A massive 11 games on the card before the league takes the night off leading into Christmas. A number of fringe players put up some solid contributions, none more so than Brooklyn Nets rookie, Rodions Kurucs. I will look at his numbers as well as those other players giving it their all to be considered standard league relevant.
Not using Fantrax to host your fantasy basketball league? Check out our fantasy basketball commissioner and see why you should!
Fantasy Basketball Fringe Report
Players to add
Kevin Huerter
Jeff Green
Marvin Williams
Rodions Kurucs
Tyler Johnson
Derrick Jones Jr.
Players to stream
Jeremy Lin
Alex Len
Tomas Satoransky
Thomas Bryant
Ed Davis
Mikal Bridges
Richaun Holmes
Darius Miller
Nerlens Noel
J.J. Barea
Garrett Temple
Atlanta Hawks def. Detroit Pistons 98-95
Hawks
Jeremy Lin (48%) – Stream: Lin is rounding into some form over the past three games but is yet to find his rhythm on the defensive end. He could be streamed in as a cheap source of points and assists.
Kevin Huerter (39%) – Add: Huerter was not at his best Sunday but still played 34 minutes in the victory. He will likely be better than this next time around and is worth adding in standard formats.
Alex Len (36%) – Stream: Len moved into the starting lineup Sunday, filling in for the injured John Collins. He had one of the better games of his career, finishing with 15 points and 17 rebounds in 35 minutes. He is probably not worth dropping someone with upside as he could very well tail off in the next game. You could stream him in though if you have a roster spot, just in case this form can stick.
De’Andre Bembry (34%) – Drop
Vince Carter (9%) – Drop: Carter turned back the clock Sunday, dropping 18 points including three triples. His role is far too inconsistent to warrant a roster spot but it is great to see Carter still putting up numbers.
Justin Anderson (7%) – Drop
Alex Poythress (6%) – Drop
Daniel Hamilton (1%) – Drop
Pistons
Stanley Johnson (27%) – Drop: Despite his regular spot in the rotation, Johnson just isn’t a fantasy-friendly player and should be left on the waiver wire.
Luke Kennard (25%) – Drop
Langston Galloway (13%) – Watch: Galloway had 18 points, with 14 of those coming in the final quarter Sunday. This could be the start of a hot stretch for Galloway so keep an eye on things to see if he can get going.
Bruce Brown (9%) – Drop
Zaza Pachulia (8%) – Drop: Pachulia put up nice numbers Sunday as coach Dwane Casey went with the hot hand down the stretch. This was merely a case of the stars aligning for Pachulia and he will shift back to his 10 minutes per night role moving forward.
Jose Calderon (4%) – Drop
Indiana Pacers def. Washington Wizards 105-89
Pacers
Cory Joseph (25%) – Drop
Aaron Holiday (18%) – Drop: Holiday had 12 points Sunday but garbage time was a factor and he can be left alone in most formats.
Doug McDermott (12%) – Drop
Kyle O’Quinn (12%) – Drop
TJ Leaf (7%) – Drop
Wizards
Jeff Green (41%) – Add: Green played just 25 minutes Sunday, however, the game was all but over heading into the final quarter meaning added rest for the starters. Green continues to score the ball well and should be added if you need points and rebounds.
Tomas Satoransky (22%) – Stream: Satoransky shifted back to the bench Sunday with John Wall returning to the lineup. In his 20 minutes, he was not overly productive but he could still be streamed in if you need some point guard numbers.
Thomas Bryant (20%) – Stream: After his career-night just 24 hours earlier, Bryant backed that up with another solid effort. He finished with 11 points and seven rebounds, going 3-of-6 from the field. This is more along the lines of what should be expected moving forward, meaning he could be streamed in to see if the numbers can hold.
Troy Brown (16%) – Drop
Sam Dekker (10%) – Drop
Ian Mahinmi (4%) – Drop
Chasson Randle (3%) – Drop
Ron Baker (2%) – Drop
Jordan McRae (1%) – Drop
Boston Celtics def. Charlotte Hornets 119-103
Celtics
Robert Williams (26%) – Watch: Al Horford returned Sunday which sent Williams back to just an 11-minute role. The upside is there with Williams but at this stage, he just doesn’t appear to have the full trust of the coaching staff.
Daniel Theis (14%) – Watch: Much like Robert Williams, Theis is going to lose most of his value with Al Horford back in the lineup. This is simply now a case of seeing how the backup minutes play out to see if either Theis or Williams can put up standard league numbers.
Semi Ojeleye (6%) – Drop
Guerschon Yabusele (5%) – Drop
Brad Wanamaker (3%) – Drop
Hornets
Marvin Williams (49%) – Add: Williams had a night to forget Sunday but remains a hold in standard formats. The Hornets as a team were simply not there on both ends of the floor and so reading into this performance is pointless.
Miles Bridges (37%) – Drop
Guillermo Hernangomez (29%) – Watch: Hernangomez was basically the only bright spot for the Hornets on what was a terrible night. He finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds which was his first double-double of the season. He has now scored in double-digits in four of his past five games and is someone worth watching in case he can force his way into bigger minutes.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (24%) – Drop
Tony Parker (17%) – Drop
Devonte Graham (8%) – Drop
Dwayne Bacon (6%) – Drop
Brooklyn Nets def. Phoenix Suns 111-103
Nets
DeMarre Carroll (39%) – Watch: Carroll failed to score in 29 minutes Sunday, destroying anyone who streamed him in. He had been playing well prior to this performance and so should still be monitored over the next week.
Ed Davis (27%) – Stream: Davis brought it on the offensive end Sunday, dropping 15 points while adding another nine rebounds. Despite his limited skill set, Davis is a perfect streamer if you need boards.
Rodions Kurucs (17%) – Add: Kurucs was fantastic again Sunday and the time has come to start viewing his as a standard league pickup. He delivered his first career double-double and has now scored 40 points across his last two games. Allen Crabbe will eventually return but Kurucs has certainly done enough to remain a big part of the rotation even when that happens.
Shabazz Napier (10%) – Drop
Jared Dudley (7%) – Drop
Theo Pinson (2%) – Drop
Suns
Mikal Bridges (43%) – Stream: Bridges racked up a career-high five steals Sunday, taking his total from the last six games to 12. He continues to play big minutes even with the addition of Kelly Oubre and is worth a look if you need some steals.
Richaun Holmes (38%) – Stream: Holmes was back to 16 minutes Sunday as DeAndre Ayton went off for 26 and 18. Holmes has been trending down slightly over the past week but could still be streamed in if you need blocks and rebounds.
De’Anthony Melton (37%) – Drop
Jamal Crawford (11%) – Drop
Troy Daniels (5%) – Drop
Chicago Bulls def. Cleveland Cavaliers 112-92
Bulls
Ryan Arcidiacono (19%) – Watch: Arcidiacono played 33 minutes as he continues to start for the injured Zach LaVine, ending with 12 points and eight assists. He is still a little tough to trust but is seeing enough playing time to put up some value, albeit inconsistently.
Chandler Hutchison (15%) – Drop
Shaquille Harrison (13%) – Drop
Robin Lopez (12%) – Drop
Antonio Blakeney (10%) – Drop
Cristiano Felicio (4%) – Drop
Rawle Atkins (2%) – Drop
Cavaliers
Alec Burks (26%) – Watch: Burks scored 12 points in 28 minutes Sunday, as the Cavaliers were blown out by the Chicago Bulls. He continues to start but is yet to have himself a big night. He can provide points and out-of-position rebounds but doesn’t have enough upside to be viewed as a player to own.
Matthew Dellavedova (14%) – Drop: After returning to Cleveland, Dellavedova was putting up nice numbers but has slowed over his last two. He can be dropped if you were holding him as there is probably a better option on the waivers.
Ante Zizic (12%) – Drop
Jaron Blossomgame (8%) – Drop
Channing Frye (3%) – Drop
Jalen Jones (2%) – Drop
Miami Heat def. Orlando Magic 115-91
Heat
Tyler Johnson (44%) – Add: Johnson moved back into the starting lineup, replacing Rodney McGruder, and lit up the Magic for 25 points. Aside from his previous game, Johnson has been balling out recently and should be viewed as a player to own with Goran Dragic set for an extended break.
Derrick Jones Jr. (40%) – Add: Jones saw his playing time climb back to 22 minutes after playing just nine minutes against the Bucks. This game was a blowout and so garbage time was a factor, making it hard to get a read on his performance. If you are holding him, it is worth giving him at least one more game to see if he can bounce back.
Wayne Ellington (28%) – Drop
Magic
Jonathan Simmons (21%) – Drop
Jerian Grant (20%) – Drop
Wes Iwundu (5%) – Drop
Isaiah Briscoe (4%) – Drop
Jarell Martin (4%) – Drop
Khem Birch (3%) – Drop
Sacramento Kings def. New Orleans Pelicans 122-117
Kings
Harry Giles (29%) – Drop
Iman Shumpert (17%) – Drop: Shumpert scored in double-figures for the second straight game but offered very little else. He provides a veteran presence for the young Kings squad but that does not translate to fantasy production most nights.
Justin Jackson (16%) – Drop
Yogi Ferrell (11%) – Drop
Kosta Koufos (8%) – Drop
Pelicans
Tim Frazier (26%) – Watch: Frazier had his best game in two weeks Sunday, contributing across the board in the heartbreaking loss to the Kings. Prior to this game, he had scored a total of 10 points in his last four games. He can be a nice source of assists and steals and perhaps this performance can get him going again.
Frank Jackson (11%) – Drop
Darius Miller (10%) – Stream: Miller hit just one three-pointer Sunday but did play 35 minutes in the loss. As long as the playing time is there, Miller will typically be a steady source of perimeter scoring.
Jahlil Okafor (9%) – Drop: Okafor has put together a run of three solid games but is merely filling a role until Nikola Mirotic returns to action.
Solomon Hill (5%) – Drop
Minnesota Timberwolves def. Oklahoma City Thunder 114-112
Timberwolves
Josh Okogie (20%) – Watch: Okogie once again flashed his upside in Sunday’s victory and has now played at least 25 minutes in four straight games. Jeff Teague has missed all four games which have likely helped with the playing time, however, Okogie has certainly been contributing. He is not an add right now but is worth watching to see if he can force himself into additional playing time once the Timberwolves have all their players back.
Tyus Jones (17%) – Watch: Jones started and played 32 minutes Sunday but was not able to translate the playing time into fantasy production. As long as Jeff Teague and Derrick Rose are on the sidelines, Jones is going to be worth adding in standard formats.
Gorgui Dieng (15%) – Drop: Dieng has seen his playing time increase of late, playing at least 19 minutes in three of his past four games. If he can maintain the court time, he could be at least a backend standard league player.
Jerryd Bayless (2%) – Drop
Thunder
Nerlens Noel (36%) – Stream: At this stage, Noel is an option only if you need blocks, and clearly, that is not a lot of people.
Hamidou Diallo (12%) – Drop
Patrick Patterson (9%) – Drop
Terrance Ferguson (9%) – Drop
Alex Abrines (7%) – Drop
Golden State Warriors def. Los Angeles Clippers 129-127
Warriors
Jordan Bell (41%) – Drop
Kevon Looney (27%) – Drop
Jonas Jerebko (17%) – Watch: Jerebko moved into the starting lineup Sunday but was not able to come away with any decent type of production. Of all the Warriors big men he appears the most likely to be able to hold any consistent value but is simply just a watch at this stage.
Andre Iguodala (16%) – Drop
Alfonzo McKinnie (9%) – Drop
Clippers
Patrick Beverley (48%) – Drop
Avery Bradley (37%) – Drop: Bradley actually made some positive contributions Sunday but is still a long way from being a standard league asset.
Marcin Gortat (32%) – Drop
Mike Scott (8%) – Drop
Tyrone Wallace (7%) – Drop
Sindarius Thornwell (4%) – Drop
Portland Trail Blazers def. Dallas Mavericks 121-118 (OT)
Trail Blazers
Evan Turner (34%) – Drop
Zach Collins (32%) – Drop
Moe Harkless (25%) – Watch: Harkless finished with 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting Sunday, continuing to work his way back into the standard league conversation. He is not quite there yet but he does appear to be turning things around slowly.
Seth Curry (13%) – Drop: Curry had 12 points in Sunday’s overtime victory but could very well come out in the next game and deliver next to nothing.
Nik Stauskas (12%) – Drop
Meyer Leonard (8%) – Drop: Despite 13 points in 23 minutes, Leonard is far too inconsistent to warrant a standard league spot.
Mavericks
J.J. Barea (47%) – Stream: Barea handed out another eight assists Sunday, bringing his average across the last four games to 6.8 per game. He doesn’t have a lot of upside but as long as Dennis Smith is out, Barea could be handy in certain situations.
Dwight Powell (23%) – Drop: Powell saw some extra playing time with Dirk Nowitzki resting, putting up 14 points in 19 minutes. The lack of supporting numbers is worrying and as soon as Dirk is back, Powell will go back to around 15 minutes.
Dorian Finney-Smith (22%) – Drop
Jalen Brunson (15%) – Watch: Brunson has put together back-to-back games scoring at least 10 points and handing out three assists. He remains the starter with Dennis Smith on the sidelines but J.J. Barea is the guard to look at for streaming purposes.
Maxi Kleber (14%) – Drop
Devin Harris (8%) – Drop
Memphis Grizzlies def. Los Angeles Lakers 107-99
Grizzlies
JaMychal Green (48%) – Drop: Green continues to contribute but not at a high level. His playing time basically comes down to Jaren Jackson being able to stay out of foul trouble which makes Green very hard to roster with any confidence.
Garrett Temple (31%) – Stream: Temple has notched up double-digits in four straight games and five of his last six. He can help with steals and threes and is worth a look if those contributions fill a need for your team.
Dillon Brooks (26%) – Drop: Brooks returned from a knee injury that had cost him seven weeks, playing just 12 minutes in the victory. He may eventually work his way into the standard league discussion but he is going to be brought along slowly.
Shelvin Mack (20%) – Drop
Wayne Selden Jr. (10%) – Drop
Ivan Rabb (6%) – Drop
Lakers
Lance Stephenson (21%) – Drop
Moritz Wagner (15%) – Drop
Ivica Zubac (11%) – Watch: Zubac had another strong game Sunday, going off for 19 points and four rebounds. Both JaVale McGee and Tyson Chandler were out for this game which allowed Zubac to play 33 minutes. Should both players be forced to miss additional time, Zubac would be worth a look. However, neither players absence seem as though it will linger making adding Zubac fraught with risk.
Got a question about today’s fantasy basketball fringe report? Hit Adam up on twitter @adamking91 or give a shout out to @Fantrax
Ready to take your team to the next level? Check out all of our Fantasy Basketball content.
Fantrax is one of the fastest growing fantasy sites of 2018. With multi-team trades, designated commissioner/league managers, and drag/drop easy click methods, Fantrax is sure to excite the serious fantasy sports fan – sign up now for a free year at Fantrax.com.