Already into week nine of the fantasy basketball season, it is around the time when we can take a step back and try to evaluate our teams. We’re past the point of “this team is good, things will turn around soon”, and it’s time to make some adjustments if you’re not where you want to be at this point in the season. Fortunately, a good place to start is to see how each player on your team is trending of late. Some players may have had a big break recently, while others might be heading downhill, which would obviously only make things worse for your team as a whole. So let’s start by identifying a handful of players who have seen their stock move significantly in recent days, potentially creating a major change for your fantasy roster.
Fantasy Basketball Stock Report
Stock on the Rise
Keegan Murray, SF/PF, Sacramento Kings
After getting off to a somewhat rocky start to his NBA career, Keegan Murray has finally begun to show off his impressive shooting stroke that made him one of the best players in the country in college basketball last year. After sinking to a new rock bottom with a combined 9 points in three games combined, Murray has bounced back in a big way with double-digit scoring efforts in seven of his last eight contests. Scoring as many as 23 against the Clippers on December 3rd, the fourth overall pick followed that breakout performance by knocking down at least 3 triples in five straight games. With his defensive stats also on the rise, collecting a combined 10 steals and blocks in his last six games, Murray’s stock is sharply on the rise, and should only go higher as he progresses over the course of his rookie campaign.
Caris LeVert, SG/SF, Cleveland Cavaliers
After coming back cold as ice following an ankle injury, Caris LeVert seems to have found his rhythm on offense in a big way of late. LeVert has now gone three straight games with 22 or more points scored, adding over 4 assists and 4 rebounds per game for good measure. The former Nets standout has been somewhat inconsistent, but he has proven in the past that he is capable of going on some impressive stretches when he gets into a groove, and it looks like he might be in the middle of one right now. His stock is on the rise as he continues to put points on the board in bunches, but even if and when the scoring regresses back toward his averages, it is a great sign to see LeVert back to full strength once again.
Walker Kessler, PF/C, Utah Jazz
Keegan Murray isn’t the only rookie starting to make a name for himself of late, as Walker Kessler has been on a roll in recent games as well. The big man has collected 7 or more rebounds in each of his last six games, achieving double figures in three of those contests, while blocking multiple shots in six of his last seven for a total of 19 in that span. Kessler has proven himself on the defensive end enough to have cracked the starting lineup in two of his four games, and even his scoring is on the rise with double figures in three of his last six, including a 20-point outburst on December 2nd. The former Auburn star is seeing his stock continue to rise as he gains confidence and consistency, and it should only be a matter of time until his minutes grow considerably as the Jazz continue to fall in the standings.
Donte DiVincenzo, PG/SG, Golden State Warriors
In his first season with the Warriors, Donte DiVincenzo is starting to find his place within the system, and the results are beginning to show. DiVincenzo has reached double figures in scoring just three times with Golden State this season, but all of them have come since November 27th, and two of them were in his last four games. He has also come away with 11 steals in his last five contests and 7 threes in his last four. Adding 7 or more rebounds in each of his last four games, he is starting to put up numbers across the board, as his usage rate off the bench has increased with Jordan Poole playing with the starting five. The former Villanova star reached 20 minutes just twice through the first month and a half of the season but has crossed that mark in four of his last five games now, as both his minutes and stock are steadily on the rise. He should have a significant impact for the Warriors the rest of the way, providing solid fantasy numbers as a result.
Stock on the Decline
Markelle Fultz, PG/SG, Orlando Magic
In his seven games since returning from injury, Markelle Fultz has looked wildly inconsistent thus far. While there have been some impressive flashes, and inconsistency is to be expected as he works his way back and tries to find a rhythm offensively, he is being significantly outplayed by Cole Anthony. Fultz has failed to score more than 7 points in three of his last five games while turning the ball over 18 times in his last six contests. Meanwhile, Anthony is putting up career-highs in shooting efficiency, while turning the ball over just 8 times in his last seven games. Fultz is seeing his stock drop as this disparity continues, and it’s only a matter of time before this begins to reflect in their minutes if this trend continues.