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Justin Carter looks at fantasy basketball players who can be dropped in Week 2. These are players who are struggling in the 2020-21 NBA season.
Every fantasy sports site is filled with articles about which players you need to pick up, but what about the guys you need to be dropping in order to fit those new players into your lineup?
Have no fear -- RotoBaller is here is tell you who you need to be dropping when you make your waiver claims this week.
Below is our weekly fantasy basketball drop list, a look at players who are can be dropped in some or all formats. Every Thursday, we'll look at why it's fine to move on from certain players based on their recent play. Remember: every league is different and we're working on a pretty small sample size this early in the year, so make sure you evaluate what options you have to replace these players before you actually drop them.
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Players to Consider Dropping or Replacing
Spencer Dinwiddie (G, Brooklyn Nets) - 20% rostered
Just in case you missed the news, Dinwiddie has a partial ACL tear and is done for the season. It's safe to drop him in all redraft leagues, even if it's going to be really sad to do so. He's likely going to be undervalued in fantasy leagues next season though, so don't just completely forget about Dinwiddie's existence.
Carmelo Anthony (F, Portland Trail Blazers) - 30% rostered
Even discounting the missed game because of COVID protocols, Anthony is trending down. Against Houston, he played just 20 minutes, with five points, a rebound, and two assists. Here, per Add More Funds, is the rotation breakdown from that overtime win:
The Blazers were a -16 with Anthony on the floor, and most of his minutes came with only one or two starters on the floor. The Derrick Jones Jr. and Robert Covington wing duo is absorbing the minutes that could go to Anthony, and then bench scoring is coming from Enes Kanter even when Anthony is on the floor. In most leagues, you can safely drop the veteran.
Nerlens Noel (F/C, New York Knicks) - 42% rostered
He's getting some minutes behind Mitchell Robinson, but he isn't getting a ton of them and the Knicks are playing some dun non-center lineups, which is also keeping Noel's ceiling low. He hasn't scored more than four points in a game yet and while he can still contribute in deeper, 9-cat leagues where his steals and blocks can help you out if you need them, fantasy managers who aren't desperate for those two things can go ahead and move on.
Chris Boucher (F/C, Toronto Raptors) - 66% rostered
Everyone went out and grabbed Chris Boucher after his 22-point, 10-rebound, seven-block game against the Spurs, but then on Tuesday he played just five minutes against the Raptors. I'm thinking that big game was a bit of a fluke. Keep holding onto Boucher in deeper leagues, but in a 10-team league, that big drop off on Tuesday is a good enough reason for me to pre-emptively drop him.
Killian Hayes (G, Detroit Pistons) - 15% rostered
Alright, it's time. Hayes was scoreless in 17 minutes on Tuesday before leaving with an ankle injury as his early-season struggles continue. The rookie hasn't gotten off to the same kind of start that we all hoped he would, so go ahead and send him to the wire. Maybe he'll put things together at some point, but I don't really want to hold my breath on that.
Shake Milton (G, Philadelphia 76ers) - 17% rostered
Milton is still getting the minutes so I'd hold onto him in deeper leagues, but if you picked him up for his scoring, then you won't be happy with his six points against Cleveland and seven against Toronto. He's limited in terms of other stats except for some decent steal upside, so if Milton isn't scoring, he's going to kill your lineups.
Kevin Love (F/C, Cleveland Cavaliers) - 79% rostered
Love will miss at least three-to-four weeks with a calf strain. If you have an Injured List in your leagues, stash him there. If you play in a league with enough bench spots to keep him, keep him. But in a 10-team league where depth is of the essence, you'd be forgiven if you moved on from Love in the name of immediate help. I'm not so sure I'd personally do it, but if you're desperate, it's fine. (And, of course, if you're playing the long game and someone else in your league drops Love, consider grabbing him.)
Matisse Thybulle (G/F, Philadelphia 76ers)
So, uhh, Thybulle's season:
At one point a popular sleeper because we assumed his defensive ability would net him a solid rotation spot and he'd be able to cobble together some decent numbers, the reality has been that Thybulle's TOTALS this season look like this: zero points, one rebound, and one steal. Even though he technically became part of the rotation on Tuesday, he played just 12 minutes and missed both of his shots. I love Thybulle's upside and his defense, but none of that matters if you aren't on the court and if you aren't involved when you are on it.
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