fantasy points in three consecutive games and is only rostered in 23.2% of ESPN leagues.

Chicago Bulls: Look no further than Patrick Williams if you're looking for blocks in category formats. He has accumulated six blocks over the last four games. For those in points formats, Williams has surpassed 20 or more points in those games. He is only rostered in 4.7% of ESPN leagues.

Cleveland Cavaliers: The Cavaliers now have seven 40 or more point performances so far this season. Donovan Mitchell has three, Darius Garland has three and Caris Levert has one. It is the most in the league. Mitchell and Garland have both exceeded fantasy managers' expectations.

Dallas Mavericks: The performance of Luka Doncic has elated fantasy managers who drafted him. In Tuesday's game against the Knicks, he finished with 60 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists. It was the most points scored in a triple-double in NBA history. He scored 58 or more fantasy points in four consecutive games.

Denver Nuggets: Nikola Jokic has had four games with 40 points in December. Giannis Antetokounmpo has also had four such games this month. Jokic is the first player in franchise history to accomplish this feat. In the last 10 games, he's averaged 31.5 points, 12.6 rebounds, 10.5 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.8 blocks and returned to the top of the fantasy basketball world.

Detroit Pistons: It is possible that Killian Hayes will endure a lengthy suspension after his role in a bench-clearing brawl between the Magic and Pistons on Wednesday night. Alec Burks (3.2% rostered of ESPN leagues) is one player who will benefit in fantasy from his absence. He finished the game against the Magic with 69 fantasy points and will play a bigger role for the Pistons.

Golden State Warriors: Donte DiVincenzo continues to thrive for the undermanned Warriors. He has scored 37 or more fantasy points in two of the last three games. DiVincenzo is only rostered in 10.3% of ESPN leagues. The player should not be overlooked by fantasy managers trying to fill the void left by Stephen Curry as he recovers from a shoulder injury.

Houston Rockets: Kenyon Martin Jr. is a very good streamer especially when Eric Gordon is out of the lineup. For managers in deeper leagues, he is a great source of points and rebounds. In three of his last four games, Martin Jr. has scored 23 or more fantasy points, including two with over 28 points.

Indiana Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton may miss Thursday's game against the Cavaliers due to a bruise on his right knee. This would be only his third absence this season. Haliburton averages 49.8 fantasy points per game. Andrew Nembhard would be on the streaming radar if Haliburton is out, and is only rostered in 3.5% of ESPN leagues. Nembhard averages 12.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.8 assists per 40 minutes.

Los Angeles Clippers: Ivica Zubac has at least 20 points and 15 rebounds in two games this season. In his career, he has had only two other games like this. In this breakout season, Zubac has averaged 27.3 fantasy points per game and is rostered in 66.2% of ESPN leagues. Even though Kawhi Leonard isn't playing back-to-back games, he has performed well when he has been on the court. He has scored 42 or more fantasy points in three of his last four games.

Los Angeles Lakers: While Anthony Davis recovers from a foot injury, Thomas Bryant is the Lakers' starting center and so far he has filled in admirably. In six of his last eight games, Bryant has scored 20 or more fantasy points. He is only rostered in 17.5% of ESPN leagues.

Memphis Grizzlies: This season, blocks have been a valuable statistical commodity for fantasy managers in category formats. Having said that, Jaren Jackson Jr. has delivered. He has averaged 15.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game and solidified himself as one of the top shot blockers in the league.

Miami Heat: Bam Adebayo has had 10 games this season with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in a game this season. This is tied for the eighth most in the league. Adebayo has averaged 37.9 fantasy points per game on the season. Meanwhile, Jimmy Butler's workload is being managed by the Heat, which is frustrating for fantasy managers. In spite of this, he's been phenomenal on the court, averaging 46.5 fantasy points per game. Fantasy managers who have Butler on their teams would be wise to have Max Strus on their bench.

Milwaukee Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo has had 49 career games with at least 30 points and 15 rebounds. The only other player with more since Antetokounmpo entered the league back in 2013 to 2014 is Anthony Davis (54). This season, Antetokounmpo has averaged 50.6 fantasy points per game.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Naz Reid is surprisingly only rostered in 5.2% of ESPN leagues. He's played very well while Karl-Anthony Towns has been out with a strained calf since late November. Reid is thriving even in a reserve role. In the last 12 games, he averaged 14.3 points, 6.3 assists, 1.3 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.8 blocks. Fantasy managers should consider picking him up.

New Orleans Pelicans: Herbert Jones is in the league's health and safety protocols and is questionable for Friday's game against the 76ers. He had scored 23 or more fantasy points in five consecutive games prior to missing the last two. Jones (27.8% rostered in ESPN leagues) is very capable of contributing to multiple statistical categories. While Jones is out, Naji Marshall is a viable streamer.

New York Knicks: Quentin Grimes (rostered in 9.2% of ESPN leagues) has played well this season and has established himself as a starter for the Knicks. When other players in New York's rotation miss time, his fantasy ceiling is even higher. As a starter, Grimes has averaged 12.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 0.8 steals per game. Jalen Brunson is dealing with right hip soreness this week, so Grimes is a solid streamer.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Aleksej Pokusevski suffered a non-displaced tibial plateau fracture in his left leg and will be re-evaluated in six to eight weeks. As a result of Pokusevski's absence, Mike Muscala's role will be expanded. He scored 42 fantasy points in 21 minutes against the Spurs on Tuesday. The veteran big man is only rostered in 0.6% of ESPN leagues.

Orlando Magic: Wendell Carter Jr. has been eased back into the fold after missing more than a month due to a foot injury. In two of the last three games, he has scored 20 or more fantasy points. In only one of those games has Carter Jr. played more than 20 minutes.

Philadelphia 76ers: Tyrese Maxey may return from his left foot fracture for Friday's game against the Pelicans. De'Anthony Melton's will see fewer minutes upon his return. James Harden has played very well since returning from his foot injury, posting three consecutive games with at least 20 points and 10 assists. His 47 assists over that time frame are the second most in a three-game span in franchise history.

Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker will be re-evaluated in four weeks for the left groin strain he attempted to play through on Christmas Day against the Nuggets. Landry Shamet is one player who will benefit from Booker's absence once he returns from an Achilles injury. He averages 19.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists per 40 minutes this season. Shamet is only rostered in 2.9% of ESPN leagues. With Booker off the court this season, the Suns' offensive efficiency and effective field goal percentage have dropped significantly, so that's something to keep an eye on in the month ahead.

Portland Trail Blazers: Jusuf Nurkic continues to be a player on the rise for Trail Blazers. He scored a season-high 73 fantasy points against the Hornets on Monday. He has averaged 14.8 points and 9.9 rebounds this season and is a top 100 player in all formats.

Sacramento Kings: Malik Monk scored a season-high 33 points against the Nuggets on Wednesday. While Monk's statistical production has been up and down all season, he has performed well as the Kings' sixth man. Monk has averaged 24.5 fantasy points per game and is only rostered in 12.7% of ESPN leagues.

San Antonio Spurs: Since returning from injury, Jeremy Sochan has looked superb. For managers in category formats, he's a solid source of points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks. In three of his last five games, Sochan has scored 34 or more fantasy points. Even still, he remains rostered in 7.7% of ESPN leagues.

Toronto Raptors: Pascal Siakam has played phenomenally over the last four games against some stout competition. In consecutive games, he has scored 49 or more fantasy points, including one with 86. Siakam may be leaned on even more given the injuries to Fred VanVleet, Precious Achiuwa and Christian Koloko.

Utah Jazz: After missing four games due to an ankle injury, Kelly Olynyk returned to the Jazz's starting lineup against the Warriors on Wednesday. His return hurts the fantasy value of Walker Kessler. Olynyk finished Wednesday's game with 19 fantasy points in 26 minutes. He's averaged 28.0 fantasy points per game this season.

Washington Wizards: In categories and points formats, fantasy managers should not overlook Daniel Gafford. He's scored 20 or more fantasy points in five consecutive games as a starter. Gafford is a solid source of rebounds and blocks and is only rostered in 3.5% of ESPN leagues.


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