Fantasy Basketball Week 9: Nembhard Leads Risers While Jackson Jr. Heads List of Fallers
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ESPN fantasy analyst Steve Alexander identified several players whose stock is climbing and a handful whose value is slipping as managers prepare for Week 9 of the NBA fantasy season.
Risers
Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks, PF (99 % rostered)
After appearing in no more than 70 games in any of his first four campaigns, Johnson has broken into the top 10 in overall fantasy value. The forward owns averages of 23.4 points, 10.5 rebounds and 7.9 assists with four triple-doubles despite previous shoulder and wrist injuries. A potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade could affect his workload, but for now Johnson is thriving.
Mikal Bridges, New York Knicks, SG/SF (98 %)
Bridges’ all-around numbers—16.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.0 steals, 1.1 blocks and 2.3 made threes per game—have propelled him into the top 10. The 28-year-old is providing elite defense and strong shooting after a modest first season in New York.
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers, SF/PF (100 %)
The 40-year-old has played only eight games because of sciatica, yet his last two outings (29-7-6 on Sunday; 19-15-8 on Wednesday) signal a return to form ahead of his 41st birthday on Dec. 30.
Ryan Nembhard, Dallas Mavericks, PG (17 %)
Nembhard appears to have seized Dallas’ starting point-guard role, logging 28 points and 10 assists in a Dec. 1 win over Denver and averaging 16.0 points, 8.5 assists and 2.5 threes on 69 % shooting over his past four contests.
Jalen Suggs, Orlando Magic, PG/SG (70 %)
Suggs has scored 20-plus in three of his last four outings and owns five-game averages of 18.6 points, 4.2 assists, 2.6 steals and 2.6 triples as Orlando chases both the in-season tournament and an NBA Finals berth.
Jaylon Tyson, Cleveland Cavaliers, SG (19 %)
Undrafted in many leagues, Tyson is riding a streak of five straight double-figure scoring efforts. Through four December games he is producing 19.0 points and 8.8 rebounds on 65 % shooting while logging roughly 33 minutes a night.
Jaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies, SG (6.1 %)
Wells has hit at least 13 points in seven consecutive games, three of them 20-plus. Over three December contests he is averaging nearly 18 points and 2.3 threes on 61 % from the field.
Jay Huff, Indiana Pacers, C (21 %)
Now starting at center, Huff leads the league in blocks and has topped 22 minutes in eight of his last 10 games. In four December appearances he is at 9.3 points, 3.8 boards and 3.5 rejections while adding occasional threes.
Fallers
Amen Thompson, Houston Rockets, SG/SF/PF (99 % rostered)
Scoring, assists and free throws are up, but field-goal percentage, rebounds and blocks have slipped—the latter from 1.3 last season to 0.5. Houston plays four times next week, giving managers a chance to monitor any rebound in production.
Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks, PG/SG (93 %)
Steals have dipped from 3.0 to 2.2 per game and scoring has fallen to 10.7. Minutes remain steady, but the emergence of Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Onyeka Okongwu has cut into his opportunities.
Kel’el Ware, Miami Heat, C (64 %)
Ware’s playing time has swung wildly—12, 30, 22, 25 and 16 minutes in his last five games—after Tyler Herro and Norman Powell returned from injury. Despite the fluctuation, he still ranks inside the top 40.
Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic, SF/PF (99 %)
A groin injury has limited Banchero to 15 games and reduced contributions across most categories. With Franz Wagner sidelined by a high ankle sprain, Banchero is expected to see a larger role as he ramps back up.
Myles Turner, Milwaukee Bucks, C (88 %)
Turner is averaging just 12.3 points and 2.3 rebounds over four December games while shooting 41 % from the floor. Free-throw accuracy is also down in his first full season with Milwaukee.
Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies, PF/C (88 %)
Still working back from a foot injury, Jackson has managed only 8.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 0.7 blocks on 39 % shooting over his past three outings. Every major stat is below last year’s pace, prompting suggestions that managers consider trading him once he has a strong game.
Ace Bailey, Utah Jazz, SF/PF (26 %)
Bailey flashed a 13-3-3-2-3-3 line on Dec. 1 but is averaging 11.0 points and 1.3 blocks while shooting 39 % in December. Shaky knees and a 23-minute workload limit his short-term appeal, though he could gain importance if Utah pivots to a developmental approach later in the year.
The full list offers fantasy managers a snapshot of who might be worth adding, holding or dealing as the season moves into its ninth week.
Source: ESPN
