Nine games on the card for Friday, headlined by an understrength Denver Nuggets team defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder. Kevin Huerter is rolling for the Atlanta Hawks and has been a top 50 player over the past two weeks. Emmanuel Mudiay went off for a career-high 34 points in an overtime victory. Meanwhile, Monte Morris is a must-roster player in just about all formats. Let’s break down those players rostered in less than 50 percent of standard leagues.
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Fantasy Basketball Fringe Report
Boston Celtics def. Atlanta Hawks 129-108
Celtics
Robert Williams (16%) – Stream: Williams has seen additional playing time with Al Horford on the sidelines. He has blocked eight shots over his past three games while also hauling down 22 rebounds.
Aron Baynes (13%) – Drop: Much like Williams, Baynes typically sees more court time without Horford, however, Williams certainly has more upside.
Daniel Theis (12%) – Drop: Despite a strong outing against the Hawks, Theis has been inconsistent with his production typically coming against the weaker teams. As soon as Horford returns, Theis will lose all his value.
Semi Ojeleye (5%) – Drop
Brad Wanamaker (3%) – Drop
Hawks
DeAndre Bembry (39%) – Drop: Bembry has carved out a spot in the rotation and is seeing more playing time with Taurean Prince on the sidelines. Despite this, his production is far too inconsistent to warrant a permanent roster spot.
Alex Len (38%) – Drop: Len has some fantasy upside but with Dewayne Dedmon back in the starting lineup, he should not be on a roster in standard formats.
Kevin Huerter (30%) – Add: Huerter has now played at least 25 minutes in seven straight games, averaging 11.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.7 blocks. He is the 49th ranked player over the past two weeks and should be rostered everywhere.
Vince Carter (12%) – Drop
Justin Anderson (7%) – Drop
Tyler Dorsey (6%) – Drop
Jaylen Adams (4%) – Drop
Daniel Hamilton (1%) – Drop
New York Knicks def. Charlotte Hornets 126-124 (OT)
Knicks
Mario Hezonja (47%) – Drop: Hezonja remains one of the more frustrating fantasy players available. He often shows glimpses of what he is capable of but simply doesn’t have a consistent role on the team.
Emmanuel Mudiay (45%) – Add: Mudiay busted out for a career-high 34 points Friday, adding eight assists and two steals. Over the past seven games, he is putting up averages of 18.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 0.7 steals. His lack of defensive stats and high turnovers do limit his value but he should still be rostered everywhere while he is hot.
Frank Ntilikina (39%) – Drop: Ntilikina left Friday’s game early after suffering an ankle sprain. He had been trending in the right direction prior to this but is going to be hard to roster until more is known about the injury.
Courtney Lee (15%) – Drop: Lee has been playing more lately but that is likely due to injuries. He has no fantasy value.
Luke Kornet (4%) – Drop: Kornet played 24 minutes Friday after Mitchell Robinson suffered an ankle sprain. We would need to see Kornet do this again before adding him in standard leagues.
Hornets
Miles Bridges (39%) – Drop: Bridges has some periods of value thus far but on the whole remains too inconsistent to be on any rosters.
Marvin Williams (38%) – Add: Williams scored 20 points Friday, including four three-pointers. Over the past four games, Williams has averaged 14.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.0 steals, and 3.3 triples. His ceiling is not the highest but the playing time is there and he is the 24th ranked player over the past week.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (26%) – Drop: Kidd-Gilchrist simply doesn’t do enough with the playing time he is given and can be left alone in standard formats.
Frank Kaminsky (19%) – Drop: Much like Kidd-Gilchrist, Kaminsky does very little in terms of fantasy production. He can score the ball on occasions but is not in the standard league discussion.
Tony Parker (19%) – Drop: Parker had been playing well prior to Friday where he managed just two points. He can deliver owners points and assists from time-to-time but finding that time is difficult to predict.
Brooklyn Nets def. Washington Wizards 125-118
Nets
DeMarre Carroll (40%) – Drop: Carroll scored 12 points against the Wizards on Friday as he continues to try and turn around his slow start to the season. He is basically scoring and rebounding, and even that is sporadic at best.
Ed Davis (24%) – Stream: Davis remains one of the best rebounding streamers available. Over the past nine games, he is averaging 9.2 boards.
Rodions Kurucs (11%) – Drop: Kurucs replaced Allen Crabbe in the starting lineup and finished with 15 points and six assists. The numbers are nice but Crabbe is likely to move back into the starting lineup when he returns from his knee issue.
Wizards
Jeff Green (26%) – Stream: Green has scored at least 12 points in three of his last four games while also contributing in other categories. While Otto Porter remains sidelined, Green could be worth streaming in as a source of points, three-pointers, and some rebounds.
Tomas Satoransky (20%) – Drop: Satoransky started again Friday but finished with just seven points in 16 minutes. The Wizards are looking to make a trade or two so he is worth keeping an eye on but at this stage should be left on the waivers.
Austin Rivers (19%) – Drop: Rivers scored 14 points Friday but this was more of an outlier. He has been mentioned in trade rumors making his future very uncertain.
Thomas Bryant (12%) – Drop: Bryant is close to having some value but is just not quite there yet. Despite starting, his minutes are typically under 20 per game, limiting his production.
Milwaukee Bucks def. Cleveland Cavaliers 114-102
Bucks
George Hill (37%) – Drop: Hill is yet to put up anything close to resembling fantasy value since being traded to the Bucks.
Ersan Ilyasova (25%) – Drop: Ilyasova rarely sees enough playing time to put up standard league production. If any of the starting frontcourt are forced to miss time, Ilyasova would be a must-roster player.
Donte DiVincenzo (18%) – Drop
Thon Maker (15%) – Drop
Pat Connaughton (12%) – Drop: Connaughton moved into the starting lineup Friday and finished with six points, seven rebounds, six assists, and two steals. This was merely a spot start and he will slide back to his 20 minutes off the bench once Malcolm Brogdon returns.
Tony Snell (7%) – Drop
Cavaliers
Alec Burks (38%) – Stream: Burks continues to start for the Cavaliers and has now scored in double digits in six of his nine games since being traded. He can provide points and out-of0position rebounds and could be worth streaming while he is rolling.
David Nwaba (12%) – Drop: Nwaba has the ability to produce fringe value but will need to increase his playing time to do so.
Jaron Blossomgame (9%) – Drop
Matthew Dellavedova – (6%) – Stream: Dellavedova has recorded double-digit scoring in all three games since being traded from the Bucks. He has also handed out 12 assists and hit six triples. He played 27 minutes Friday and is worth streaming in to see how things play out.
Channing Frye (2%) – Drop
Indiana Pacers def. Philadelphia 76ers 113-101
Pacers
Cory Joseph (24%) – Drop: Joseph has played surprisingly well this season but is more of a deep league player. Victor Oladipo is back in the lineup which could also impact Joseph’s value moving forward.
Doug McDermott (12%) – Drop: McDermott provides literally nothing outside of points and three-pointers and they are intermittent at best.
Kyle O’Quinn (12%) – Drop
76ers
Mike Muscala (19%) – Drop: Muscala has been providing borderline standard league value across the last month but there are likely to be better options available on most waiver wires.
Wilson Chandler (19%) – Drop: Chandler continues to start for the 76ers but has scored in double-digits in just one of his past seven games. Despite his playing time hovering around 30 minutes per game, he holds little value.
Landry Shamet (16%) – Drop: Shamet has played well for the 76ers this season but is merely a source of points off the bench leaving him on the outside looking in across most fantasy formats.
T.J. McConnell (16%) – Drop: McConnell has played at least 28 minutes in three straight games, averaging 12.3 points, 5.0 assists, and 1.3 steals. He could be considered a streaming option if those numbers are what you are looking for, otherwise, leave him on the waivers.
Furkan Korkmaz (14%) – Drop: Korkmaz continues to start for the injured Jimmy Butler, seeing minutes in excess of 25 once again. He has played well over the last three games but Butler’s injury doesn’t sound as though it will cost him extended time.
Shake Milton (5%) – Drop
Miami Heat def. Memphis Grizzlies 100-97
Heat
James Johnson (48%) – Drop: Johnson has been starting for the Heat but was once again outplayed by Kelly Olynyk. He is starting to round into some form but is not quite there yet in standard leagues.
Wayne Ellington (30%) – Drop: Ellington played just five minutes and appears to be on the outer right now.
Tyler Johnson (30%) – Add: Johnson moved back to the bench Friday and flourished, scoring 17 points including four triples. Goran Dragic’s knee issues just won’t go away and Johnson is worth a speculative add to see how things eventuate.
Derrick Jones Jr. (13%) – Stream: Jones has worked his way into the rotation, proving a nice assortment of numbers. Over the last four games, he is averaging 9.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.3 steals, and 1.8 blocks. The production will likely start to trend down as the Heat get their players back but for now, he is worth a flier.
Grizzlies
Garrett Temple (30%) – Drop: Temple scored 15 points Friday in 36 minutes. He can produce numbers like this from time to time but typically offers less than this.
Shelvin Mack (21%) – Drop: After a period of standard league relevance, Mack is back to playing fewer minutes which has resulted in reduced production.
MarShon Brooks (11%) – Drop: Brooks can provide scoring off the bench but is far too inconsistent to warrant any sort of value in most fantasy formats.
Wayne Selden Jr. (10%) – Drop
Joakim Noah (8%) – Drop: Noah is far from the player he used to be and despite limited upside in blocks and assists, he has no value.
Omri Casspi (6%) – Drop
Denver Nuggets def. Oklahoma City Thunder 109-98
Nuggets
Trey Lyles (45%) – Add: Lyles is worth a look if you have a roster spot to fill. As soon as his shooting comes around, the supporting numbers he already has will round out a nice fantasy skill set.
Mason Plumlee (40%) – Add: Plumlee has started the last two games for the Nuggets, resulting in some nice production. He has the ability to contribute in multiple categories making him relevant in a number of leagues.
Monte Morris (38%) – Add: It is hard to believe Morris is only rostered in 38 percent of league given his recent form. If he is available and you need a guard, go and grab him.
Malik Beasley (16%) – Drop: Beasley had a nice little run, putting up some standard league numbers. His playing time fluctuates, however, based on the hot hand which makes him very hard to roster.
Torrey Craig (7%) – Drop: Craig scored 15 points Friday which marked his season-high. He has not scored in double-figures until Friday and so this is merely an outlier.
Nick Young (4%) – Drop
Tyler Lydon (2%) – Drop
DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell (1%) – Drop
Thunder
Nerlens Noel (37%) – Stream: Noel’s playing time fluctuates between 10 and 20 minutes which certainly limits his production. However, he has now blocked at least one shot in eight straight games while also collecting a combined 10 steals in that same period.
Hamidou Diallo (13%) – Drop
Patrick Patterson (9%) – Drop
Terrence Ferguson (9%) – Drop: In one of the worst fantasy lines of the season, Ferguson recorded just one steal in 24 minutes during Friday’s loss. That says it all.
Alex Abrines (7%) – Drop: Since scoring 21 points on December 1, Abrines has scored a total of 10 points across his last six games.
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (5%) – Drop
Abdel Nader (1%) – Drop
Portland Trail Blazers def. Toronto Raptors 128-122
Trail Blazers
Evan Turner (35%) – Drop: Turner had a nice game Friday, scoring 12 points with six rebounds and six assists. These types of efforts on a consistent basis would result in Turner being rostered in a lot more than 38 percent of leagues.
Zach Collins (34%) – Drop: After a period of relevance earlier in the season, Collins has fallen back to earth of late. 16 points on Friday was his highest since late October. He would need to do this a few more times to peak any standard league interest.
Moe Harkless (24%) – Drop: Despite starting, Harkless continues to struggle to put up any sort of guaranteed production. Things could turn around but at this stage, he is best left alone.
Nik Stauskas (13%) – Drop: In a case of the bench getting hot, Stauskas, amongst others, saw some additional playing time Friday. This performance aside, he has not been offering a lot over the month of December.
Seth Curry (13%) – Drop: Curry dropped 13 points Friday, a season-high in scoring. He had not even played in two of the three games prior to this one and so can be ignored in standard formats.
Meyers Leonard (9%) – Drop
Jake Layman (8%) – Drop: After his 24 points outburst, Layman has scored a total of eight points in his next three games. There is nothing to see here.
Raptors
Fred VanVleet (47%) – Add: Kyle Lowry was ruled out with a thigh injury which meant VanVleet remained in the starting lineup. He scored a season-high 21 points to go with eight assists. He has now scored in double-digits in three of his past four games and is worth an add while he is playing well.
OG Anunoby (33%) – Drop: Anunoby continues to struggle on the offensive end, finishing with just five points in 19 minutes. He is playing regular minutes but the production is not even close to warranting a roster spot.
Delon Wright (17%) – Drop: Much like Anunoby, Wright is playing regular minutes but his numbers are limited across the board.
Greg Monroe (16%) – Drop: Despite Jonas Valanciunas being out, Monroe only managed to see 13 minutes of action. Valanciunas is out for at least a month and so the situation is worth monitoring moving forward.
C.J. Miles (8%) – Drop
Golden State Warriors def. Sacramento Kings 130-125
Warriors
Jordan Bell (42%) – Drop: The upside is there for Bell but his playing time is very limited which results in minimal fantasy value.
Kevon Looney (30%) – Drop: Much like Bell, Looney has some fantasy upside but the timeshare is a real killer.
Jonas Jerebko (16%) – Drop: Jerebko had scored in double-digits in four games prior to his last two outings. He doesn’t offer up any defensive numbers and there is no need to get excited here at all.
Quinn Cook (16%) – Drop: Cook had some value during Steph Curry’s time on the sidelines but that time has come to an end.
Alfonso McKinnie (9%) – Drop
Damion Lee (4%) – Drop
Kings
Iman Shumpert (17%) – Drop: Shumpert’s ability to rack up steals does make him an intriguing fringe player. However, a lack of consistent supporting numbers makes him hard to roster.
Justin Jackson (15%) – Drop: Jackson has a limited skill set which hampers his ability to put up consistent numbers. He can score the ball on occasions but is not in the standard league discussion.
Yogi Ferrell (11%) – Drop: After an offensive explosion in his previous game, Ferrell came back to earth with just three points Friday. He is well down on the depth chart and holds no value.
Kosta Koufos (8%) – Drop: Koufos played just 14 minutes Friday, even with Marvin Bagley leaving early with an injury. Koufos can help with rebounds and field-goal percentage but would need an injury to Willi Cauley-Stein to be considered relevant.
Got a question about this today’s fantasy basketball fringe report? Hit Adam up on twitter @adamking91 or give a shout out to @Fantrax
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