Fantasy Basketball Rookie Report: Week 8

Story posted December 12, 2022 in CommRadio, Sports by Christopher Reynolds

The 2022 NBA draft class didn’t disappoint, with lots of rookies already contributing to their teams.

In fantasy basketball, rookies can be risky picks, making or breaking fantasy teams.

Here are the top rookies in fantasy basketball this season.

Paolo Banchero, PF/SF, Orlando Magic

From the start of the season, Banchero has been the main guy in Orlando, leading the team in points per game and usage percentage.

With his high number of touches, Banchero has emerged already as a solid fantasy option, leading all rookies with an average of 33 fantasy points per game.

The only blemish on his season has been the seven games he has missed so far due to injury, but if he stays on the court, Banchero can be a top player in the NBA.

Bennedict Mathurin, SF/SG, Indiana Pacers

Mathurin has been arguably the second-best rookie this season, providing scoring off the bench for the Pacers.

He ranks second amongst rookies in points per game with 18.1, and has position versatility in fantasy basketball, being listed as both a shooting guard and a small forward.

His fantasy output is limited as he is mainly a scorer, but if he gains a larger role in the offense, Mathurin could emerge as a star for Indiana.

Jabari Smith Jr., PF, Houston Rockets

After a slow start to his NBA career, Smith has improved his game and has been having an incredible December.

In October, Smith averaged 11.9 points with only a 32.6% field goal percentage. November was slightly better, but through four games in December, he has averaged 15.5 points with a 55% field goal percentage.

His efficient shooting and ability to rebound and block shots make him fantasy relevant, and if he can keep this stretch going, Smith will live up to the hype as the third-overall pick in the draft.

Keegan Murray, PF, Sacramento Kings

Murray started this season on fire, but cooled off in November, seeing a significant drop off in points, field goal percentage and minutes.

However, like Smith, Murray has bounced back in December, averaging 16.8 points per game.

He can do more than score too, putting up rebounds, steals and blocks, making him a very effective fantasy player.

Jaden Ivey, PG/SG, Detroit Pistons

Ivey has been having a very solid season for a struggling Pistons team, dropping 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.However, his last seven games have been a struggle, only scoring more than 10 points in three of those games.

This is most likely due to Cade Cunningham being out with a shin injury, as he is the main creator on the team.

Once he returns, Ivey will likely get better looks and will see an uptick in his fantasy production, closer to what it was at the beginning of the season.

 

Christopher Reynolds is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email him at clr5971@psu.edu.