2024-25 Fantasy Basketball Buy or Sell: Friday, November 1

Alex Burns discusses his favorite fantasy basketball players to buy low, sell high, and hold after a handful of games in the 2024-25 season. (November 1)

By this point in the fantasy basketball season, most managers have two things in common: a burning urge to overreact and a creeping sense of panic. It's practically wired into our DNA. Whether it’s jumping on breakout performances or dreading a star player's slump, the thrill (and agony) of managing a fantasy roster has us all riding an emotional roller coaster.

In this weekly series, we’re diving into the art of playing the market like a pro. We'll take advantage of all the ups, downs, and overreactions, pinpointing which players to buy low, sell high, or hold onto just a bit longer to see how things shake out. Together, we'll cut through the panic, analyze the context, and make savvy moves that help your team scale to the top.

Saddle up, RotoBallers, and let's turn your fantasy squad into a powerhouse!

Dennis Schroder, PG - Brooklyn Nets

Baller Move: Sell High

I’m not going to sugarcoat it -- Dennis Schroder has been on an absolute tear to start the season. With averages of 24.6 points, 8.2 assists, and 4.2 threes per game, he’s locked into top-20 status, according to Basketball Monster’s rankings, and might even be the best draft-day steal so far.

If you snagged him with one of your last picks, you’ve been reaping the rewards -- but I’ve got a few reservations about his outlook for the rest of the season.

Dennis Schroder last three games:

33 PTS | 8 AST | 6 3P
28 PTS | 14 AST | 5 3P
29 PTS | 6 AST | 5 3P

In the top two for assists and threes this season. pic.twitter.com/HaSBISBi6l

— StatMuse (@statmuse) October 31, 2024

For starters, it’s almost impossible for him to sustain this level of efficiency. With 11 years in the league, we know Schroder’s shooting tendencies and his career average of 43.5% from the field paints a realistic picture. This year, he’s hitting a wild 54.7% on 15 attempts per game, which feels like a mirage he won’t maintain.

This doesn’t mean Schroder’s production will plummet into irrelevance; his role on a Brooklyn squad lacking offensive depth should keep him in valuable territory all season. But expecting him to stay a top-20 asset is wishful thinking. Before that efficiency dips -- and it almost certainly will -- capitalize on this fantasy gift from the gods and sell high while you can.

Bam Adebayo, F/C - Miami Heat

Baller Move: Buy Low

Adebayo is off to one of the roughest starts of the season, and it’s hard to watch for those who have come to rely on his consistent fantasy production year after year. He is limping along with averages of just 11.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists, shooting a dismal 39% from the field and 66% from the line.

After an offseason filled with hype about his revamped three-point shot, he’s somehow yet to sink a single three-pointer in the Heat's first four games. To top it off, he’s averaging only 9.5 shot attempts per game -- down from over 14 in each of the last two seasons.

It’s been a tough road for Adebayo, and I understand the panic from fantasy managers who invested a third-round pick in him. But hold onto your panic buttons because I’m confident things are about to turn around.

First off, let’s not forget Adebayo is a career 54% shooter. Even if we factor out his early years with lower usage, he’s consistently shot over 50% throughout his career. Does it seem plausible that a player with that track record suddenly forgot how to shoot on a reduced volume?

I expected a slight dip in efficiency with an uptick in three-point attempts, yet he’s only launched eight threes so far this season. Everything about his shooting performance screams slump rather than reality.

We also have to consider the Miami Heat’s adjustments to their new offense. They’re playing faster and launching more threes than ever, which has thrown a wrench into Adebayo’s usual scoring patterns that thrive on mid-range and paint shots. I fully expect both Adebayo and the team to find their rhythm again soon, getting back to what they do best -- feeding their max player.

As of now, Adebayo is sitting at 135th in per-game value, according to Basketball Monster, but he’s primed to bounce back and could easily re-enter the top 40 in no time. So hang tight -- better days are ahead.

Jordan Poole, PG - Washington Wizards

Baller Move: Sell High 

Before diving in, I just want to say that I was all in on Jordan Poole this offseason, and he’s easily one of my most-rostered players in fantasy. But even I didn’t expect him to explode like this!

Poole hasn’t just been good -- he’s been phenomenal. He’s looking incredibly comfortable running the offense in Washington, leading to efficient shooting, impressive scoring, and, believe it or not, steals!

That’s right: Jordan Anthony Poole is currently leading the entire NBA with 3.0 steals per game in the first week and a half of the season. All of this has catapulted him to a remarkable sixth overall ranking in per-game value, according to Basketball Monster.

Jordan Poole is leading the Wizards in:

— Points
— Assists
— Steals
— threes made
— 3 point percentage

Put some respect on his name. pic.twitter.com/i3nroJgiPl

— 30🅿️roblemz (@30problemz) October 31, 2024

As stellar as he’s been, though, we have to acknowledge that he’s shooting an unsustainable 57% from beyond the arc. Given that he’s a career 33% shooter from three, it’s fair to expect some regression. Combine that with a probable dip in steals, and his current ranking might be a bit inflated.

Now, I’m not saying you need to sell high before he crashes back down to earth. I genuinely believe his role and usage can keep him as a top-75 player throughout the season. However, if you have the chance to trade him for someone who consistently lands in the top 30, you’ve got to pull the trigger.

Dyson Daniels, G - Atlanta Hawks

Baller Move: Hold

Daniels was a popular late-round pick among the fantasy community and it's been clear why over his first couple of games. The buzz surrounding him mainly originated from his potential role on a Hawks team that saw Dejounte Murray depart in the offseason, and he’s been everything we hoped for and more through his first few games.

What’s exciting about Daniels is that none of his stats should come as a shock. While he spent his first two seasons buried on a talented Pelicans roster, his per-36 numbers -- 9.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.3 steals, and 0.7 blocks -- were already eye-catching.

The real surprise has been his impressive 32.4 minutes per game in Atlanta. Even with the likes of De'Andre Hunter, Zaccharie Risacher, and Bogdan Bogdanovic on the wings, it’s clear that Daniels is a key part of the Hawks’ plans.

Although he’s currently dealing with a minor injury, he’s not expected to be sidelined for long. When he returns, he’ll look to build on his early season averages of 12.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.8 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game -- all of which align closely with his per-36 averages from his first two seasons.

This consistency suggests that his numbers are sustainable. Currently sitting as a top-40 player in per-game value, even if his production takes a slight dip as the season rolls on, fantasy managers should be thrilled to have him on their rosters.

Fred VanVleet, G - Houston Rockets

Baller Move: Buy Low

Fred VanVleet has always struggled with his shooting, but he’s taken his poor start to a whole new level this year. After five games, he’s hitting just 30% from the field and a shocking 28% on two-point attempts. His free-throw percentage has also dipped to 75%, a far cry from his career mark of just under 87%.

As a result, he’s averaging only 12.8 points per game -- the lowest since the 2018-19 season. To make matters worse, both his usage and assists have taken a hit, sending fantasy managers into a tailspin over the possibility of a down year. Currently, he’s languishing outside the top 100 in per-game rankings, and that’s the bad news.

FVV doing FVV things last night.@FredVanVleet put the Spurs to bed with this dagger. pic.twitter.com/gzt8HSOfBE

— Wichita State Men's Basketball (@GoShockersMBB) October 29, 2024

The good news is that his minutes and overall role have remained stable. As long as that stays the same, there’s reason to believe his efficiency will bounce back toward his career averages. Digging deeper into his shooting, a whopping 67% of his attempts have come from beyond the arc this season, compared to just 58% last year.

This shift to a higher volume of three-point attempts is skewing his early season field-goal percentage. If we apply last season’s shooting percentages and shot profile to his current numbers, he’d be averaging over 15 points per game.

When you factor in his 1.6 steals, his overall performance looks a lot more palatable. With a little boost in efficiency, VanVleet could easily roll back toward a top-50 floor instead of staying mired outside the top 100. These are the kinds of trends we should keep an eye on when searching for buy-low candidates.