X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Unexpected Early Season NBA Fantasy Stars

Arkeno looks at some players off to unexpectedly hot starts in the 2016-17 NBA season. Follow RotoBaller for more fantasy basketball strategy, rankings, and waiver adds.

So here you are.  You are on top of your league with an unexpectedly hot start from a player you drafted in the 4th round or later -- or perhaps didn't draft at all.  Do you keep riding the wave or look to sell high?  Today we'll take a look at a group of players who weren't drafted in the top tier, but are putting up stats like it, and what to expect from them going forward.

 

Unexpected Early Season NBA Fantasy Stars

Myles Turner - Ranked 11th Overall / 14.6 Points / 7.0 Rebounds / 1.0 Assists / 1.0 Steals / 2.3 Blocks / 0.4 Threes

Simply put, Turner has been killing it.  With his ADP being around 75 his production is staggering.  Not only is he scoring high teens with great percents, he is also bringing in over two blocks while nearly averaging a steal a game.  The production is clearly top 25 worthy but can he sustain it?  My answer is yes!  If you have watched any of the Pacers games, you can clearly see how much this defense relies on him to protect the rim.  Guards funnel perimeter players to the middle so that Turner can start the block party.  His touches seem to be fairly regular and his touch is really special for a big man.  The only worry you could have is the fact that the Pacers have been so unpredictable.  This might lead to a change in style of player or rotation down the line, but from the looks of it this big man is ready to carry as must responsibility as the team is willing to give.

 

Rudy Gay – Ranked 18th Overall / 22.3 PPG / 6.5 Rebounds / 2.5 Assists / 1.4 Steals / 0.8 Blocks / 1.3 Threes

Rudy might be having the best start of his NBA career.  As a heavy offensive threat, he has found a way to expand his game this year and really give you some production across the board.  During the off season this summer Rudy did state that he will not be exercising his player option and will become a free agent in the summer of 2017.  His great start might be something that makes the Kings second guess putting Rudy on the trade market.  If they choose to stick it out they could lose him for nothing which makes his future uncertain.  The production has a great chance of maintaining throughout this season, but that is based on the assumption that he will stay in Sacramento or be traded to a team that needs his all-around input and not just his offense.

 

Avery Bradley – Ranked 20th Overall / 18.5 Points / 8.3 Rebounds / 3.6 Assists / 1.1 Steals / 0.4 Blocks / 2.4 Threes

This might be the biggest surprise of them all.  It isn’t the fact that Bradley is playing well, it’s the quality of the production.  With Al Horford and Jae Crowder out Bradley has seen minutes at Shooting Guard, and Small Forward.  Not only has this lead to an increase in minutes but Bradley is also averaging 8.3 rebounds which is second only to the ridiculous Russell Westbrook among guards.  Simply put, Bradley is playing out of his mind, but what will his production be once the team is back to full strength?  I am willing to believe that his numbers will go down across the board, but not by much.  You couldn’t complain much about a player putting up these numbers that you drafted in the second round.  Not only is Bradley as must own but he should be fetching a top 15 player at this point.

 

Otto Porter – Ranked 24th Overall / 15.2 Points / 7.8 Rebounds / 1.7 Assists / 1.1 Steals / 0.8 Blocks / 1.0 Threes

Porter started off playing pretty well, but as of late has been on fire.  Most of this can be attributed to the Wizards playing a pretty tight rotation with very little depth on the wings.  The Wizards need all the production they can get so they will keep going to Porter until the well runs dry.  Porter will have very steady numbers and every once in a while he might give you a great game with tons of counting stats as well as percents.

 

Steven Adams – Ranked 32nd Overall / 9.9 Points / 8.5 Rebounds / 0.8 Assists / 1.87 Steals / 1.0 Blocks / 0.0 Threes

Throw it down big fella throw it down.  This is what Adams does and is highly effective at.  While most of his dunks aren’t ally-ops the big man has great timing is almost always in perfect position for Russ to throw a great bounce pass for a dunk.  So far in the season Adams has found himself being one of Russell’s primary targets which is great news for his owners.  The one knock on Adams is that he doesn’t have much block upside, but the fact that he isn’t killing your FT% this year is HUGE!  Finding bigs that can give you a double double without hurting FT% is like finding a winning lottery ticket, it just doesn’t happen.  If you can get your hands on this big man, go for it, because the production will only get better.

 

Dwyane Wade – Ranked 45th Overall / 17.0 Points / 4.1 Rebounds / 2.9 Assist / 1.7 Steals / 0.5 Blocks / 1.2 Threes

Wade has shown some really impressive flashes so far this season.  He has been able to increase his shooting around the perimeter without taking too heavy of a dip in his FG%.  The 1.7 steals a game is a really big plus once you combine that with his 1.2 threes a game.  Wade provides grate scoring output while at the same time delivering great defensive stats.  In a perfect world, Wade could keep this up all season, but in reality it is more than likely that he will miss some time this year.  You should also take into consideration his career three point FG% being 28.6% in comparison to this year’s 35.3%.  The sample size is small but you are running the risk of Wade regressing to the mean which would also kill his FG% and total three-point output.  I would sell high.

 

Rodney Hood – Ranked 50th Overall / 17.4 Points / 4.4 Rebounds / 1.9 Assists / 0.9 Steals / 0.4 Blocks / 2.4 Threes

Hood is in a very interesting situation.  He has been playing far ahead of his 111 ADP and doesn’t look to be slowing down any time soon. Even with the highest usage player on the team coming back he seems to be pretty set in his role.  Hood might be the player on the team that benefits the most from Alec Burks injury as he has very little competition for minutes.  Hood has been shooting lights out at 48% from the field and I think he can keep this up.  If you drafted him this season, as long as he doesn’t get hurt, Hood can easily continue to be one of the pieces that pushes your team over the top.




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Aaron Judge

Unikely to Throw Normally Again This Year
Jalen McMillan

Could be Out Through Week 9 Bye
Indiana Pacers

Pacers Coach Rick Carlisle Agrees to a Multiyear Contract Extension on Tuesday
Washington Wizards

John Wall Retires After 11 NBA Seasons
Daniel Jones

Named as Colts Starting Quarterback
Jalen McMillan

Will Not Be Ready for Season Opener
Collin Sexton

Hornets Have High Hopes for Collin Sexton
Rui Hachimura

Likely to Start Season Without Contract Extension
Jaime Jaquez Jr.

Hopes to Bounce Back in 2025-26
Stephen Curry

Ready to Go for New Season
Orlando Magic

Lester Quinones Agrees to Deal With Magic
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Cleared to Play on Tuesday Night
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Pulled With Hamstring Tightness
MLB

Game 2 of Brewers-Cubs on Monday Postponed
Bryce Miller

to be Activated on Tuesday
Kyle Tucker

to Get Multiple Days Off
Shane Bieber

to Make Season Debut on Friday
Joe Mixon

Could Start Season on NFI List
Zack Wheeler

has Surgery to Remove Blood Clot
De'Von Achane

Unlikely to Practice This Week
Justin Jefferson

Returning to Practice
Chris Godwin

Bucs Chris Godwin Likely to Start Season on PUP List
Joe Flacco

Browns Name Joe Flacco as Their Week 1 Starter
Jalen McDaniels

Inks Deal With New Orleans
N'Faly Dante

Signs Deal With Hawks
Matthew Stafford

Practicing on Monday
Dru Smith

Agrees to Deal With Heat
Austin Dillon

Scores an Upset Victory at Richmond
William Byron

Clinches the Regular Season Championship Title at Richmond
Denny Hamlin

Pit-Road Struggles Impede Denny Hamlin's Chances of a Top Finish at Richmond
Joey Logano

Earns A Fourth-Place Finish at Richmond
Kyle Larson

Rallies to A Top-10 Finish at Richmond
Malik Nabers

Dealing With Back Injury
Khamzat Chimaev

Is The New UFC Middleweight Champion
Dricus Du Plessis

Gets Dominated At UFC 319
Aaron Pico

Suffers Knockout Loss In His UFC Debut
Lerone Murphy

Scores Stunning First-Round Knockout
Leodalis De Vries

Earns Promotion to Double-A
Nathaniel Lowe

Finalizing Deal with Boston
Geoff Neal

Suffers First-Round Knockout Loss
Ketel Marte

Arizona Could Trade Ketel Marte in the Offseason
Carlos Prates

Gets Back In The Win Column
Michael Page

Dominates At UFC 319
Jared Cannonier

Gets Outclassed
Tim Elliott

Gets Submission Win
Kai Asakura

Still Winless In The UFC
Austin Cindric

has Arguably his Best Run of the Season at Richmond
Ryan Blaney

Contends for First Richmond Win but Comes Up Short
Alex Bowman

Finishes Second but Loses Ground in Playoffs
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Sets Personal Laps-Led Record at Richmond
Chris Buescher

Falls Out of Playoffs After Miserable Richmond Run
Coby White

Bulls Not Interested in Trading Coby White
Dereck Lively II

Expected to be Ready for Camp
Brian Robinson Jr.

Commanders "Shopping" Brian Robinson Jr.
John Metchie III

Texans Trade John Metchie III to Eagles
Victor Scott II

Placed on 10-Day Injured List
Trey Hendrickson

Bengals Listening to Trade Offers for Trey Hendrickson
Marcelo Mayer

to Have Season-Ending Wrist Surgery
Samuel Basallo

Called Up From Triple-A Norfolk
J.K. Dobbins

Expected to Win Starting RB Job?
Quentin Johnston

Suffers Concussion in Preseason Loss
Jaxson Dart

Plays Well on Saturday Night
Marcus Semien

Avoids Serious Injury
Kyle Stowers

Heads to Injured List With Left-Side Strain
Zack Wheeler

Placed on Injured List With Blood Clot in Shoulder
Terry McLaurin

Commanders Optimistic Terry McLaurin Deal Can Get Done Soon
De'Von Achane

De’Von Achane Dealing With Lower-Body Injury
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Likely Avoids Serious Injury
Josh Hader

Unlikely to Return During Regular Season
Denny Hamlin

the Heavy Favorite to Win at Richmond
Christopher Bell

Has Been Great at Richmond
Kyle Stowers

Out Saturday With Left-Side Tightness
Tyrese Haliburton

No Longer Using a Scooter, Crutches
Ryan Blaney

Can Ryan Blaney Finally Break Through at Richmond?
Joey Logano

Will Start Last at Richmond After Practice Trouble
Chase Elliott

Lack of Top-Line Speed Hurts his DFS Potential
Kyle Larson

Recent String of Crashes Make Him a Big Risk at Richmond
William Byron

Probably Slightly Too Inconsistent at Richmond to Start for DFS
Ryan Preece

on Pole at Richmond as Playoff Deadline Looms Closer
Brad Keselowski

Probably the Best RFK Racing DFS Option at Richmond
Chase Briscoe

Still Figuring Out Richmond
Chris Buescher

a Solid Choice for DFS Play, but Teammates Look Faster
Jhoan Duran

Feels "100%"
Marcus Semien

Out on Saturday, Going for X-Rays on his Wrist
George Springer

Activated and Starting on Saturday
Terry McLaurin

Commanders Activate Terry McLaurin From PUP List
Rashee Rice

NFL Could Reach Settlement Before Hearing
Joe Mixon

Not a Lock to be Ready For Week 1
Haywood Highsmith

Dealt to Brooklyn on Friday
Amir Coffey

Signs One-Year Deal With Bucks
Khamzat Chimaev

A Favorite At UFC 319
Dricus Du Plessis

Set For His Third Title Defense
Aaron Pico

Set For UFC Debut
Lerone Murphy

Looks To Remain Undefeated
Geoff Neal

Looks For His Second Win In A Row
Michael Page

Set For His Second Middleweight Bout
Jared Cannonier

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Kai Asakura

Looks For His First UFC Win
Tim Elliott

Set To Open Up UFC 309 Main Card
CBJ

Mikael Pyyhtia Re-Signs With Blue Jackets for One Year
UTA

Caleb Desnoyers Expected to Miss 12 Weeks After Wrist Procedure
Tyson Foerster

on Track to Be Healthy for Season Opener
NHL

Olivier Rodrigue Signs KHL Deal
NHL

Emil Bemstrom to Join Swiss Team
Payton Pritchard

Reportedly Moving Into Starting Lineup
Kevin Durant

Rockets Not Interested in Keeping Kevin Durant with Max Extension
NBA

Isaiah Mobley Joins Turkish Team
NBA

Cole Swider Links Up with EuroLeague Powerhouse

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP