RADIO
Welcome back, Rotoballers! We've finally seen the conclusion of the first-ever in-season tournament and the NBA schedule should be returning to some sort of normalcy. We're entering the phase of the regular season where the All-Star game gets some buzz and teams' playoff hopes start to take shape or dwindle.
Speaking of dwindling playoff hopes, when it comes to winning fantasy championships, managers have to know when to cut players so that their hopes don't fall apart just like the actual teams. Each week, we bring a list of names to the table that managers should consider dropping or replacing. Some names are better to keep in deep leagues while others can be dropped regardless of format or league size. Those usually stand out from the rest of the pack.
Let's get right down to it and go over who can be dropped in this Week 7 installment of the cut list. As always, let me know on X (@__Fisch), if anyone ends up finding great replacements for the following players or if you have someone to add to the list as well!
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Players to Consider Dropping or Replacing
Jalen Suggs (PG/SG, ORL) - 56% rostered
This could come as a surprise since Jalen Suggs has strung together better performances this time around compared to last season. He's boosted his averages in points, threes, and steals overall but there have been a few issues in the process. One of the bigger issues is his health over the first few seasons of his career.
Suggs is now dealing with an ankle issue after playing just 48 and 53 games respectively in his first couple of seasons due to different injuries. After a solid start to this year, his last two weeks started to regress to the mean. While his defensive stats remain his greatest value, the other traditional stat categories aren't much to write home about. Blocks and steals also happen to be the stats that fluctuate the most despite the defensive prowess of any player.
So, what exactly does all of this mean? Well, if Suggs is regressing to the mean and his defensive stats cease to keep his fantasy value afloat, then that's going to lead to some bad fantasy weeks. Stay ahead of the game by finding another guard who may be on the court more consistently.
Onyeka Okongwu (C, ATL) - 63% rostered
We've entered the fourth season of everyone hoping that Onyeka Okongwu finally takes over the starting spot from Clint Capela. Well, he still hasn't taken over as the starting center and he's taken a step back in multiple stat categories so far this year. Among the ones that regressed, rebounds, blocks, and usage have been the biggest three.
How is a center supposed to contribute to winning fantasy games when he's seeing decreased numbers in blocks and rebounds? Not only a center but a backup center to boot. Over the last two weeks, Okongwu has ranked 178th in fantasy value for category formats. Overall, he's ranked 131 and that's not going to cut it when it comes to shallower leagues.
Okongwu will finally come into more fantasy relevance when he does move up into the starting five and is trusted with more playing time. Until then, his best value will be as a streaming option.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (SG/SF, DEN) - 64% rostered
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, much like Jalen Suggs, can be helpful in deeper fantasy leagues. Those fantasy managers who are in leagues deeper than 12 teams should hang on to Caldwell-Pope for the time being. For the other managers, however, it's time to talk about dropping someone who's not giving much value outside of threes and steals.
Caldwell-Pope is very good at what he does, which is a 3-and-D role. Perfect for winning actual basketball games, but not the best in either category or points fantasy leagues. Over the last week, he was ranked outside of the top 150 in category format fantasy value. Overall this season, he averages 11.0 points, 1.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.6 threes per game. Again, not bad at all for his role, but better production can be found on the waiver wire.
A person named Jamal Murray returning the floor also takes a chunk out of Caldwell-Pope's fantasy value. So, that could throw a wrench in things if any managers are depending on him to carry their team to a win.
Reggie Jackson (PG, DEN) - 36% rostered
Yet another chapter in the story of backups taking a huge hit in their fantasy value when the starter returns from injury. Reggie Jackson filled in valiantly while Jamal Murray was out. He even entered the top 80 in fantasy value during that time as he was close to averaging 20 points per game.
Here's the issue, Murray is back and Jackson is back to a bench role. This past week, Jackson moved right back to his season average of 13.3 points per contest while adding 1.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists. Which, in actuality, isn't a terrible stat line. His minutes have regressed to the mean as well though, and his shooting percentages have taken a drastic dip at the same time.
Bring Jackson back on the fantasy team if Murray has to miss any more time this season. Outside of that, Jackson isn't going to be consistent enough to warrant being an everyday starter on successful fantasy squads.
Kyle Anderson (SF/PF, MIN) - 30% rostered
There wasn't a single analyst or talking head who had the Minnesota Timberwolves as a possible first seed in the West. Their issues last season were well-documented and it all came to a head when Kyle Anderson and Rudy Gobert got into an argument. Well, the arguing isn't happening anymore but Anderson's fantasy value isn't exactly there anymore either.
Anderson has hit his lowest rank in fantasy value since the 2016-17 season when he was still playing with the San Antonio Spurs. Right now, he's ranked 229 in per-game value in nine-category leagues according to Basketball Monster. Across 24.0 minutes per contest, he averages 7.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.5 turnovers per game. He's also hit only two threes so far this year.
Other names that are producing more value while hovering around the same rostered percentage are Jaden Ivey, Dario Saric, Harrison Barnes, Duncan Robinson, and Dillon Brooks. Use some roster spots on guys that will help more often than not.
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