We’re back with another weekly edition of the Fantasy Basketball Stock Report, where we dive into the past week of NBA action to find a handful of players whose stocks are on the move. Due to injuries, rotational changes, or just a jump in performance, these players could all make a significant impact to your fantasy basketball teams in the coming days. Whether this is a short-term or long-term impact is unknown, but fantasy basketball is a game of weekly matchups, meaning we must focus on what we can right now and give ourselves the best chance to win the week at hand. So let’s jump right into it and examine this past week’s biggest market movers.
Fantasy Basketball Stock Report
Stock on the Rise
Dario Saric, PF/C, Phoenix Suns
Playing 19 or more minutes in four of his last five games, Dario Saric is quietly showing some fantasy basketball relevance for a Suns team that needs more depth. Seeing 30 minutes on Tuesday, Saric put up his best performance of the season, going off for 19 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, a steal, and 3 threes in a huge win for a Suns team that had previously lost six straight. As a big man who can consistently knock down shots from long range, Saric has proven to have fantasy value in the past when given the opportunity, and it looks like he may be in position to carry such value again. The veteran big man is on the rise and he is certainly a name to watch in the coming days.
Pat Connaughton, SG/SF, Milwaukee Bucks
Taking advantage of Khris Middleton still missing time, Pat Connaughton has become an extremely consistent source of points and threes, and his stock is on the rise as a result. Finding his way into Milwaukee’s starting five for each of the past nine games, Connaughton has heated up over his last six. The former Notre Dame star has reached double figures in five of those six games, burying 16 triples in that span. He has also been a pleasant surprise in the rebounding department of late, pulling in 18 boards across his last two contests. As long as the minutes are there, and it looks like they aren’t going anywhere any time soon, Connaughton should remain a solid fantasy basketball asset.
Duane Washington Jr., PG/SG, Phoenix Suns
With the Suns extremely short-handed, especially in the backcourt, Duane Washington Jr. has taken full advantage of his opportunity, playing so well that it will be tough to keep him off the court even when everyone is healthy again. Ignoring a January 4th game in which he saw just 2 minutes of action, Washington has scored in double figures in nine straight, despite playing under 20 minutes in five of them. And coming off back-to-back performances with over 20 points scored, the sophomore is finding his groove and giving the team some very difficult decisions to make when the cavalry returns. Washington has knocked down a three-pointer in each of those nine games as well, and he hit 5 of them three times in that span. With 5 or more assists on four separate occasions during that stretch, the former Ohio State star is looking like a strong option in fantasy basketball any time he sees significant run. His stock is quickly on the rise as he torrid run continues.
Stock on the Decline
Cole Anthony, PG, Orlando Magic
After playing some really solid basketball just a couple of weeks ago, Cole Anthony has cooled off in a major way of late, contributing next to nothing for fantasy basketball purposes. The young point guard has reached double figures just once in his last seven games, making just 2 total threes in that stretch. Shooting better than 33% from the floor just once in that span as well, he is proving to be an active detriment to your efficiency categories while he continues to slump. As with most young players, there are peaks and valleys over the course of a long NBA season, but this is a really big valley, and his stock is tanking as a result. There are better options until he is able to hopefully turn things around sooner than later.