Injuries shape the fantasy basketball landscape more than any other variable, and staying ahead of each team’s rotation changes can be the difference between winning and falling behind. Each week, we will be bringing you an Injury Impact Report, where we break down the most important injuries around the league and highlight the players most likely to benefit. Let’s get started!
NBA Fantasy Basketball Injury Impact Report
Key Injuries Across the League:
- Anthony Davis (DAL – Left Hand Ligament Damage): Four Weeks
- Ja Morant (MEM – Left Elbow UCL Sprain): Week to Week
- Zach Edey (MEM – Left Ankle Stress Reaction): 3-4 Weeks
- Paul George (PHI – Suspension): 25 Games
Anthony Davis (Dallas Mavericks) – Left Hand Ligament Damage – Four Weeks
We are still four weeks away from receiving an update on Davis’s injury, but we can update some players who are benefiting and could be available on the waiver wire.
Who Benefits?
Max Christie continues to start for the Mavs and has been a productive fantasy player. With Davis out over the last three weeks, he has averaged 25.7 Fantrax points per game, which is a 4.3 point per game boost when comparing his season numbers. He is still available in 33% of leagues and is eligible as a forward or guard.
Going much deeper, we have Caleb Martin, who is rostered in just 12% of leagues. He stepped into the starting lineup on January 15 and, despite a few dud performances, is still averaging 21.6 fantasy points per game over that stretch of seven games. Even better, he has tallied 24 or more fantasy points in three straight games. He is a top option in deeper leagues, and if he continues this level of production could also be a fine pickup in all formats.
Ja Morant (Memphis Grizzlies) – Left Elbow UCL Sprain – Week to Week
Zach Edey (Memphis Grizzlies) – Left Ankle Stress Reaction – Week to Week
Both players will be re-evaluated in three to four weeks, and their absence has left a lot of minutes and usage to go around. Let’s get an update on who is benefiting the most.
Who Benefits?
We talked about Jock Landale last week, and while he has a lower floor and some inconsistent shooting, he has been excellent with Edey out. He is averaging 26.6 fantasy points per game and flashed 40-point upside along the way. He is still just 62% rostere,d and nice pickup if you need center help.
Cam Spencer has started 10 of the last 12 games dating back to early January and has provided excellent value during that stretch. He has averaged 29.6 fantasy points per game thanks to hitting 30+ points eight times and 40+ points twice. He is still available in 30% of leagues, so get to the waiver if you need guard help.
In deeper leagues, or if you are really desperate, you can also look at a few bench players. Vince Williams has been inconsistent overall, but has topped 20 fantasy points in three straight. He is 27% rostered on Fantrax. A second option would be GG Jackson, who has topped 20 fantasy points in four straight and is 26% rostered.
Paul George (Philadelphia 76ers) – Suspension – 25 Games
News dropped on Saturday that George would be suspended for 25 games for violating the NBA’s Anti-Drug Program. That puts him out for around two months, making him eligible to return in late March.
On the season, George is averaging just over 30 minutes a game, is second on the team in usage (22%), and averages 16.1 points, 3.7 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game. That leaves a lot of fantasy value to go around.
Who Benefits?
The 76ers are fairly picked through as Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and VJ Edgecombe all join Paul George being 95%+ rostered in Fantrax leagues. You may get lucky and still find Kelly Ourbe Jr. in some leagues(86% rostered). He has made eight straight starts and while the floor can be low, he has topped 29 fantasy points in five of those games.
Dominick Barlow is widely available(26% rostered) and is likely to see a nice boost in value over the next two months. After coming off the bench in four of his previous five games, he got back into the starting lineup on Saturday. In 28 minutes, he went 3 for 4 from the field with three rebounds and two steals. A decent speculative pickup in deeper leagues.
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