As we head into the last week of the NBA regular season, anyone still competing in fantasy hoops is in the middle of their championship, trying to ride off into the NBA postseason on a high note. With a handful of NBA teams still fighting for their playoff lives, others fighting for seeding, and a number of teams already checked out for the year, it has become that much more important to track which players are seeing their stock on the move over the course of this final week. Winning your fantasy championship will likely depend on finding those whose stock is quickly on the rise, and cutting loose anyone whose stock is beginning to tank. With that in mind, let’s dive in and see which players could prove to be difference-makers over these final few games.
Fantasy Basketball Stock Report
Stock on the Rise
Obi Toppin, SF/PF, New York Knicks
Obi Toppin is finally free. With the Knicks officially out of postseason contention, Tom Thibodeau has no choice but to finally let the kids play and look ahead toward their development for the future. This means that Julius Randle is likely done for the season, while Toppin soaks up 30+ minutes per game to finish off the season. Across his last two contests, the former lottery pick has seen 33 minutes a night, averaging an impressive 20.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.5 threes. Capable of scoring at all levels, Toppin looks poised to finish off the year in a big way, and his stock is quickly rising to reflect that.
Olivier Sarr, C, Oklahoma City Thunder
With the Thunder in full-on tank mode to finish off the season, a number of unexpected stars are emerging down the stretch, and Olivier Sarr is very much one of them. The rookie is averaging just over 30 minutes per game over his last five, and he has scored in double figures each night. Not only that, but his last two games were a 10 point, 12 rebound double-double and a 24 point outburst in which he knocked down five triples. Chipping in a pair of blocks in each of his past three games, Sarr is bringing a little bit of everything to the table, making him a tremendous value in fantasy leagues for this last week. His stock is quickly on the rise as OKC continues to feed minutes to him and a plethora of other “silly season heroes”.
Alperen Sengun, PF/C, Houston Rockets
The Rockets are in a similar position to the Knicks and Thunder, and Alperen Sengun is just another youngster who is taking full advantage of it. The 19-year-old rookie has seen nearly 35 minutes per game in his last two contests, and he has posted a pair of strong double-doubles with averages of 14 points and 13 boards. And with the rare ability to create plays for teammates from the center position, as seen by his 4.5 assists in that span, Sengun provides significant fantasy value that most other big men cannot. With absolutely no one standing in his way for minutes in Houston’s final two games, Sengun should once again threaten for nightly double-doubles. His stock is sky-high.
Tre Jones, PG, San Antonio Spurs
With Dejounte Murray out of the lineup, Tre Jones has stepped up in a big way for the surging Spurs, taking control of the offense and quickly becoming a premier option for assists across the league. Playing around 33 minutes per game since Murray came down with an illness, the former Duke standout is averaging 13.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 8.7 assists with 1.3 steals for good measure. As long as the minutes are there, the assists and steals will be too, making him an elite point guard option down the stretch, as his stock continues to soar.
Carsen Edwards, PG, Detroit Pistons
The Pistons are another team with nothing to play for in the season’s final week, and the newly added Carsen Edwards looks poised to make the most of it. The former Celtics guard just signed with Detroit this week, and he played 31 minutes in his debut, scoring 13 points with 9 assists, 2 threes, and 2 steals. His FG% will likely bring that category down a bit, and his fantasy value beyond this week will likely be next to nothing, but there is no reason he can’t continue to excel across this final week. Edwards can produce elite three-point stats, solid points, and the potential for high assists and steals, making him an intriguing fantasy option. His stock went from zero to 100 in the last three days, and it will only increase from here assuming he picks up where he left off Sunday.