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

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

RotoBaller NBA Recap: The G.O.A.T. Heir

Leonard Francis II highlights three fantasy basketball takeaways from the NBA's January 29th slate. This recap focuses on Cedi Osman, Shabazz Napier, and Kenneth Faried.

Very rarely do I dream. I mean, I zone out throughout the day and drift into a land far removed from my current situation quite often. But, head to the pillow in my ThunderCats jammies and REM cycle activated? Blank space... Last night was different.

As I laid in a restful slumber, thoughts of Victor Oladipo putting in work against the Warriors in this season's NBA Finals overcame my brain waves. I find this odd on several fronts. Most obviously, Oladipo underwent season-ending surgery Monday to repair the ruptured quad tendon he suffered last Wednesday. Not only is he incapable of walking at the moment, but without him, Indiana might fall out of the playoff picture - forget about the Finals. There's also the part about the nearly identical procedure I had to repair the ruptured patellar tendon I suffered damn near two years ago to the day. Then, there's the ancillary, I'm not even a Pacers fan?! Why is this man popping up in my dreams with a bionic leg getting buckets? Even more confusing is that I was confused while watching him play in my dream. Meaning, real-life, sleeping version of me had a dream about confused, dream version of me watching a healthy, dream version of Oladipo play basketball... I need answers.

Oh, and by the way, the Oladipo-less Pacers didn't even play last night! There was literally nothing to trigger these thoughts in my mind. Weird. Seven games did take place in the association last night, however, and while my dream has absolutely nothing to do with any of them, the following words which highlight my three biggest fantasy takeaways from the evening absolutely do.

Upgrade To VIP: Win more with our NBA and DFS Premium Pass, get expert tools and advice from proven winners! Jamie Calandro and Dan Palyo lead the RotoBaller team in 2024-25 with exclusive DFS picks, Prop picks and more. Gain VIP access to our Lineup Optimizer, Research Station, DFS Cheat Sheets and VIP Chat Rooms. Go Premium, Win More!

 

Cedi Osman: The Caterpillar Finding His Wings

In a much simpler time, not long ago, Cedi Osman was nothing more than a LeBron James fanboy with really, really, rich parents. He got to travel with the team, he took part in the pre-game shootarounds, he even sat on the bench in full-blown Cavaliers gear and celebrated every LeBron feat with the glee of a five-year-old at Christmas. We didn't have to wonder how to pronounce his name, or where the Republic of Macedonia was, because it didn't matter - he was just a guy on the bench who seemed to like LeBron a whole lot. But then, LeBron left...

Awww.

Now I'm really not sure if the "King's charm" has played a role, but learning alongside arguably the greatest of all-time seems like a favorable position to be in as a young player trying to find your way in the NBA. It also helps to be good at playing basketball (not sure if his parents are rich, but he can hoop). And with James now donning the purple and gold, the door has swung wide open for Osman to walk in and make a name for himself...

26 points on 63-percent shooting, including 4-of-8 from deep, to go with five rebounds, seven assists, and two steals is how the line read last night in the Cavs 116-113 victory over the Wizards and Osman has now scored at least 20 points in three of his last four games while averaging 17 points, four rebounds, and two assists over Cleveland's last 10.

It's pronounced Jed-ē, and he's heir to the throne.

 

Shabazz Napier Continues to Turn Back the Hands of Time

Shabazz Napier was a two-time National Champion at UConn, and while his contributions to the first title were minimal -- that was Kemba Walker's team -- his run in the 2014 tournament remains one of the most memorable to this day. Unfortunately, for Mr. Napier, we're now five years removed from his glory and his NBA self has looked nothing like that of the Most Outstanding Player version we saw cut down the nets in Madison Square Garden before ultimately running around as confetti fell on his head in Arlington, Texas.

Well, he's baaaaack.

With his court time doubling over the last three games for the shorthanded Nets -- who are without the services of Allen Crabbe, Spencer Dinwiddie, Jared Dudley, and Caris Levert -- Napier has responded with three '14 NCAA Tournament-esque performances. Last night saw him drop 24 points with three rebounds, four assists, and three steals off the bench - not only leading Brooklyn to a 122-117 victory over the Bulls, but also reminding us that the man can get buckets. Now averaging 21 points, two rebounds, four assists, and two steals over this three-game stretch, Napier looks to be a trustworthy source of value in DFS contests and is definitely worth a look in season-long formats as well with Dinwiddie undergoing surgery on his thumb, LeVert not likely to return any time soon, and his recent play warranting a consistent spot in the rotation.

 

The Kenneth Faried Renaissance

Some things in life are simply unexplainable. My dream, for example. The hundreds of studies documenting the effectiveness of the placebo effect, yet medicine still existing, with no one figuring out how to unlock the brain's ability to seemingly cure an issue simply by believing a cure (which isn't present) is in place. The demise of Kenneth Faried in Denver, the brief stint in Brooklyn where he couldn't even get on the floor, and his rebirth in Houston where he's averaging career-highs across the board.

Change of scenery?

Maybe, but it's likely the result of a combination of things. One of the most reasonable factors being opportunity - Faried has seen 31 minutes per game in the Rockets non-existent frontcourt; the most of his eight-year career.

Opportunity, in itself, doesn't mean much, however. Let me get 31 minutes per game and watch what happens. And it's not like Faried didn't see the floor towards the end of his Denver career; 21 minutes per game in 2016 led to 10 points and eight rebounds of production. That in mind, regression to the mean seems inevitable at some point, and that point will likely come with the return of Clint Capela. However, Faried registered 19 points and 11 rebounds against the Pelicans last night -- his third-straight double-double -- and is averaging 15 and 10 since joining the Rockets. He's likely long gone from the waiver wire, but take a look if that's not the result of your actions because it seems safe to say the Manimal still has it and that inevitable point of regression has a minimum three-to-five-week timetable.

 

More Fantasy Basketball Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Tosses Gem Against Giants
Shota Imanaga

Shuts Down Yankees on Sunday
Nathan Eovaldi

Dominant Again in Seventh Win
Tyler Reddick

Evades Near Upset to Remain Alive in In-Season Challenge
Ty Gibbs

One of Three Tylers to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinals
Kyle Larson

Curiously Mediocre at Sonoma Before Late-Race Crash
NASCAR

John H. Nemechek Edges Out Teammate to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Alex Bowman

Ty Dillon Bumps Alex Bowman to Advance to In-Season Challenge Semifinal
A.J. Dillon

Not a Lock for a Roster Spot?
Chicago White Sox

Billy Carlson Goes 10th Overall to White Sox
Cincinnati Reds

Steele Hall Selected Ninth by Cincinnati
Toronto Blue Jays

Blue Jays Select JoJo Parker with Eighth Overall Pick
Boston Celtics

Damian Lillard Drawing Interest from the Celtics
Miami Marlins

Marlins Select Aiva Arquette With Seventh Overall Pick
Pittsburgh Pirates

Pirates Select Seth Hernandez with Sixth Overall Pick
Kyle Stowers

Punishes Former Team with Three-Homer Game
St. Louis Cardinals

Cardinals Select Liam Doyle with Fifth Overall Pick
Daniel Gafford

Agrees to Contract Extension with Dallas
Colorado Rockies

Rockies Select Ethan Holliday Fourth Overall
Seattle Mariners

Kade Anderson Selected Third Overall by Seattle
Ha-Seong Kim

X-rays on Ha-Seong Kim's Foot Come Back Negative
Los Angeles Angels

Tyler Bremner Selected Second Overall by Angels in 2025 MLB Draft
Washington Nationals

Nationals Select Eli Willits First Overall
Jake Meyers

to Miss More Than Three Weeks With Calf Injury
Cooper Flagg

Shut Down for Rest of Summer League
LeBron James

Hasn't Requested a Trade
Quinshon Judkins

Following Quinshon Judkins Arrest, NFL Declines Comment
Travis Hunter

Earning Praise in Jaguars Camp for Work Ethic
Memphis Grizzlies

Cole Anthony, Grizzlies Agree to Contract Buyout
Edward Cabrera

Hopeful to Avoid Injured List
Oneil Cruz

Absent on Sunday
Lars Nootbaar

Placed on 10-Day Injured List
Jake Burger

Scratched on Sunday
Iván Herrera

Ivan Herrera Back in Action on Sunday
Shane Van Gisbergen

Can Anyone Beat Shane van Gisbergen at Sonoma?
Tyler Reddick

Better at Sonoma Than Record Shows
Chase Elliott

a Prime DFS Option at Sonoma
Julius Chestnut

Kalel Mullings Competing for RB3 Role
Michael McDowell

Struggling a Bit at Sonoma
Kimani Vidal

Fighting for No. 3 Job
Cam Hart

Recovering From Shoulder Surgery
NASCAR

Christopher Bell Has Never Finished Better Than Ninth at Sonoma
Ryan Blaney

Has Top-10 Upside at Sonoma
Quentin Johnston

Might Not Get Many Chances to Prove Himself
Tre Harris

Officially a Holdout
NASCAR

Sunday at Sonoma Will Likely Be a Long Race for Bubba Wallace
Kyle Larson

Is A Likely Top-Five Contender for Sonoma
Ryan Preece

Points Position Could Affect Race at Sonoma
Todd Gilliland

Struggling to Find Speed at Sonoma
Ty Gibbs

May be an Underrated Favorite to Compete for the Win at Sonoma
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

. Should Move Up on Sunday
Ross Chastain

is a Likely Top-Five Contender for Sonoma
Josh Berry

Should Be Avoided in Fantasy at Sonoma
Chris Buescher

is A Great DFS Option to Consider for Sonoma Lineups
Riley Herbst

a Deep Sleeper at Sonoma
Travis Etienne Jr.

Needs to Bounce Back in 2025
Wan'Dale Robinson

Wants More Downfield Opportunities this Season
Quinshon Judkins

Arrested on Saturday for Battery and Domestic Violence
Terry McLaurin

Could be a Holdout at Training Camp
Roger McCreary

a Candidate for a Contract Extension?
Mike Evans

Buccaneers Could Have Difficult Time Retaining Mike Evans
Charles Cross

Could Sign Extension Before Training Camp
Xavier Restrepo

One to Watch Going into Training Camp
Calvin Ridley

Appears Re-Energized
Mark Andrews

Still a Key Piece in Ravens Offense
Ndamukong Suh

Officially Announces his Retirement
Jaylen Waddle

Motivated After Disappointing Season
Tre Harris

Still Unsigned
Alexandre Sarr

Plays Well in Summer League Loss to Phoenix
Yang Hansen

Looks Good on Friday Night
Erik Karlsson

Open to Move Away From Pittsburgh
Zach Hyman

Hopes to be Ready for Start of Next Season
SJ

Jeff Skinner Joins Sharks on One-Year Contract
Kon Knueppel

Struggles in Summer League Win
Walter Clayton Jr.

Plays Well on Friday Night
Cody Williams

Scores 21 Points in Summer League Loss
Kyle Filipowski

Leads the Way on Friday Night
Isaiah Jackson

Signs Three-Year Extension
Marvin Bagley III

Joining the Wizards
Herbert Jones

Signing Extension with Pelicans
Jacob Toppin

Returning to Hawks
Dalton Knecht

Avoids Serious Injury
Javon Small

Signs Two-Way Deal
Ryan Reaves

Traded to Sharks
Vladislav Kolyachonok

Moves to Dallas
Matt Dumba

Lands in Pittsburgh
Mackie Samoskevich

Re-Signs with Panthers on One-Year Deal
Josh Manson

Inks Two-Year Extension with Avalanche
EDM

Isaac Howard Signs Three-Year, Entry-Level Contract With Oilers
Tallison Teixeira

Set For His First UFC Main Event
Derrick Lewis

Set To Headline UFC Nashville
Gabriel Bonfim

Looks For His Third UFC Win
Stephen Thompson

Returns At UFC Nashville
Steve Garcia

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Calvin Kattar

In Dire Need Of Victory
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere A Favorite At UFC Nashville
Nate Landwehr

Aims To Bounce Back
MMA

Austen Lane Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Vitor Petrino

Set For His Heavyweight Debut
Tuco Tokkos

Set To Open Up UFC Nashville Main Card
Junior Tafa

Set For Light-Heavyweight Bout
Jalen Williams

Signs Contract Extension With Thunder
Alijah Martin

Agrees to Two-Way Deal With Raptors
Tristan Vukcevic

Set to Return to Washington
Anfernee Simons

Celtics Are "Actively Trying to Trade" Anfernee Simons
Gary Woodland

Looking to Find Rhythm at Scottish Open
Aaron Rai

Brings Consistent Play to Scottish Open
Maverick McNealy

a Solid Value Play at Scottish Open
Aldrich Potgieter

Making Scottish Open Debut
Tom Kim

Looks to Rebound at Scottish Open
Brian Harman

a Safe Option at Scottish Open
Luke Clanton

a Sneaky Value Play at Scottish Open
Sam Burns

Looking to Stay Hot at Scottish Open
Nicolai Hojgaard

May Feel More at Home in Europe
Harry Hall

Showing Fine Form Heading to Scotland
Ryan Fox

Playing Well Since Early Spring Struggles
Max Greyserman

has Solid History at the Genesis Scottish Open
Harris English

Aims High for Scotland Next
Corey Conners

Primed for the Genesis Scottish Open
Daniel Brown

Attempts the Scottish Swing Again
Jacob Bridgeman

Needs Putter to Work at Genesis Scottish Open
Scottie Scheffler

Headlines Field at Genesis Scottish Open
Rory McIlroy

a Smart Play for Scottish Open
Adam Scott

Looking to Build on History at The Renaissance Club
Justin Rose

Hopes Month Hiatus Helps Him Bounce Back at Scottish Open
NHL

Tyler Johnson Retires After 13 NHL Seasons
Jack McBain

Inks New Five-Year Deal with Mammoth
Cam York

Re-Signs with Flyers for Five Years
Jake Knapp

Fits the Mold for Success at The Renaissance Club
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF