We’re back with another weekly fantasy basketball stock report! Now a full week into December, the Pelicans and Grizzlies are on the rise, while the Spurs watch their stock plummet with their 11th straight loss. Similarly, a number of players are heating up or falling off of late, seeing their stock jump up and down as a result. So let’s dive right in and take a look at a handful of players who are experiencing a great deal of stock movement in recent days, so we can determine what it might mean for your fantasy squads.
Fantasy Basketball Stock Report
Stock on the Rise
AJ Griffin, SG/SF, Atlanta Hawks
Despite the common expectation that he might not have a major impact in his rookie season, AJ Griffin has looked tremendous thus far, and he is currently in the midst of the best stretch of his young career. The 16th overall pick has reached double figures in seven of his last nine contests, putting up as many as 24 on Friday against the Nuggets. Griffin is also making significant contributions in the steals and threes department, making him a valuable asset even when the scoring numbers aren’t there. The former Duke standout has picked up a steal in ten straight games, tallying an impressive total of 17 in that time, while also knocking down 20 triples across on a nine-game streak of hitting at least one shot from beyond the arc. He is starting to consistently see more minutes, and his stock will only go higher as he continues to earn a larger role over the course of the season.
Victor Oladipo, SG/SF, Miami Heat
After a long recovery from a knee injury, Victor Oladipo finally made his season debut last night, and the veteran looked pretty good. He scored 9 points with 2 boards, 2 assists, and a three in 18 minutes, and the production will only increase as he finds his rhythm and gets worked back into more minutes. The Miami Heat are 11-14 this season, good for the 11 seed in the Eastern Conference, and they are searching for answers off the bench. Oladipo looks ready to work his way into being that answer, and while his return to a significant role certainly won’t be overnight, this was a huge step in the right direction. His stock took a leap after this solid debut, and it is only a matter of time before one monster performance sends it skyrocketing.
Daniel Gafford, C, Washington Wizards
After topping 20 minutes played just once this entire season, Daniel Gafford has now achieved this feat in back-to-back games for the struggling Wizards. The big man stuffed the stat sheet in those two games as well, averaging 14.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 4.0 blocks per contest, even going 9/10 from the floor on Sunday against the Lakers. Sharing the court with Kristaps Porzingis at times during this small stretch, it appears that there is a new pathway to extended minutes for Gafford, which is the main key to his fantasy value. As a result, his stock is quickly on the rise as we optimistically wait to see if this new Wizards rotation will continue.
Stock on the Decline
Shake Milton, PG/SG, Philadelphia 76ers
After nine straight games of 30 or more minutes in the starting lineup with double-digit scoring and a plethora of stats in other categories, Shake Milton was relegated back to the bench with the return of James Harden. This is instantly an obvious decline to his stock and fantasy value, as not only will he see fewer minutes, but his usage rate is sure to drop off with the ball-dominant Harden running the offense once again. Milton still saw 26 minutes off the bench, so he could still retain some value in the near future until Tyrese Maxey returns as well, but things are not looking good for the 26-year-old.
Chris Boucher, PF/C, Toronto Raptors
The torturous saga of Chris Boucher’s fantasy value continues. After a monstrous stretch across the second half of November that saw him flash every bit of fantasy potential we’ve been waiting for, the big man has reverted back to his old annoying ways. Boucher has failed to top 8 points in five straight matchups, while failing to see 20 minutes in any of his last three. His stock is very much on the decline as a result, and everyone will have to frustratingly wait and see if another hot streak is around the corner or not.