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Holiday greetings from the RotoBaller team. Hopefully, this time of the year finds your NBA fantasy team in the best shape or at least one player away from making a difference come playoff time.
If you've followed along with the RotoBaller weekly NBA fantasy watch list, your fantasy team possibly acquired a few valuable end-of-the-roster additions. If this is your first read, consider yourself on the good list of the fantasy basketball gods.
For the new readers, let's glance at what last week's watch list nominees produced since. Utah Jazz frontcourt option Jarred Vanderbilt averaged 19.5 fantasy points, Charlotte Hornets center Mason Plumlee had a fantastic burst with 32.5, and Dallas Mavericks sixth-man center Christian Wood exploded with a 41.5 average. Perhaps this list will bring you holiday cheer.
Herbert Jones, New Orleans Pelicans
30.5 % rostered
On a team riddled with players known more for putting the ball in the basket rather than keeping it out, New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones ties the roster together with his imposing defense. While making the proper rotations doesn't typically result in significant fantasy success, blocks and steals undoubtedly do.
Averaging 2.3 steals per contest for the past seven days, Jones will boost thievery to your fantasy squad. Although his offense doesn't indicate a worthy late-game pickup, his defense will keep you from jumping overboard. Notably, his offense doesn't provide much banter other than "wow, Jones gets most of his points from the scraps left from Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and CJ McCollum," making his defensive impact that more impressive.
Admittedly, a roster dependent on a pickup such as Jones reeks of desperation. However, in a deep league, a player averaging 23.4 fantasy points in his last five games is solid. The least you can do is monitor Jones for a possible jolt in his offense before the new year.
Finishing third in total steals for the 2021-2022 season, Jones found a place in the league with his defensive niche. Is there room for a limited player, though, accumulating guaranteed steals as his saving grace on your roster?
Michael Porter Jr., Denver Nuggets
71.3 % rostered
While Nikola Jokic puts forth another MVP-worthy campaign, his theoretical best teammates struggle to stay on the court. Michael Porter Jr.'s fall in the 2018 NBA draft warned of times like these. Although this time, his injury was his heel, not his back. Having not played since November 22, Porter Jr. returned to face the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday.
While he didn't light it up from deep (2-6 from the 3-point line), the 2018 lottery pick recorded 31 fantasy points. Theoretically, Porter Jr. seems like an ideal fantasy option. However, his banged-up body prevents him from maintaining go-to status in the league and on your fantasy team.
Regardless of his injury history, acquiring such a talented player with little-to-no risk is a no-brainer idea. With talent such as Porter Jr.'s, you bet on it. In his 17 games played this season, Porter Jr.'s true shooting percentage ranks above average with a .620 true shooting mark, as the league's average lands at .576.
While it's probably unfair to expect him to play more than 65 games in a season at this point in his career, as his season-high was 61, a plug-and-play situation fits well for fantasy purposes. Pick him up if he's on the waiver wire, or perhaps someone in your league wants to ditch him for cheap. Either way, secure him and witness the efficiency from distance.
Bruce Brown, Denver Nuggets
26.9 % rostered
Bruce Brown is the third player to feature on RotoBaller's fantasy watch list. Having Jokic as a teammate is like having HBO's Entourage character Vincent Chase as a brother; even when you're down, you're good. Thankfully, for the Denver Nuggets, Brown works harder than Turtle and Johnny Drama combined.
Brown's roster flexibility keeps him in lineups. With his ability to guard positions one through three, it's no surprise he's playing a career-high 30.3 minutes per contest. Playing with Jokic also enables him to seize on various open looks, especially from the perimeter, evident in his 40 percent mark on a career-high 3.2 attempts from deep.
Balancing out to 32 fantasy points in his past five performances, Brown warrants your undivided attention as the ultimate sleeper leaguewide. Never mind his negative on-off numbers, as he's producing career-highs in nearly every offensive counting stat category.
With the aforementioned injury-prone teammates, Brown provides Jokic with the consistency necessary for the Nuggets to compete in the Western Conference. Seek Brown without causing too much attention, as a diamond can only hide in the dirt for so long without being noticed. Consider Brown a bottom-of-the-stocking sleeper.
All stats appear courtesy of NBA.com/stats and Basketball-Reference.com.
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