Fantasy Basketball Drop List: Week 3

November 5, 2022

Alex Fischbein looks at fantasy basketball players who can be dropped in Week 3. These are players who are struggling in the 2022-23 NBA season.

What's up, RotoBallers! Hopefully, the 2022-23 NBA season hasn't gone sour for you this early on.

The Drop List returns for another week, and it might not be kind to some of your rosters. Each week I'll take a look at a handful of NBA players that can be dropped from your fantasy team.

Without further ado, let's get to the fantasy basketball drop list. Every Saturday, we'll have a list of NBA players and a small dive into why they can be cut from some or all fantasy formats. Please take into account: each fantasy league is different. Make sure you check out the waiver wire and have a player in mind to replace one of the following players that you may drop.

Players to Consider Dropping or Replacing

James Wiseman (C, GSW)

47% rostered

Last week, we started with a player from the Golden State Warriors. This week looks to be no different. Let me start off by saying that this does not come as a suggestion to drop him in a dynasty league. He's still very young and has time to grow for dynasty managers. In every other format, however, it's time to just hit that drop button.

For a seven-footer, he has some of the lowest rebounding numbers in the league along with getting barely any minutes in this Warriors rotation. He's already had multiple games where he received minutes in the single digits, and right now his best game was a 14-point and 6-rebound outing where he played just shy of 20 minutes. There are plenty of bench bigs that managers can find to replace that level of output.

7.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 0.4 blocks per game are not going to win much in any fantasy league coming from a center that had an ADP of 118.

Brandon Clarke (PF/C, MEM)

56% rostered

This is one that hurts. Clarke seemed like he was going to be a great value pick around the ninth or tenth round with Jaren Jackson Jr. being out for an extended period of time to start the season.

The reality is that Clarke is only averaging 8.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.3 assists while throwing away 1.1 turnovers per game. He's doing all of that on his lowest average minutes per game in his career so far at just 16.8. Players that are right around the same minutes per game include Obi Toppin, Andre Drummond, Tari Eason, and Nic Batum. All of those names are ones that only teams in deeper leagues should have and they still produce more than Clarke does.

Honestly, it's surprising that 56% of leagues still have him rostered right now.

Aleksej Pokusevski (C/PF, OKC)

39% rostered

Look, I apologize for suggesting cutting a lot of bigs this week. They work hard in the paint, but they aren't working too hard for anyone's fantasy team right now.

Pokusevski showed flashes of some great talent last season. This year was supposed to be his time to shine with Chet Holmgren out for the year and virtually no one in front of him to steal his minutes at center or even power forward. As of right now, Kenrich Williams, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, and Darius Bazley are all stealing some of his minutes.

Based on ADP, the players that were drafted around him or after him are even producing more all-around stats than he is. Those names include Jalen Duren, Mason Plumlee, Tyus Jones, and Santi Aldama. That's not even mentioning the players around the same minutes per game range that have been outplaying him as well.

For those fantasy managers not in dynasty leagues and in anything from 14-team leagues and less, you know what time it is.

Bismack Biyombo (C, PHX)

26% rostered

This one shouldn't even come as a surprise. Biyombo had his run of relevancy while Deandre Ayton was out. He'll probably have some more relevance the next time he's out as well. Right now? He can find a home on the waiver wire.

Before Ayton was injured and missed time, Biyombo was receiving DNP's and single-digit minutes. He was as close to irrelevant as someone who just doesn't play as it gets.

Nick Richards (C, CHA)

24% rostered

Remember when Richards dropped two big double-doubles in a matter of three games to start the season? Pepperidge Farm remembers.

Bad jokes and references aside, Richards has seen single digit scoring outputs in all but three games this season. He also has only had four games with over six rebounds. His two big games make his averages look a lot better than what he truly brings to the table.

Unless you're in a very deep league, Richards can be dropped and never thought of again until he has a random double-double in the middle of February and makes everyone think he's worth rostering again.

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