Fantasy Basketball: Players Trending Up
The NBA regular season is in its final stretch, and these final weeks can be crucial for teams to make the playoffs or improve their seeding for the fantasy basketball playoffs.
The league has been shaken up with trades, buyouts and signings, providing new opportunities in fantasy basketball.
These are the top players whose stock is on the rise in fantasy basketball.
Jakob Poeltl, C, Toronto Raptors
Poeltl has been a solid force on the San Antonio Spurs the last few seasons, but he has shined so far since being traded to the Toronto Raptors.
It’s been a small sample size with Toronto, but he fits a clear role that the team desperately needs.
The roster is full of big forwards, but Poeltl is the only true center on the lineup, providing a strong interior presence.
In four games with the Raptors, he is averaging 15.8 points, nine rebounds and 2.5 blocks, with an extremely efficient 82.9% field goal percentage.
If he is still available in free agency in your league, he is definitely worth stocking in case this production continues.
Lauri Markkanen, F, Utah Jazz
Markkanen has been having a stellar season, becoming an all-star and putting up career highs across the board.
He has had a huge role with the team after being acquired via trade this off-season, leading a Jazz team that most thought would be tanking at the beginning of the season.
There wasn’t much competition for shots to begin with, but after trading away Mike Conley, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt, there is an even bigger opportunity available for Markkanen.
His 41.5 fantasy points per game rank him fourth amongst all power forwards, which makes him an extra valuable asset at one of the hardest positions to fill in fantasy basketball.
He has kept up his incredible stats all year, and there is only reason to think that his output will increase for the rest of the season.
Kawhi Leonard, F, Los Angeles Clippers
Leonard missed all of last season with a partially torn ACL, it took him quite a while to return to his normal self.
He played only three games in November with an average of 8.3 points per game and then averaged 20.6 points per game in December.
However, the month of January is when Leonard elevated his play, averaging 27.7 points per game on over 50% shooting from the floor.
The rust has worn off and if he can stay healthy, Leonard can lead your fantasy team the rest of the way.
Jaren Jackson Jr., F/C, Memphis Grizzlies
Jackson missed the start of the season as he dealt with a foot injury, but he has been more dominant than ever since coming back from injury, earning him his first all-star nod.
He has been a fantasy machine due to his elite shot blocking, leading the league with 3.3 blocks per game.
The Grizzlies have been struggling without Steven Adams the last few weeks, but Jackson has stepped up as a rebounder, adding even more to his fantasy value.
His rebounding and fouling have always been a weakness when he plays primarily as a center, but he seems to have improved in that role so far.
He will be a dominant defensive force no matter what, but with Adams still out, Jackson has a higher ceiling than ever before.
Christopher Reynolds is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email him at clr5971@psu.edu.
