Fantasy Basketball Surprises and Disappointments: Week 5

Story posted November 21, 2022 in CommRadio, Sports by Christopher Reynolds

After five weeks of the NBA season, there have been some standout players that have been carrying fantasy basketball lineups and outperforming expectations.

However, there have been major disappointments, derailing lineups and frustrating fantasy owners.

Here are the top surprises and disappointments in fantasy basketball so far this season.

Surprises

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, G, Thunder

In his time on the court the last few seasons, Gilgeous-Alexander has shown tremendous potential to lead this young Oklahoma City roster. However, he has far exceeded expectations and is playing at an elite level.

He is averaging 31.1 points, 5.9 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. His last two seasons were cut short due to injury, but if Gilgeous-Alexander can stay on the court, he will be a fantasy basketball superstar.

He ranks first amongst shooting guards in fantasy basketball points with 55.9 average points. His versatility as a shooting guard and point guard makes him an even more valuable asset in fantasy basketball.

Lauri Markkanen, F, Jazz

Markkanen and the Utah Jazz have been the biggest surprise of the NBA season, currently tied for the first seed in the Western Conference.

This is in large part due to Markkanen taking a massive leap this season, leading the team in scoring with 22.2 points a game.

In terms of fantasy, Markkanen leads all power forwards in scoring, averaging nearly 40 fantasy points a game. He also has lineup versatility, being listed as a power forward and small forward.

The Jazz have figured out a way to use him to the best of his abilities, letting him make plays off the dribble and being more than a spot-up shooter.

It will be interesting to see if the Jazz keep winning, but at least Markkanen looks like an emerging star.

Disappointments

Klay Thompson, SG, Warriors

Thompson has been a major disappointment, unable to play up to the elite level that we have grown used to before his injuries.

His fantasy output has been inconsistent, along with his actual play on the court. His average is 22.5 fantasy points, but his play varies more than the average player, making him a major question mark every game.

He is reliant on his scoring, but with his shooting numbers down across the board, Thompson doesn’t hold nearly as much value as he did once before.

Chris Paul, PG, Suns

Paul is having his worst scoring season by far, averaging single-digit scoring for the first time in his career.

Since he is still one of the best playmakers in the game, most of his fantasy points come off of assists, averaging 35.9 fantasy points per game.

He’s also 37-years-old and is already missing games due to a heel injury. His assists keep him fantasy relevant, but a large chunk of his production is down with the massive dropoff in scoring.

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