NBA Fantasy Risers & Fallers: 3.15

As the first half of the NBA season has closed, player values have fallen in place. Of course there are some exceptions. However, by this time statistics have evened out. The early hot streaks dissolve, and the underachievers have worked their way back into the fantasy hierarchy.

Still, you have to be ready for any changes come fantasy playoff time. Here are this week’s top risers and fallers in NBA fantasy.

*** *** ***

RISERS
DERON WILLIAMS, Brooklyn
Even before last week’s 42-point, 11-trey performance, Williams was picking up his game. A bum ankle was hampering his game throughout February, but over his last 11 games he’s putting up 23.6 points, 7.8 assists, 3.5 treys and 1.2 steals. Williams isn’t the bonafide fantasy stud that most drafted him to be, but with the Nets making a push to catch the Knicks for the Atlantic Division lead, expect his play to continue to trend upwards.

DWYANE WADE, Miami
Sure LeBron James is the best player on the planet, but Miami owes their recent success to the play of Wade. He has put up 20 points or more in his last 11 games, averaging 25.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 2.5 steals and 0.7 blocks over that span. As long as the Heat are rolling, Wade will continue to do the same, so ride him while he’s hot and healthy.

ANTHONY DAVIS, New Orleans
Since the Hornets are nowhere near the playoff race, you don’t hear much about Davis’s status, but the rookie has been taking great strides towards making his presence felt in the NBA. Over his last five games, the first overall pick is averaging 17.0 points, 12.0 rebounds and 2.4 blocks, showing the necessary progress that every blockbuster pick needs to make. With New Orleans sure to give him plenty of run for the rest of the season, Davis is the type of player that can carry your team to a championship, so if your league doesn’t have a trade deadline, he makes for a target.

Hit page 2 to find out who this week’s worst fallers are…

FALLERS
KENNETH FARIED, Denver
Faried has been one of the NBA’s most pleasant surprises this fantasy season, but a recent cold stretch has been tanking his value a bit. In the month of March, he’s putting up 9.9 points on 47 percent shooting, 9.9 rebounds, 0.4 steals and 1.3 blocks. Things could be worse, but when you consider his season averages consist of 55 percent shooting and 1.1 steals, the downward slide is a little concerning. Denver is playing tremendous of late and George Karl is going to stick with whatever’s working (hence the reason why JaVale McGee rides so much pine). These games are becoming increasingly important for fantasy purposes, so we’re forced to drop Faried in the rankings for now.

LUOL DENG, Chicago
Deng is one the league’s most underrated scorers, but he’s been ice cold of late. His points per game average has decreased by the month, bottoming out at 12.5 points per game in March. The return of Derrick Rose would go a long ways towards helping Deng, who is more of a shot maker than a shot creator. But with the way Chicago has been handling things, it’s hard to count on that happening. For now, all we can do is drop Deng in the rankings and hope that he snaps out of his current funk.

KYRIE IRVING, Cleveland
Irving is in contention for this season’s “most frustrating player to own” award. As much as he’s shown that he’s going to be one of the league’s best point guards for years to come, he’s shown just as much that injuries can easily derail it. Despite averaging 23.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists with 1.9 treys and 1.6 steals this year, I would be very weary about investing a first-round pick in him for next year’s draft.

Who’s the biggest faller on your own fantasy squad?

Follow Kevin on Twitter at @DaOtherKevSmith.

Follow Dime on Twitter at @DimeMag.

Become a fan of Dime Magazine on Facebook HERE.

×