At some point in the season, if you’re on the roster, there’s going to be a need for you to make an impact. And if you are drafted in the first round, your team has high hopes regarding your potential. Those contributions often take some time to materialize. Under that guise, only eight rookies are averaging at least 10 points per game. Let’s dig into three of those players and their impact within fantasy basketball, who might not be receiving the same level of attention as their peers.
Fantasy Basketball Rookie Report
Jeremiah Fears, G, New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans are a mess. Entering the season, it was known that Dejounte Murray was going to miss a large chunk of the season. But stop me if you’ve heard this, Zion Williamson is injured and sidelined. Along with Williamson, Jordan Poole and Herbert Jones are also unable to take the court. We’ve previously broken down Derik Queen, but his teammate also deserves some attention.
Even without all, or even some, of those injuries, Jeremiah Fears is living in the land of opportunity. And to this point, the rookie guard has certainly taken advantage of the situation. Volume is abundant as Fears is averaging 28 minutes per game.
While he’s averaging 15.9 points per game, Fears has either 20 or 21 points in each of his last three games. As the injuries mount and the rookie gets more comfortable and confident, it’s not surprising to see the offense increase
Fears doesn’t necessarily stand out in any other category, but he’s also not a liability either. Out of the backcourt, Fears has 3.4 rebounds and three assists per game with 1.5 steals and 1.3 three-pointers. He’s also shooting 45.1% from the field and 79.1% from the free-throw line.
As the season goes on, Fears becomes more worthy of our attention as his production should only increase.
Cedric Coward, G, Memphis Grizzlies
Despite his shoulder injury in college, the Memphis Grizzlies were keen on Cedric Coward as they traded up to draft him. Coward was unable to participate in the Summer League, but, to this point, it hasn’t slowed him down.
The good news for Coward is that there’s plenty of opportunity for him to get playing time in Memphis. The fact that Ja Morant is sidelined has only served to help Coward.
After a few rough games, Coward bounced back in a big way on Friday. It was the fourth double-double of his young career as Coward needed just 28 minutes to finish with 23 points, 14 rebounds, and five assists.
Overall, the rookie is averaging 13 points along with 5.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. The volume and opportunity aren’t going anywhere for Coward. This is another situation where the best is likely still to come.
Tre Johnson, G, Washington Wizards
If we are going to follow along with a theme, then Tre Johnson deserves some attention. He’s a rookie guard on a bad team averaging 11.5 points per game, and it’s not like the Washington Wizards are going to get any better this season.
The problem, though, is that Johnson is now out for the next month with a hip-flexor injury. While it’s a pause on things, it also represents an opportunity for when Johnson returns. As we get into the season, Johnson’s opportunity should only increase. It also helps that he’s making two three-pointers per game.
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