Updated: Jan 12, 2020
We are officially HALFWAY through the Fantasy Basketball season, which means it’s CRUNCH TIME! Now is NOT the time to take your foot off the gas. Whether you are in the playoff picture, just outside of it, or at the bottom of the standings; EVERY WEEK COUNTS. Treat every week from here on out like it’s the playoffs.
At the beginning of the year, I wrote an article giving you tips and tricks on how to tackle your Fantasy Basketball Points League drafts. I urged you to draft big men early, avoid turnover-prone players (unless you’re drafting Harden or Westbrook), target efficient players in the middle-late round, and AVOID taking too much stock into last year’s stats. Now that we are halfway through the season, I wanted to give my predictions on players that I think can produce Top 25, 50, 75, and 100 numbers for the Rest of the Season.
If you want to take a look at my UPDATED ROS (Rest of Season) Fantasy Basketball Points League Rankings, you can click HERE.
Please Note: If you click on the link above, remember to click on the Down Arrow and switch it from STD to PTS. This ensures that you are getting the Points League Rankings and NOT the 9-Cat Rankings.
Top 25
Over the past two weeks, Nikola Vucevic is averaging 44.01 Fan Pts per game, Clint Capela is averaging 42.04 Fan Pts, and Deandre Ayton is averaging 35.06 Fan Pts.
With Jonathan Isaac OUT for the next 10 plus weeks, Nikola Vucevic is looking at a HUGE usage role for the rest of the season. Clint Capela was battling a heel injury for most of the year, but he seems to be fully healthy and ready to contribute as the only highly-skilled big man on the Rockets. Last month, Deandre Ayton came back from suspension only to go down with an ankle injury. He is BACK and should produce numbers close to his original ADP price of late 2nd/early 3rd round.
Top 50
Over the past two weeks, Brandon Ingram is averaging 43.34 Fan Pts per game, Gordon Hayward is averaging 32.74 Fan Pts, and Kelly Oubre Jr. is averaging 40.39 Fan Pts.
One of the most surprising stories of the fantasy year, Brandon Ingram has been a revelation. At the beginning of the year, I thought that Zion was going to return quickly and dent his value severely, but I believe he can still produce Top 50 numbers EVEN WHEN Zion returns. Gordon Hayward has enjoyed an incredible comeback season, and even though he left for a bit due to a broken hand, he has returned and hasn’t skipped a beat. I was a backer of Kelly Oubre Jr. heading into this year based on his Steals, Blocks, and current opportunity on the Phoenix Suns. I don’t see him slowing down.
Top 75
Over the past two weeks, Jaylen Brown is averaging 36.24 Fan Pts per game, Joe Ingles is averaging 31.95 Fan Pts, and Spencer Dinwiddie is averaging 34.74 Fan Pts.
At the beginning of the season, Jayson Tatum was the clear-cut best player on the Celtics. That sentiment still holds true, but Jaylen Brown is making a run for that title. Joe Ingles had a surprisingly productive year last year, but he came back down to earth to begin this season. Ever since Conley went down with a hamstring injury, Ingles has been producing Top 50 numbers. Let’s hope he sticks in the starting lineup even when Conley returns. With Kyrie Irving nursing an ailing shoulder, Spencer Dinwiddie has stepped up and has produced Top 50 numbers. With Caris LeVert returning from injury, I believe he’ll stay within the Top 75 for the rest of the year.
Top 100
Over the past two weeks, Dennis Schroder is averaging 28.51 Fan Pts, Tomas Satoransky is averaging 28.84 Fan Pts, and Derrick Rose is averaging 31.95 Fan Pts.
At the beginning of the year, I had Dennis Schroder somewhere in the 130s in my rankings. He was supposed to be the odd man out with Paul and SGA in the backcourt, but he has found a way to produce and stay relevant. Chicago spent a lot of money over the offseason to bring Tomas Satoransky in as their starting PG despite already having Kris Dunn and Coby White on their roster. He should have the opportunity all season to remain the starting point guard. One thing that’s even more surprising than Derrick Rose producing Top 75 numbers thus far in the season is the fact that he’s been able to stay healthy for the most part. With all of the injuries in Detroit, Rose should play consistent minutes in the mid-20s and produce Top 100 numbers easily.
Top 100-125
Over the past two weeks, Kevin Huerter is averaging 30.59 Fan Pts, Davis Bertans has been injured for the past few weeks, and Jordan McRae is averaging 34.93 Fan Pts.
The start of Kevin Huerter‘s year was frustrating. Before the season began, he hurt his shoulder and was sidelined for a few weeks. Once he returned, he faced a minutes limit. Now that he is fully healthy, I believe he can flirt with Top 100 numbers. As long as Davis Bertans remains in Washington, I see him producing Top 75 numbers. The Bertans trade rumors have been swirling lately, which is a cause for concern. If he does get traded, he should still be able to hover around Top 100-125 numbers wherever he lands. The Washington Wizards have been looking for a reliable SG to backup Bradley Beal, and they have finally found one in Jordan McRae. His value is boosted with the injuries and uncertainty surrounding Beal and the rest of the injured Wizards.
Tread Lightly
Now that we have gone over key players that I think will crack each notable plateau (Top 25, 50, 75, and 100) let’s take a look at a few players that I believe are set to disappoint for the Rest of the Season.
Bradley Beal
Bradley Beal came into the year as a SLAM DUNK late 1st round/early 2nd round pick. Lately he’s been dealing with a leg injury that has kept him out the last 3 games. With talks of Beal sitting out back-to-back games for the rest of the season, I see him falling WELL outside the Top 25.
Jrue Holiday
Jrue Holiday is a Points League BEAST. No question. The problem is that he is on a rebuilding Pelicans team that is in second-to-last place in the Western Conference. When Zion returns, I can see his minutes decrease, which will sorely hurt his value. Last Monday, he sat out with a sore elbow and it wouldn’t surprise me to see the Pelicans treating him with kid gloves for the rest of the season. Let’s hope he gets traded to a contender.
D’Angelo Russell
D’Angelo Russel has only played 22/38 games so far this year. When Stephen Curry went down earlier in the year, it was assumed that Russell would take over and become the usage monster he was in Brooklyn last season. In the games he HAS played, he does soak up all the usage, but with the Warrior seemingly tanking, I can see Russell missing a lot more games down the stretch.
Aaron Gordon
Aaron Gordon is a player who is MUCH more valuable in Points Leagues than 9-Cat Leagues. He racks up inefficient stats while playing heavy minutes. He currently missed time with an achilles injury, which scares me. Even though he has returned and has played the last two games, I think it’s only a matter of time before the injury gets worse and the Magic shut him down once they are out of the playoff race.
OG Anunoby
OG Anunoby was everyone’s favorite sleeper pick after the departure of Kawhi Leonard. Once he won the starting job, it was a done deal that he would take the reins and possibly be the next Pascal Siakam. While he’s been decent in 9-Cat leagues, he is far too inconsistent to be trusted in Points Leagues. I would expect him to play at a Top 150-200 level for the rest of the season.
Injury List and Expected Return Dates
Kyrie Irving
Kyrie’s shoulder injury was always mysterious to me. When he went down, there was never a true diagnosis or possible return date. There was belief that he could return sometime in the month of January, but with the recent news coming out that he is contemplating shoulder surgery, his return date is murky at best. With KD not returning this year, the Nets may want to put all their chips in for next year and rest Kyrie. If you own him, I would sell him FAST.
Expected Return Date: No Set Return Date
Blake Griffin
Blake Griffin is officially OUT INDEFINITELY following knee surgery. There is no way he returns to the court this year. If you own him in a Redraft Points League, cut him. If you have him in a Dynasty Points League, I would hold him. There is a CHANCE that his terrible play on court this season is due to knee issues.
Expected Return Date: Out Indefinitely
Mike Conley
Hamstrings are tricky. Hamstring injuries can keep players sidelined anywhere from 1-3 weeks. At age 32, Conley’s hamstring injury can linger all season. The Jazz should be in no rush to get him back on the court with Joe Ingles flourishing in the starting lineup without him.
Expected Return Date: Out until at least Mid-January
Zion Williamson
Zion seems RARING to make his debut, but the Pelicans owner and coaching staff seem unwilling to unleash him until he consistently practices with the team. For all of you Zion owners who are fearing that he will be held out all year, I would pump the brakes. The Pelicans are rebuilding with Zion as the centerpiece. With Brandon Ingram playing at a superstar level and Lonzo Ball coming on lately, I expect the Pelicans will let him play as soon as he’s ready. They need to see what they have going into the 2020-2021 NBA season.
Expected Return Date: Out until at least Late-January
Thomas Bryant
As the only skilled big man in Washington, Thomas Bryant had a lot of promise going into this year especially in Points Leagues. Bryant was diagnosed with a stress reaction to his right foot on December 3rd and hasn’t played since. He is currently week-to-week.
Expected Return Date: Out until at least Mid-January
Jonathan Issac
Jonathan Isaac was enjoying a stellar start of his year where he was averaging 2.4 BLK and 1.6 STL to go along with 12 PTS and 6.9 REB a game. Isaac suffered a left knee injury on January 1st and even though he downplayed the injury, the medical staff has ruled him out for the next 10 plus weeks. If the Magic are out of the playoff race by March, they could elect to keep him out the rest of the year. This is a huge blow for all of Isaac’s fantasy owners (myself included).
Expected Return Date: Out until at least Mid-March
Marc Gasol
At the beginning of the year, Marc Gasol was producing decent stats for your Points League team albeit inconsistently. I was low on him coming into the year despite the departure of Kawhi Leonard. There is a lot of tread on those tires and at age 34, I don’t see him turning it around from a hamstring injury once he does comes back.
Expected Return Date: Out until at least Mid-January
Justise Winslow
Justise Winslow has played a total of 10 games this year. Even though he seems like he could return any day now, I don’t see the Heat rushing to get him back on the court while they are winning without him. Even if he does return soon, he will have a minutes limit.
Expected Return Date: Constant Game-Time Decision
Otto Porter Jr.
Otto Porter Jr. not only started the year off poorly, but he was the recipient of load management. The Bulls have been very cautious with Porter’s injury that was only considered a “bruise” to begin with. He is reportedly expected to return around the All-Star break, but don’t let him keep your team from competing NOW. If all of your IR spots are filled or you have no IR spot in your league, I would think about cutting him. He’s not worth it.
Expected Return Date: Out until at least Mid-February
Rui Hachimura
Due to a groin injury, Rui Hachimura has been out since Monday, December 16th. Hachimura is one of many Wizards on the shelf. The Wizards desperately want him back, so I assume he’ll get back on the court as soon as possible.
Expected Return Date: Out until at least Early-February
Wrap it Up!
Again, if you want to check out my ROS (Rest of Season) Points League rankings, please follow this LINK. The players that I mentioned above are players that I either wanted to expand on or players that have made the biggest jump from the BOY (Beginning of the Year).
As always, if you need help adding or streaming a specific player, please let us know! We would love to help. You can send us a message on the website or you can tweet at us any time.
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God bless you and let’s make a playoff push together!
Jacob W. Dunne
