👉 TAP TO SAVE 30% WITH CODE NEW
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

#1 Expert Projections
Save 30% Now
Import Your Leagues
Props Tool
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
24x7 News and Alerts

Buy, Sell or Hold: LaMarcus Aldridge and Nikola Jokic?

The first week of the season is over. And boy what a week it was! Too many injuries put a damper on a very exciting start to the NBA season. The reigning champions Golden State lost two out of three, and their arch nemesis Cleveland was humiliated a few days ago by Orlando, who was missing two of their starters, by the way. Phoenix already decided to thank their head coach Earl Watson for his services and Bledsoe's "I don't want to be here" tweet is having a ripple effect on the franchise, and on our fantasy lives.

Amid all of this drama, a few players surprised us with how they performed. Some pleasantly, some not so much.

Let's take a look at some early over- and under-achievers in our Week 2 fantasy basketball buy low and sell high column here at RotoBaller.

Featured Promo: New Novig users get a $25 purchase match (50% discount up to $25) on your first Novig deposit, and 6 free months of RotoBaller's "Big-4" Premium Pass (NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL) which includes exclusive tools for Betting, Props, DFS and more! CLAIM IT NOW

 

Buy Low, Sell High Advice for Week 2

Are You for Real, LaMarcus Aldridge?

The answer is: Probably not.

First of all, let's take a look at how good Aldridge actually was over his first two games. He averaged 26.5 PTS with 0.5 3PM on 46.7 FG% and 90.9 FT%, 10.0 REB, 3.5 AST, 0.5 STL, 2.0 BLK and 2.0 TO while playing 36 minutes a game. Now let's put that into perspective by comparing it to his best season averages. If he were to keep this up, LMA would set career highs in points, three-pointers made, blocks, assist, free throw percentage and would come dangerously close to his best rebounding season (11.1 in 2013-14).

LaMarcus is a great player, but there's just no way he can keep this up. Why you ask? First of all, he is 32 and is playing for Gregg Popovich who is notorious for taking it easy on his "Old Stars." Second, he has seen most of his stats decline each year since coming to San Antonio two years ago. Third, and probably most important, the Spurs' leader and best player Kawhi Leonard has been absent with an injury and is set to return sooner or later. Once Kawhi returns LMA will see his usage and probably even playing time take a dip.

There's been some speculation that Kawhi is still a ways away from returning so Aldridge will have the increased opportunity in the near future, but it may be a good idea to cash in your chips now if the right opportunity comes up.

I would give up LaMarcus for most players in the top 30, and if some poor sap is willing to swap his struggling Nikola Jokic or Jimmy Butler for your Aldridge, you could count yourself very lucky.

Baller Move: Sell high

 

Time to Panic on Nikola Jokic?

Nikola Jokic is a top 10 fantasy player when he plays like he can. He showed that last season after Denver sorted out their rotation issues and unleashed him. He showed that this year in the preseason. He hasn't shown it yet in his first two regular season games though with averages of 3.5 PTS and 0.5 3PM on 23.1% from the field, 10.5 rebounds, 7.5 assist, 0.5 steals, no blocks and 3.5 turnovers in 33 minutes per game. That's just appalling.

He saw his usage drop from team-leading 23.4% last season to just 13.6% in those two games. Now Nikola is a team player, but that's just too much. It's enough to say that he hasn't taken a single free throw yet.

One could make a point of Paul Millsap's arrival eating into the Joker's offensive touches. But Millsap is not James Harden or Russell Westbrook to make such drastic an impact on Nikola's stats. Also, Millsap and Jokic played together during the preseason and they worked together just fine. So the real reason for this slip is probably just a bad game or two. I must remind you that this is still the same guy who averaged 17.7 PTS with 0.6 3PM on 57.5 FG% and 84.2 FT%, with 11.6 REB, 6.1 AST, 1.0 STL, 0.6 BLK and 2.8 TO in just under 30 minutes a game after the All-Star break last season. And he is only going to get better.

If his owner is panicking, this is the right time to try and get him. Nikola Vucevic, Marc Gasol, Blake Griffin are all bigs that have vastly outperformed Jokic so far this season, and all of them will most probably be less valuable to their fantasy teams going forward. So if you can get the Joker for any of these guys, or any player outside of the top 15-20, I would take it!

Baller Move: Hold or buy low

 

More Fantasy Basketball Analysis

 

NBA DFS Premium Subscription

Get a free trial of our powerful NBA Premium Tools. Our famous DFS Cheat Sheets, and NBA Lineup Optimizer & Generator with daily matchup projections.

Win more. Try the most advanced lineup optimizer in daily fantasy basketball.

Sign Up Now!




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

#1 Expert Projections
Save 30% Now
Import Your Leagues
Props Tool
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Jackson Chourio

Estimated Return Pushed Back to Early May
Christian Yelich

Expected to Return in mid-to-Late May
Jackson Holliday

to be Shut Down a Few Days With Wrist Soreness
Si Woo Kim

Has Become Less Reliable Ahead of RBC Heritage
NFL

Teams Concerned About Rueben Bain Jr.'s Off-the-Field Issues
Brandon Allen

Giants Sign Brandon Allen to Add to QB Room
Denver Broncos

Eli Stowers Visiting With Broncos
Dontayvion Wicks

Could End Up Being Eagles WR2
New York Jets

Omar Cooper Jr. Visits With Jets on Monday
Miami Dolphins

Makai Lemon Visits With Dolphins on Monday
Ja'Tavion Sanders

Looks Good After Ankle Surgery
Tank Dell

2026 Availability Still a Mystery
Bhayshul Tuten

to Have Much Bigger Role in 2026?
DeVonta Smith

Eagles Think DeVonta Smith Could be an Elite WR1
De'Von Achane

Dolphins, De'Von Achane Not Close to Contract Extension
Russell Henley

Looks to Carry Momentum Into Harbour Town
Christian Yelich

Placed on 10-Day Injured List With Groin Strain
Jeremiah Jackson

has Career Day on Monday
Jake Burger

Goes Yard Twice in Win Over A's
Mike Trout

Two Homers, Five RBI Not Enough at Yankee Stadium
Tommy Fleetwood

a Good Ball-Striking Play at RBC Heritage
Trent Grisham

Comes Off the Bench to Hit Two Homers
Aaron Judge

Homers Twice on Monday in Win Over Angels
Sam Burns

Hopes to Carry Good Form to Harbour Town
Harris English

Solid but Not Spectacular in 2026
Daniel Berger

Could Contend Again at Hilton Head
Joe Mixon

Is There Any Value Still to Be Squeezed From Joe Mixon?
Marvin Mims Jr.

Likely the Odd Man Out in a Crowded Broncos Receiver Room
RJ Harvey

Ceiling Likely Still Capped in Year 2
Mark Scheifele

Establishes New Franchise Record With 101 Points
Baker Mayfield

Can Baker Mayfield Regain QB1 Status?
Quinton Byfield

Scores Twice in Playoff Clincher
Porter Martone

Extends Point Streak to Five Games
Brian Robinson Jr.

Could Have Standalone Flex Value as High-Level Insurance Back
Macklin Celebrini

Nets Two Goals Against Predators
Matt Duchene

Registers Three Assists Monday Night
Nikita Kucherov

Hits 130-Point Mark in Monday's Overtime Win
Jack Eichel

Collects Four Points Against Jets
Jordan Goodwin

Returns From Two-Game Absence
Jerami Grant

Tagged as Questionable for Tuesday
Grayson Allen

Questionable Tuesday
Jalen Green

Cleared for Action Tuesday
Devin Booker

Available Tuesday
Immanuel Quickley

Considered Day-to-Day
Joel Embiid

Expected to Miss Play-In Tournament
Nolan Arenado

Hits Two Homers, Drives in Five on Monday
Brandon Lowe

Stays Hot in Monday's Blowout Win Over Nationals
Kyle Schwarber

Goes Deep Twice on Monday in Win Over Cubs
Tucker Kraft

Worth Buying Low in Dynasty Leagues?
Jackson Holliday

Not Expected to Come Off Injured List This Week
Jakobi Meyers

the Jaguars Receiver to Target in Dynasty Leagues?
Tage Thompson

Reaches 40 Goals
Jayden Higgins

Is Jayden Higgins a Year 2 Breakout Candidate?
Mavrik Bourque

has a Hat Trick on Monday
Sam LaPorta

a Buy-Low Target Coming Off of Injury
D'Andre Swift

Is it Time to Trade D'Andre Swift in Dynasty Leagues?
Patrick Cantlay

Finding Form Heading to RBC Heritage
Ludvig Aberg

Continues Playing Well Heading to RBC Heritage
Ryan Mountcastle

Orioles Place Ryan Mountcastle on 60-Day Injured List With Foot Fracture
Dru Smith

Ruled Out Against Hornets on Tuesday
Pelle Larsson

Considered Questionable for Tuesday
Simone Fontecchio

Slated to Suit Up Against Hornets
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Unavailable for Tuesday
Frank Nazar

Good to Go Monday
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic to be Re-Evaluated on Tuesday
Brandon Hagel

Misses Monday's Action
Radek Faksa

Michael Bunting, Radek Faksa Rejoin Stars Lineup Monday
MIN

Wild Resting Several Key Players Monday
Jared McCann

to Miss Kraken's Last Three Games
Jonathan Quick

to Make Final NHL Appearance Monday
Leon Draisaitl

Returns to Practice
Merrill Kelly

to Make his Season Debut on Tuesday
Tatsuya Imai

Going on 15-Day Injured List With Arm Fatigue
CFB

Tramell Jones Jr. Outperforms Aaron Philo During Florida's Spring Scrimmage
Jeremy Peña

Jeremy Pena Lands on 10-Day Injured List With Hamstring Strain
CFB

Keelon Russell Flashes in Alabama's Spring Game
Ty Gibbs

Holds off the Field for His First Cup Series Victory at Bristol
Ryan Blaney

Earns His First Runner-Up Finish at Bristol
Kyle Larson

Dominant Performance At Bristol Falls Short of Victory
Tyler Reddick

Matches his Career-Best Finish at Bristol
Alex Bowman

Crashes Early at Bristol in Return From Injury
Derik Queen

has 30-Point, 22-Rebound Season Finale
Ryan Nembhard

Sets Rookie Assist Record
Carlos Ulberg

Is The New Light Heavyweight Champion
Cade Cunningham

Records 14 Assists Sunday
Jiří Procházka

Jiri Prochazka Suffers First-Round Knockout Loss
Milwaukee Bucks

Doc Rivers Departs as Bucks Head Coach
Azamat Murzakanov

Suffers His First Loss
Dylan Harper

Suffers Thumb Injury in Finale
Paulo Costa

Wins Back-to-Back Fights
Immanuel Quickley

Leaves Finale with Hamstring Issue
Cooper Flagg

Exits Finale with Ankle Injury
Curtis Blaydes

Drops Decision At UFC 327
Josh Hokit

Remains Unbeaten
Chris Kreider

Posts Two Assists in Overtime Loss
Marco Rossi

Gives Canucks Rare Victory
Nico Hischier

Records 30th Three-Point Game
Adam Fantilli

Nets 24th Goal of the Season
Lane Hutson

Reaches Historic Record With Two Assists Sunday
Collin Sexton

Cleared to Play Sunday
Mark Williams

Sits Season Finale
Christian Yelich

Brewers Expecting "Bad News" on Christian Yelich
Edwin Díaz

Dodgers Monitoring Edwin Diaz's Velocity
Carson Hocevar

Is Carson Hocevar A Worthy DFS Option for Bristol Lineups?
NASCAR

Could Bubba Wallace Be A Solid DFS Option for Bristol Lineups?
Sam Antonacci

Slated to Make MLB Debut on Tuesday
Mickey Moniak

has Multi-Homer Game in San Diego
Carlos Ulberg

A Slight Underdog
Jiří Procházka

Jiri Prochazka Can Become UFC Champion Again
Paulo Costa

Makes his Light-Heavyweight Debut
Azamat Murzakanov

Looks To Remain Unbeaten
Josh Hokit

Looks To Remain Undefeated
Curtis Blaydes

A Favorite At UFC 327
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF