Undervalued players set to boost fantasy lineups
Here’s a look at the players who stand out this week, with their ownership percentage listed.
Patrick Beverley, PG, Houston Rockets (25.6)
While Beverley isn’t one of the top scoring options on the Rockets, he is the primary point guard and a player who has averaged over 30 minutes a game in December. The impact of Beverley’s poor field goal percentage (41.3) is lessened due to only 7.6 shot attempts per game, and his 1.7 3s per game and 1.3 steals per game make him a useful contributor in both of those important categories.
Luol Deng, SF, Miami Heat (22.3)
Just when it seemed as if the years of a heavy workload may have caught up to Deng, the veteran small forward is back at it, playing big minutes (33.3 MPG in December) for the Heat. That matters in fantasy, because minutes mean opportunity to accumulate stats, and though Deng is no longer the offensive force he once was in Chicago, he has averaged 10.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 0.9 steals in December. Deng has also made 1.4 3-pointers this season.
T.J. Warren, SF, Phoenix Suns (11.4)
Warren is a better real-life asset to the Suns than he is a fantasy asset, but he shoots better than 50 percent from the floor. The 2014 first-round pick is also a secondary contributor in the rebound (3.3 RPG) and steal (0.8) categories. Only 22, Warren is a good bet to improve as the season goes on, with his minutes likely rising into the mid-20s by season’s end.
Nikola Mirotic, SF, Chicago Bulls (73.1)
Mirotic has averaged only 7.5 points and 5.3 rebounds in 19.6 minutes a game during December. Those numbers aren’t going to cut it for someone owned in nearly three-quarters of ESPN leagues. On top of that, Mirotic owners now have to consider the strong likelihood of increased playing time for rookie forward Bobby Portis, who had a breakout game (20 points, 11 rebounds) against New York on Saturday. Any additional minutes for Portis could mean even less for Mirotic.
Enes Kanter, PF/C, Oklahoma City Thunder (77.3)
Kanter is a familiar name on this list, and he continues to be the most overrated fantasy basketball player this season. He did manage two double-doubles this week, the last one coming against the four-win Los Angeles Lakers, but Kanter is still playing only around 21 minutes a game, and as long as that’s the case, he’s going to have as many clunkers as he does good games. Incredibly, he has only one steal and 10 blocks in 548 minutes this season.
Jrue Holiday, PG, New Orleans Pelicans (73.3)
Holiday has averaged only 25.5 minutes per game in December, and it’s safe to say his minutes haven’t increased as quickly as expected. The seventh-year point guard is a good fantasy option when he’s on the court, but he has yet to play 30 minutes in a game all season and still is given games off to rest on a regular basis.