Congratulations are in order if you’re reading this, as that likely means your fantasy team is still alive in the playoffs as you inch closer and closer to a championship. As always, NBA rotations are in constant flux, players are sitting out due to injuries or rest on a daily basis, and your fantasy roster is seemingly never at 100% strength no matter how hard you try. But this also means that there are a number of players whose stock continues to rise and fall like a seesaw, and if you stay on top of the news, you can be the one to take advantage of these situations. So let’s dive in and take a look at a handful of players who, for better or worse, have seen their stock jump over the past week of action.
Fantasy Basketball Stock Report
Stock on the Rise
Danilo Gallinari, SF/PF, Atlanta Hawks
With the injury to John Collins forcing him to miss at least the next two weeks, Danilo Gallinari has stepped into a more prominent role for Atlanta, playing 30 or more minutes in each of his last three games. In those three contests, the veteran scored in double figures each time, averaging 16.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.7 threes. Scoring as many as 27 points against the Pelicans, Gallo proved that he is still capable of getting buckets, and his double-double last game shows that he is much more than just a stretch four who can shoot the long ball. Poised for significant minutes and a slightly expanded role within the offense, Gallinari’s stock is on its way up, and he should be able to finish the regular season strong when fantasy teams need him most.
Pat Connaughton, SG/SF, Milwaukee Bucks
He’s back. After missing over a month with a finger injury, Pat Connaughton returned on Saturday and wasted no time finding his rhythm, especially from beyond the arc. The sharpshooter has already knocked down 8 triples in just two games since coming back, doing so in just 20 and 23 minutes, respectively. With that, his 14.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.5 assists have been nothing spectacular, but exactly what we are used to from the former Notre Dame standout, furthering the idea that he is ready to make a difference down the stretch. Obviously, he’s not someone who will win your league by himself, but his elite three-point shooting along with solid across-the-board numbers make him an asset as both his minutes and stock continue to rise.
Otto Porter Jr., SF/PF, Golden State Warriors
With Stephen Curry having missed the last two games and at least the next two weeks as he recovers from a foot injury, Otto Porter Jr. has seen both his numbers and his stock skyrocket as a result. The veteran has seen his usage rate jump from 14.9% all the way up to 20.6% since Curry went down, and his stats have clearly reflected the difference. In two full games, Porter posted a 16 point, 16 rebound double-double and an equally impressive follow-up performance of 14 points and 15 boards, averaging a triple and a block per night as well. With the Warriors already a lock for a top seed in the postseason, they will likely be extra cautious with Steph to make sure he is 100% for the playoffs, meaning Porter could very well see this type of increased workload for the entire rest of the regular season. He could be quite the difference-maker for fantasy teams over these final weeks.
Jordan Poole, PG/SG, Golden State Warriors
The other big winner from Curry going down is Jordan Poole. The third-year breakout star has now scored 20 or more points in each of his last 10 games, and he appears poised to go absolutely nuclear over these next few weeks until Steph is back on the court. Poole’s usage rate has jumped to a team-high 29%, and he has scored 26 or more points with a combined 15 made threes in just his last three games. And what’s potentially more important is the fact that the 22-year-old took 20 or more shot attempts in each of those last three contests, a feat he had previously only done three times the entire season. It’s abundantly clear that the Warriors offense will run through Poole until Curry returns, sending his stock through the roof as he becomes an elite scoring option for the duration of the fantasy postseason.
Davion Mitchell, PG/SG, Sacramento Kings
With Sacramento’s season all but over at this point, they appear likely to shut down De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis for the remainder of the season. This sends Davion Mitchell’s stock soaring upwards, as he is now set to see a major increase in minutes and offensive responsibilities as the team focuses their attention on developing their talented rookie for the future. Mitchell has averaged 37 minutes per game over his past three, averaging 19.7 points, 5.0 assists, and 2.7 threes. The former Baylor star is growing more confident by the day, as seen by his career-high 28 points and 9 assists on Sunday, and he looks more than capable of even surpassing those impressive numbers at some point over these final weeks. Similar to Poole, the offense now runs through Mitchell and his team-leading 26.9% usage rate since Fox went down, so all we have to do now is sit back and enjoy the ride.
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