Throughout the season, players get hot and see an increased role while others struggle and fight to stay relevant. Experienced fantasy players know this happens every year.

In this weekly column, we’ll showcase those who have taken important steps forward and those who have taken steps back. These are the risers and fallers heading into Week 9 of the NBA season.

Let's get to it.

Post-Week 8 Fantasy Basketball Risers

RISER - Brad Beal (SG, WAS)

He might not be John Wall’s BFF, but Bradley Beal has turned into the offensive beast we always hoped he’d be in his fifth season in the NBA. He had his second 40-point performance of the season last week and is averaging above 20 points (22.8) for the first time in his career. In the past week, he shot a ridiculous 52.7% from the field (46.2 FG% on the season) on 18.3 attempts and 85.0% from the charity stripe (80.9 FT% on the season) on 6.7 attempts. Those are pretty stellar numbers, but it feels unsustainable. To put it into perspective, for his career, he’s at 42.6% field goal and 78.1% from the line. He’s also averaging a career-high in minutes (35.1) and one has to wonder when his troublesome knee will give in to the increased workload (Career-high 26.3 USG%). I guess what I’m saying is, I’d be selling for top dollar either before his shooting comes back to reality or the minutes catch up to him.

RISER - Paul Millsap (PF/C, ATL)

Who thought Paul Millsap would have a down-year this season? Since returning from a hip issue on Dec 5, he’s putting ninth overall value in standard nine-cat with averages of 1.2 threes, 19.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.0 steals, 1.3 blocks on 54.4 FG%/76.5 FT%. Those are close to his season averages and last year’s numbers, so the Dwight Howard/Al Horford swap hasn’t drastically affected his performance. He’s like some non-giving up basketball guy. If you were fortunate enough to buy-low earlier in the season, then I don’t have to tell you that he should be held from here on out. In his time with Atlanta, excluding this season, he’s putting up 1.0 threes, 17.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.8 steals, 1.3 blocks on 46.9 FG%/74.8 FT%. There’s no reason to think he won’t repeat these numbers.

RISER - Eric Gordon (SG, HOU)

As far as sixth-men go, Eric Gordon has put in a solid quarter season as he’s put up top-25 value in the past week and top-100 value on the season. His 3.7 threes are only second behind Steph Curry’s (3.8), but Gordon’s 4.7 treys last week were second to none. He’s been nice to roster after getting taken at an average draft position of 127. His numbers seem sustainable as he’s shooting 44.3 FG%/81.0 FT% on the season vs. a career 43.6 FG%/81.4 FT%, but the question mark has always been his health. In eight seasons as a pro, he’s played an average of 52 games. We’re at 28 and counting. The minutes have been under control (30.7), but he’s had similar minute outputs always ending in injury. If you could get top-75 value in return, I think you could walk away happy.

Post-Week 8 Fantasy Basketball Fallers

FALLER - Blake Griffin (PF/C, LAC)

Blake Griffin started the season focused and angry after having a previous season full of criticisms and injuries. While double-doubling seven out of the first ten games to start the season, he’s double-doubled in only three of the last ten. He’s still put up good numbers over that span with 21.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.6 blocks on 46.7 FG%/68.5 FT%. Unfortunately, he’s going to have minor surgery in his knee and could miss anywhere from three to six weeks. The good news though, it’s minor surgery and has nothing to do with the quad injury which kept him out a good chunk of last season. From a fantasy perspective, owners could be devastated and willing to move him for a cheaper price than previous weeks. If you could spare the weeks he’s out, it’s a decent buy-low opportunity, especially if an owner is in the bottom half of the standings. Offering something in the 65 – 80 range is probably what you’re looking at in an ideal buy-low situation. You may have to go higher, but Blake should still turn in a great season and the injury shouldn’t keep him out long. He could be well worth the risk.

FALLER - Darren Collison (PG, SAC)

Darren Collison owners had to deal with eight missed games to start the season due to league suspension. So the question for owners is, has it been worth it? He’s been mediocre at best and is under-performing compared to last year’s numbers where he shared backup duties with Rajon Rondo. Last week, he hit a season-low, averaging 6.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 0.3 steals on 23.3 FG%. It could be a buy-low opportunity if you think he’ll pick it up for the rest of the season. He’s got enough upside with an unquestioned role, so it’s not impossible to think he’ll turn it around. Offer pennies on the dollar.

FALLER - Nikola Mirotic (SF/PF, CHI)

Nikola Mirotic saw two DNP-CD’s in a row before seeing some action last night in a blowout against the Pistons. In the two games he did play in last week, he averaged 1.5 threes, 9.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists. He’s still owned in 62% in Yahoo. That hurts my head. I can understand holding earlier in the season since he was taken 82 in Yahoo leagues, but we’re in Week 9 guys. Taj Gibson stands firmly ahead of him and Fred Hoiberg has thrown Bobby Portis into the mix all of a sudden. Portis will likely move back to a spectating bench role, but it doesn’t spark confidence in Mirotic’s rest of season outlook. At this point, I’d be dropping even for speculative streaming options.

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