Finals week! A big congratulations if your team has survived to this point, as we’ve now reached the last and most significant four days of the fantasy basketball season. With so little time left, players who are trending up might be must-roster guys, even if their value could be gone within a week. Similarly, players who won’t help you in the next few days mean absolutely nothing at this point, so there’s no reason to hold onto these guys for another day. That said, let’s dive right into this week’s Fantasy Basketball Stock Report, so we can identify a handful of players who could help you win your leagues this week. Good luck!
Fantasy Basketball Stock Report
Stock on the Rise
Marvin Bagley III, PF/C, Detroit Pistons
Marvin Bagley III is back to doing what he seems to do best at the NBA level: providing impressive fantasy value in some of the most meaningless games of the NBA season. The Pistons are once again in full tank mode as the season draws to a close, and Bagley is starting to produce some strong games in the scoring and rebounding departments. The big man has scored 14 or more points in each of his last four games, peaking with a monstrous 31-point effort against the Hawks a week ago. He has also now racked up 8 or more boards in three straight, becoming a nightly double-double threat for a team with absolutely no incentive to win any of their last games. He should continue to see minutes down the stretch, so there is no reason why he can’t be a fantasy basketball hero in these final days.
Isaiah Joe, PG/SG, Oklahoma City Thunder
With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander missing time due to injury, Isaiah Joe has stepped into a larger role for the Thunder and has capitalized in a big way. The combo guard exploded for 53 points and 11 three-pointers across a two-game span, and he has now topped 28 minutes in three straight games. The Thunder are going to ride the hot hand, so he should have no trouble putting up some huge scoring outputs down the stretch, with the potential to go nuclear from beyond the arc. Joe is quickly trending in the right direction, so take advantage of it over these final games.
Xavier Tillman, PF/C, Memphis Grizzlies
Starting consistently for the Grizzlies, Xavier Tillman has begun to dominate in points, rebounds, and steals. The big man out of Michigan State has contributed 35 points and 17 rebounds over his last two games, and he has chipped in a somewhat surprising 6 steals over his last three. The Grizzlies believe in Tillman to play over 30 minutes a game most nights at this point, so he can certainly be relied on for double-double potential with some solid peripheral stats as well. Shooting 67% or better from the floor in each of his last five games on top of the counting stats, Tillman is a steal who could definitely help you win your league over these last few days.
Quentin Grimes, SG/SF, New York Knicks
With the Knicks fighting for playoff positioning down the stretch, Quentin Grimes has stepped up to play a major role for New York in all aspects of the game. Seeing 26 minutes or more in four straight, and 36 minutes or more in each of his last three, Grimes has put up an impressive 21 points per game along with a whopping 5 triples a night. He’s scoring with ease while Brunson and Barrett have either sat out or struggled a bit of late, and his playmaking has gone up considerably as well. The young swing man has racked up 16 assists in his last three games, while pulling down an impressive 22 boards in that same span. With 2 steals per game in the last week as well, Grimes is contributing fantasy basketball league-winning numbers across the board, and you need to be taking advantage of it. His stock is skyrocketing with every game he plays, and he could legitimately be a difference-maker as you fight for your fantasy championship.
Stock on the Decline
Everyone who is hurt:
With four days left in championship week, this is it. It doesn’t matter if someone was your best player for the entire season and is the main reason you got to the championship in the first place. If that player is set to miss the next two games, drop him for someone who can help you win. It’s now or never!