We're heading into Week 10 in fantasy hoops, and we're just about halfway into the fantasy season. For most leagues, playoffs start on Week 21 on Mar. 5th and conclude on at the end of Week 24 starting on Mar. 26th. If you haven't checked out our injury updates, make sure to give that a look. I also write a feature during the week on recent notable injuries and which players can benefit. Check out my previous post here. We are expanding our NBA fantasy coverage throughout the site, so be sure to check them out!

Some news around the association: Cleveland Cavalier point guard Isaiah Thomas is targeting the first week of January. He should not be on any waiver wires in any format. Brooklyn Nets center Jahlil Okafor got his fifth healthy Did-Not-Play (DNP) on Sunday night, making him a very tough hold at the moment. The Nets went with Tyler Zeller for most of the game, and even opted to give Nik Stauskas 15 minutes, where he put up zero points on 0-for-5 shooting. I would give Jahlil Okafor a few more games. He could be out of shape and head coach Kenny Atkinson is holding true to his word stating that Okafor would have to "earn his minutes."

Now let's look back on Week 9 and get prepared for Week 10.

 

Week 10 Schedule

4 Games – Jazz, Spurs, Trail Blazers, Suns, Sixers, Thunder, Heat, Lakers, Clippers, Warriors, Nuggets, Mavericks, Bulls, Hornets, Celtics, Hawks

3 Games – Nets, Rockets, Pacers, Grizzlies, Bucks, Pelicans, Knicks, Magic, Kings, Raptors, Wizards

2 Games – Cavaliers, Pistons

 

Week 9 Breakout Performers

Chris Paul, PG, Houston Rockets

Week 9 averages: 26.0 PPG 6.3 RPG 7.8 APG 3.3 SPG 0.5 BPG 4.0 3PM 53% FG 95% FT 3.5 TO

Chris Paul has been a blessing for not only James Harden, but also himself. He's been on a tear lately quickly establishing himself quickly with elite value. CP3 is the fifth overall best overall player on the year since his return, in which he has only played 14 games. He's been the best player this past week and all signs are pointing towards an elite finish. Mike Antonio's offense system is a blessing for fantasy owners.

Karl-Anthony Towns, PF/C, Minnesota Timberwolves

Week 9 averages: 25.7 PPG 13.7 RPG 3.7 APG 2.3 SPG 3.0 BPG 2.0 3PM 49% FG 74% FT 0.7 TO

KAT has been under the radar a bit this season, but he's still flirting with first-round value on the year. He has been consistent all year and there's no reason for him to regress. He hasn't been crazy good to warrant the #1 pick for some thus far, but owners should be happy because he's unlikely to miss any games, where other players in his class will likely be rested on back-to-backs.

Jamal Murray, PG/SG, Denver Nuggets

Week 9 averages: 23.7 PPG 6.3 RPG 3.3 APG 2.0 SPG 0.3 BPG 3.7 3PM 50% FG 100% FT 2.7 TO

Remember when owners dropped him during the early-season struggles? Murray landed on some waiver wires in some leagues earlier in the season, but has quickly found his groove and his coach's trust with stellar play. He's just flirting with top-100 numbers on the year, but he's been a mid-round guy over the past month thanks to 16.5 points and 1.9 3-pointers per game. He's going to be streaky, but his upside in points, steals, and treys makes him an intriguing prospect to help anchor the rest of your team. Murray was a first-round play this week and owners shouldn't look to sell high.

Jrue Holiday, PG/SG, New Orleans Pelicans

Week 9 averages: 26.0 PPG 5.3 RPG 6.3 APG 2.7 SPG 0.7 BPG 3.7 3PM 57% FG 50% FT 2.7 TO

Holiday has been hot lately,  and the arrival of Rajon Rondo has actually taken a lot of pressure off Holiday. Holiday is playing more at the shooting guard position nowadays, and he doesn't mind it at all now that he's averaging a career-high 18.1 points per game this season. He's always been an early-round guy with top-25 upside, and the Pelicans will lean on his perimeter shooting all season.

Gary Harris, SG, Denver Nuggets

Week 9 averages: 21.7 PPG 3.7 RPG 6.7 APG 2.7 SPG 0.0 BPG 1.7 3PM 55% FG 80% FT 1.7 TO

I'm kicking myself I couldn't land Harris on any of my teams this year, and he's not making it easy as he's been ballin' lately. Harris is a rare fantasy asset that has the ability to rack up points, steals, and treys, all while shooting an elite percentage from a guard position. He's shooting 48 percent on the year, and shot 55 percent last week while averaging 21.8 points per game. This might be the ceiling for Harris, but who can complain when he rewarded owners with top-25 value over the past month? He's a stud and his role in Denver is safe.

 

Week 10 Standard Leagues - Waiver Wire Pickups

Trey Lyles, PF, Denver Nuggets (25% Ownership)

Lyles has been great since Nikola Jokic (ankle) opened up more minutes and opportunities in the front court. Despite Jokic returning on Friday, Lyles still scored 19 points with seven rebounds, three assists, three steals and four 3-pointers in 30 minutes against the Pelicans. He looks comfortable out there with Jokic, and Kenneth Faried (six minutes) doesn't look to be a threat for the foreseeable future. He could be a sneaky pick-up for Week 10 and beyond.

Alex Len, PF/C, Phoenix Suns (39% Ownership)

The Suns are clearly tanking, giving random DNP's to their front-court on different nights. However, Len was the exception this weekend where he has now played three straight games. Len responded on Saturday with a 12-point, 19-board, two-steal, and one-block performance. He's simply too good to leave on the waiver wire with his upside in boards and blocks. He should be owned as long as the Suns continue playing him on a nightly basis.

Wayne Ellington, SG/SF, Miami Heat (14% Ownership)

The three-point bomber has hit 18 three-pointers in his last four games, in which he has scored 12,24, 16, and nine points. He's doesn't do much else aside from treys and points but he will have the occasional steals as a bonus. However, he's a vital asset to have because he can single-handedly give you an edge in 3-pointers while he's hot. The Heat will have four games in Week 10.

Jonas Jerebko, PF, Utah Jazz (3% Ownership)

The injury to Rudy Gobert (knee) will open up minutes for Jerobko once again, which he responded nicely and finished with 17 points, seven rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot across 24 minutes in Friday's win at Boston. He's not going to have much usage, and he can fill it up if given the opportunity. The Jazz plays four times this week.

Bogdan Bogdanovic , SG, Sacramento Kings (12% Ownership)

Bogdanovic's minutes has been creeping up slowly in his last four, playing 30, 33, 33, and 29. The Serbian rookie went 7-of-10 from the field on his way to 18 points, four 3-pointers, three rebounds, five assists, one steal and two turnovers in 29 minutes on Sunday. That's a lot of upside for a player to leave on the waiver wire, and he's worth a long look as he's clearly gaining confidence as the season goes. He did leave the game late when he got hit in the quad, but it didn't look serious. The Kings are the only team to play Tuesday and Wednesday, giving owners a good reason to gamble on him as a stream option.

Week 10 Deep Leagues - Waiver Wire Pickups

Maxi Kleber, PF/C, Dallas Mavericks (7% Ownership)

Kleber might be the best German in the NBA not named Dirk Nowitzki. He's gaining momentum as a fantasy asset as he scored a career-high 21 points during a 98-96 loss to the Spurs on Saturday, adding three rebounds, three blocks and three 3-pointers. His minutes has been on the rise lately, averaging 30 minutes over the last five games. With the Mavericks being careful in managing Dirk's minutes, Kleber is the guy the Mavericks has been closing out games with. He's a very active big who can stretch out to the 3-point line, so the Mavericks may want to develop him as the season goes on. He's a deep league guy for now, but he's worth monitoring to see if he's able to get it going come 2018.

Frank Ntilikina, PG/SG, New York Knicks (13% Ownership)

Ntilikina could've made the standard league list if it wasn't for the dud he threw on Saturday in which he laid an egg with zero points. He was looking like he may of gained coach Jeff Hornacek's trust lately, but fizzled out with foul trouble against the Thunder Saturday. He could very well bounce back Monday, and his upside in assists, steals and treys make a very appealing stash option for the foreseeable future. If he ever gets 30+ minutes per game, he's going to be a top-100 asset.

Reggie Bullock, SG/SF, Detroit Pistons  (7% Ownership)

Unfortunately, the Pistons only play twice this week. Bullock has been great lately, going off for a career-high 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting, hitting four 3-pointers with five rebounds, one steal and zero turnovers in 31 minutes on Sunday. He's found a spot in the rotation and has outplayed Stanley Johnson for the role. Even though it's worth noting that Avery Bradley (groin) has been out, it seems like coach Stan Van Gundy really likes Bullock as an option for his inside-out, kick-it-to-the-shooters offense. Bullock has eight steals and only one turnover over the last four. The upside in threes and steals looks promising, and he could quickly become a hot standard league pick up if he's able to continue his hot shooting this week.

Aron Baynes, PF/C, Boston Celtics (4% Ownership)

The former Spur has been a nice addition for the Celtics, and now has averaged 9.6 points and 6.0 boards over his last five. He's doing it on an efficient 66 percent shooting, which is very useful in deeper leagues. He's not going to do much outside of points and boards, but he could get you over the hump if he's able to sustain this type of value.

Mario Hezonja, SG/SF, Orlando Magic (4% Ownership)

Hezonja went ham and scored a career-high 28 points in 31 minutes on Sunday, making 10-of-18 shots with eight 3-pointers, six rebounds, three steals and two assists. Yes, the Magic are depleted with injuries on the wings, giving Hezonja a huge opportunity to produce. He did respond big time, which could've really opened up his trade value leading up to the February trading dead line. Aaron Gordon (strained right calf), Evan Fournier (ankle) and Arron Afflalo (back spasms) are all still on the sidelines, giving Hezonja some short term value right now.

 

Buy Low

Isaiah Thomas, PG/SG, Cleveland Cavaliers

The major news this weekend was that Isaiah Thomas finally has a target in mind, and that's early January. To make it clear again, he shouldn't be on any waiver wires in any fantasy format, and he should be viewed as an early-round guy with top-25 upside if everything clicks. You shouldn't expect Isaiah Thomas to put up the numbers he did with the Celtics last season, but you can bet he's going to thrive playing next to LeBron James if he's able to stay healthy. He's also motivated more than ever the Celtics traded him away after a MVP-caliber season last year. The scoring might not be as high as last year, but his efficiency and his 3-point makes could increase. Thomas is worth the gamble if you're willing to trade away pieces you won't miss.

Lonzo Ball, PG, Los Angeles Lakers

Say what you want about the rookie's ugly shooting form, but he has been sneaky good over the past few weeks. He's been a steady top-25 play over the last two weeks and a top-75 play over the past month. Not many are noticing his out-of-positions blocks from a point guard position, but he's getting it done with 1.8 steals and 1.5 blocks per game over the last two weeks. Many owners are just reading into the shooting struggles, without noticing other things like rebounds, dimes, and 3-pointers are all up from the previous month as well. He hasn't blow up yet, but the Big Baller Brand star is going to be given a long leash in LA. Get him while his value is still low.

Hassan Whiteside, C, Miami Heat

The big man is close to a return, although the team hasn't announced a set return date. He's been ruled out Monday and Wednesday, so his earliest target date would be Friday against the Mavericks. If anyone follows him on Snapchat, he has said to his fans he's progressing very well in his recovery. He's already lifting weights and working on conditioning. He has said to the media he will not return unless he feels 100 percent right, so he could be held just a bit longer. Expect big things from him when he does return, as he will return first-round value. Get him while you still can.

 

Sell High

Dwyane Wade, PG/SG, Cleveland Cavaliers

Wade has already started to trend down a bit after a hot two-week stretch. That may be the best Wade has looked all season and it's a great idea to sell him for a player with a better outlook. Isaiah Thomas is also close to a return and he will almost definitely have a negative impact on Wade's fantasy production. There's no telling if Wade can fully stay healthy either. I advise owners to starting exploring trade offers including Wade as his value has never been higher all season.

Spencer Dinwiddie, PG/SG, Brooklyn Nets

Dinwiddie has really struggled lately, shooting just 39 percent the past week. He hasn't exactly been the dynamite player we saw earlier in the season, and it's a huge reminder that players will often regress back to their mean. He was simply playing out of his mind and it'd be wise to see if you're able to send him off for a player with a better outlook, especially given that D'Angelo Russell (knee) could come back in the near future. Dinwiddie will have a hard time sustaining value with Russell back in the picture.

Carmelo Anthony, SF/PF, Oklahoma City Thunder

The OK3 experiment just isn't working, and I'm not sure if it will ever work at all this season. With that said, I do believe Anthony's recent struggles will improve, and so will the team. However, I'm not banking on the fact that Melo's rank of #90 is suddenly going to sky rocket. He's been ranked outside the top-200 over the last two weeks and ranked #171 over the past month, so it's safe to say Melo's best fantasy days are well behind him. He's struggling mightily with efficiency, and his once strongest contribution (points) has fallen to just 17.8 this season. He should be sold once he strings together a couple of strong games, mainly because he still holds decent name value. I'd unload him as soon as he puts up a decent line, or use him as a sweetener in a package deal.

 

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