The Fantasy Five: Start Alex Len, bench Arron Afflalo
This column will concentrate on borderline fantasy options who should get strong consideration to start/bench during the upcoming week based on schedules.
Alex Len: Fully recovered from his ankle injury, Len has averaged 10.5 rebounds and 3.5 blocks over two games since the All-Star break. Most importantly, he’s seen nearly 35.0 mpg over this span, which is significant considering the young big man has gotten 1.6 bpg this season despite getting just 20:41 mpg. Staying out of foul trouble will remain key (Len is tied for the 10th most fouls in the NBA this year despite the low minutes played), but there remains clear upside for the 21-year-old. Not only is Miles Plumlee gone but so are Goran Dragic and Isaiah Thomas, leaving a whole bunch of Usage Rates to be replaced. Len is owned in fewer than 30 percent of Yahoo leagues, although that number is sure to change, as he’s been the most added player over the past couple of days.
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Isaiah Canaan: He’s averaged 12.6 points, 1.2 steals and 2.7 3pt over nine starts this season with Houston, and Canaan is now the 76ers’ starting point guard after getting traded to Philadelphia. It may take some time before he gets acclimated with his new team, especially as a raw player who’s seen just 13:13 mpg during his career while joining a 76ers squad that has by far the worst Offensive Efficiency in the NBA (Philly’s OFF EFF is 91.6, whereas the next worst Is 97.8). But Canaan should get a huge opportunity on a tanking 76ers team that ranks No. 6 in PACE and has produced two guards who were in the top-15 in Usage Rate this season (Tony Wroten and Michael Carter-Williams) before either going down with injury or getting dealt. Canaan is somehow still owned in just 26 percent of Yahoo leagues.
Jusuf Nurkic: Over his last five games, Nurkic has averaged 10.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 2.4 blocks while shooting 48.7 percent from the field and committing just 1.4 turnovers. He’s been a top-30 fantasy player over this span, one spot behind Anthony Davis despite seeing just 26.6 mpg. Nurkic is looking at a lot more playing time down the stretch as the key piece to Denver’s rebuilding plan. He also plays an NBA-high four games in Week 18 and is still available in more than 60 percent of Yahoo leagues.
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Mo Williams: Brian Roberts was given a chance when Kemba Walker went down with a knee injury, but he’s been a huge disappointment, ranking as the No. 140 player despite seeing 34.0 mpg, thanks in no small part to shooting 36.6 percent from the floor. So it’s no surprise Charlotte traded for Williams, who erupted for 24 points, four rebounds, 12 assists and five threes during his first appearance with the Hornets on Saturday. Walker will eventually return, but Williams is owned in fewer than 50 percent of leagues and is a must-add right now despite Charlotte playing just three games this week.
Arron Afflalo: He’s been a top-100 player in three of the past four years, so it’s easy to see why owners have stuck by him despite a disappointing start to 2014/15 (he’s still owned in nearly 75 percent of Yahoo leagues). But Afflalo has been in a devastating shooting slump of late, sporting a 33.8 FG% over his last six games. Moreover, there’s far worse news than a small sample slump, as Afflalo has been traded to a Portland team that will decrease both his minutes and Usage Rate. To further emphasize benching Afflalo, the Trail Blazers play an NBA-low three games in Week 18.
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