Heading into Week 5, the landscape of fantasy basketball is rapidly changing, demanding that managers stay updated on the latest trends.
With a flurry of NBA injury news shaking up NBA depth charts across the league, a number of potential pickups are emerging as permanent assets capable of drastically improving your fantasy basketball rankings. Identifying players who are benefiting from expanded roles—whether it’s an offensive threat delivering points and threes or a defensive-minded player boosting your steals and blocks—is vital as you navigate the season.
Let’s dive into nine key NBA sleepers whose current stats suggest they are poised for significant value and are currently rostered in fewer than 40% of Yahoo leagues.
Yahoo High Score Leagues
Brandon Williams (18% rostered)
At this point, we are considering Williams a must-roster player across all formats. Having supplanted D’Angelo Russell as the starting point guard in Dallas, Williams has flashed upside on both ends of the floor. He has played 33 minutes in consecutive games, both of which were narrow losses. However, it is clear that the team looks to function a lot better with Williams steering the ship, a fact that shouldn’t be lost on fantasy managers. Having scored 49, 34 and 40 fantasy points in each of the past three games, his value is not confined to one category, making him a player with a relatively safe floor. Dallas has four games on the slate for this week, including a favorable back-to-back against the Pelicans and the Grizzlies. Make sure he isn’t still available in your league.
De’Andre Hunter, Cleveland Cavaliers (34% rostered)
Known primarily as a scorer, Hunter has been able to add some wrinkles to his overall game thus far this season. With Darius Garland continuing to deal with a toe injury, Hunter has been saddled with more responsibility, resulting in strong numbers. He has scored at least 35 fantasy points in five of his past seven games and is coming off a game in which he tallied a season-high six assists, highlighting his improved peripheral production. Outside of a couple of poor performances, Hunter has been relatively consistent, something that is not typically the case. Garland is without a specific timetable, making Hunter a sneaky addition across all formats, including high score leagues.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Atlanta Hawks (32% rostered)
Despite having locked down the starting point guard position in Atlanta, at least until Trae Young returns from his knee injury, Alexander-Walker remains drastically under-rostered. He has assumed the starting point guard role and, to this point, has left no stone unturned. Since returning from a brief injury-related absence, Alexander-Walker has put up 34 and 40 fantasy points in each of his past two games. He is by no means flashy, but should continue to play a sizeable role for the foreseeable future, making him a must-add player.
Standard 9-Category Leagues
Reed Sheppard, Houston Rockets (33% rostered)
Seen as a potential breakout candidate heading into the season, Sheppard took his time to get going. He scored double digits only twice in the first six games, with his playing time limited off the bench. However, the past three games have reinvigorated his potential fantasy value. During that span, he has averaged 17.7 points, 3.7 assists, 2.3 steals and 4.3 three-pointers, despite continuing to come off the bench. Perhaps the biggest takeaway has been the fact that his playing time has increased to 26.8 minutes per game. While his hot shooting is likely to regress at some point, he certainly should be rostered in a lot more leagues right now.
Derik Queen, New Orleans Pelicans (18% rostered)
The Pelicans are going nowhere fast, with Queen being one of the only positives thus far. After a modest start to his rookie season, injuries to other players have afforded Queen an opportunity to play meaningful minutes. He has scored double digits in five straight games, averaging 14.4 points to go with 6.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.8 steals. The imminent return of Zion Williamson from yet another hamstring injury is going to complicate matters somewhat. However, with very little to play for other than looking to develop its young players, New Orleans could do a lot worse than continuing to have Queen play a sizeable role.
Andre Drummond, Philadelphia 76ers (15% rostered)
Coming into the season, Drummond was viewed by many as the third-strong center behind Joel Embiid and Adem Bona. With Embiid continuing to deal with knee issues, it has been Drummond who has stood tall, turning back the clock with some regularity. Over the past four games, he has averaged 12.0 points, 11.5 rebounds and 1.7 combined steals and blocks. Bona has offered very little thus far, especially on the offensive end. With Embiid’s future, both long-term and short-term, continuing to raise questions, Drummond could very well maintain some sort of fantasy value, at least for the foreseeable future.
Standard Points Leagues
Max Christie, Dallas Mavericks (16% rostered)
Christie is not going to blow anyone away with his numbers, but he has quietly put together a strong start to the season. He has now scored double digits in 10 straight games, having started in the past nine. He has totaled at least 30 fantasy points in three consecutive appearances, putting him inside the top 100 during that time. His role appears relatively secure, thanks in part to the poor play of Klay Thompson. While he isn’t the most exciting target, Christie seems like a relatively risk-free target, at least for now.
Royce O’Neale, Phoenix Suns (28% rostered)
Another relatively ho-hum target, O’Neale has also put together a quietly strong start to the season. He has started in eight of the past nine games, and with Jalen Green now sidelined for at least six weeks, that role seems likely to continue. Unlike Christie, O’Neale’s value is built around his ability to contribute across the board. He is averaging 27.5 fantasy points per game across the first 12 games, and he should be able to sit in that range until we see Green back on the floor. If you are looking for a no-nonsense, plug-and-play option, O’Neale could be the player for you.
Noah Clowney, Brooklyn Nets (9% rostered)
Of the three points league targets, Clowney comes with arguably the most risk despite seemingly having a clear path to minutes. Brooklyn is not afraid to shuffle its rotation, which makes it difficult to project individual playing time. However, what is clear is that Clowney is a priority for the Nets, a player who could be a key piece moving forward. He has started in five straight games, averaging 14.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.4 three-pointers and 1.8 combined steals and blocks. While there will almost certainly be a few bumps in the road, perhaps Clowney is finally ready to take the next step that has seemingly been coming for the past couple of years.
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