Injuries are the rules of the road these days and we’ll stick with finding some injury replacement, under-the-radar guys, as well as look at some big names who appear to have hit a wall.
Risers
Donte DiVincenzo, SG, Knicks (60.5% rostered in ESPN leagues): DiVincenzo has been a top 15 player over the past two weeks with averages of 21.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.8 blocks and a whopping 5.0 3-pointers in six games. He’s getting about 35 minutes a night from Tom Thibodeau and has absolutely been cooking for his fantasy managers. Make sure he’s not sitting on your league’s waiver wire.
Ayo Dosunmu, SG, Bulls (34.7%): Donsunmu is loving life for the injured Bulls backcourt and has been a Top 20 player over his last two weeks. He’s coming into Friday’s game against the Nets with averages of 17.2 points, 3.1 rebound, 5.4 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.5 blocks and 2.1 3-pointers on 50% shooting in the month of March and has scored in double figures in six straight games. He’s averaged 22.5 points and 5.3 dimes over his past six games and should be in all fantasy lineups for Friday’s game against the Nets.
Sam Hauser, SF/PF, Celtics (8.3%): Hauser is becoming a Silly Season hero with his recent top 25 fantasy value for the Celtics, who are resting guys on a nightly basis in preparation for the playoffs. Hauser has averaged 16.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.4 blocks and 5.0 triples over his past five games and is nearly a must-add player. He came off the bench Thursday and hit the Hawks for eight points, three assists and a couple of 3-pointers, but if the Celtics end up resting any of their starters, Hauser will quickly become one of the more used streamers on a slow Saturday night.
Miles McBride, PG, Knicks (6.1%): McBride has been a top 35 player in fantasy over the past couple of weeks with averages of 18.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.8 steals and 3.8 3-pointers over his past six games. He’s getting nearly 39 minutes per night and Tom Thibodeau isn’t a guy who takes his foot off the gas. If you’re looking for a warm body for your lineup on Friday, McBride certainly fits the bill.
Dalano Banton, PG, Blazers (8.4%): Banton has been a top 70 player over the past two weeks and is coming off a big 31-point, nine-assist game Wednesday after he went off for 28 points and 11 boards Monday. He’s averaged 18.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.7 blocks and 2.4 triples in March and I will ride this guy until the wheels fall off. But they appear to be bolted on tightly and I don’t expect him to suddenly disappear in the heart of fantasy playoffs, as well as the Silly Season.
Fallers
Caris LeVert, SG/SF, Cavaliers (61.9%): LeVert has been a rough ride for the past three games (13 total points scored on 6-of-27 shooting) and he’s now added a wrist injury into the mix making him questionable for Friday night against the 76ers. He’s only been worth a top 130 fantasy pick over his past seven games with averages of 12.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.0 blocks and 0.9 3-pointers on 38% shooting. His 75% free throw shooting hasn’t done him any favors, either.
Tobias Harris, SF/PF, Sixers (89.9%): Harris is also just a top 130 guy over the past couple of weeks and comes in with averages of 16.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.5 steals, 1.0 blocks and 1.3 3-pointers on 44% shooting and 78 percent at the stripe. He’s played in only four games over the past two weeks, adding to the misery, and has topped 20 points in only one of his past seven games.
Kyle Kuzma, SF/PF, Wizards (95.3%): Kuzma is ranked in the 140s over his past four games with averages of 20.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.3 blocks and 1.5 3-pointers on 51% shooting. The 60% free throw shooting is really holding him back but at least he has been contributing in points, boards and assists.
Brandon Miller, SG/SF, Hornets (70.4%): Miller was on a quite a roll for a bit but appears to have hit a rookie wall, returning just Top 155 value over the last two weeks. Over that six-game stretch he’s averaged 18.2 points but just 4.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.5 blocks and 3.0 3-pointers on 42% shooting. He’s still one of the few reliable Hornets and fantasy managers have to hope he breaks out of his funk soon.
Coby White, PG/SG, Bulls (85.3%): White has missed a few games with a sprained ankle but scored better in his past couple, going for 22 points on Monday and 18 Wednesday. However, his shot has left him and his averages of 16.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 0.3 steals, 0.3 blocks and 1.8 3-pointers on (gulp) 34% shooting make him just a top 170 player over that stretch. But he has a chance to right the ship now and has at least been making his free throws at a 93% clip during the slide.
Source: www.espn.com