Week 7 of the fantasy basketball season is already upon us. For those playing in category leagues, you likely have a very good idea of your team’s strengths and weaknesses across the various statistical areas. The fantasy basketball waiver wire remains populated with intriguing names who are proving themselves capable of providing a boost. Let’s dive into a few of these players a bit deeper in our Week 7 category analysis!
**Note: Criteria for inclusion requires players to be owned in 60% of leagues or less**
Points | Fantasy Basketball Category Analysis
Bojan Bogdanovic, SF/PF, Utah Jazz (55.3% ESPN Ownership)
It was a rough first month of the season shooting the basketball for Bojan Bogdanovich. Perhaps this was to be expected after a wrist injury forced him to miss the Jazz’ postseason series last summer. The 31-year-old Croatian appears to have finally found his stroke. In Utah’s last two games, Bogdanovich went off to the tune of 32 and 29 points respectively and 12 made 3-pointers over the two contests combined. Despite his early-season struggles, his 14.7 points per game average still ranks 64th in the NBA. Bogdanovich’s fantasy basketball category league value is clearly rooted in scoring and 3-pointers. His 39.7% shooting from both the floor and 3-point range figure to improve going forward as well.
Be sure to also check out our Week 7 fantasy basketball start/sit insights on Bogdanovic and several other players!
Other Players to Note
- Immanuel Quickley, PG, New York Knicks
- Norman Powell, SG/SF, Toronto Raptors
- Terrence Ross, SG/SF, Orlando Magic
Rebounds | Fantasy Basketball Category Analysis
JaMychal Green, PF/C, Denver Nuggets (11.8% ESPN Ownership)
While he is far from the star big man in Denver, JaMychal Green has quietly gone about putting up reliable fantasy basketball production on a near-nightly basis. His season averages include 10.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. The latter would be where managers could expect the most consistent fantasy contributions should they choose to add him. Green has had five or more boards in all but one of the Nuggets’ last ten games. The 30-year-old is proving he can still get it done on the glass despite only playing around 21 minutes per game.
Other Players to Note
- Royce O’Neale, SF/PF, Utah Jazz
- Darius Bazley, SF/PF, Oklahoma City Thunder
- Khem Birch, C, Orlando Magic
Assists | Fantasy Basketball Category Analysis
Goran Dragic, PG, Miami Heat (51.9% ESPN Ownership)
It has been a revolving door at point guard and seemingly every other position for the Miami Heat this season. A combination of injuries and virus issues have forced Erik Spoelstra to get his money’s worth with setting starting lineups through the first six weeks. After missing the last three games with a groin strain, Goran Dragic will be back in the fold for Miami this week. The veteran is tied for 35th in the NBA with an average of 5.3 assists per game. Furthermore, he really picked up the scoring in the absence of Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro over the last few weeks as well. His fantasy basketball ownership plummeted due to the missed time last week, but Dragic is about as reliable as they come for managers in need of extra dimes.
Other Players to Note
- Cole Anthony, PG, Orlando Magic
- T.J. McConnell, PG, Indiana Pacers
- Joe Ingles, SF/PF, Utah Jazz
3-Pointers | Fantasy Basketball Category Analysis
Gary Trent Jr., SG, Portland Trail Blazers (21.3% ESPN Ownership)
The Trail Blazers have been hit by the injury bug as hard as anyone this season. From center Jusuf Nurkic to guard C.J. McCollum, Portland’s entire lineup is littered with injuries. One player who has stepped up nicely in the wake of his fallen teammates is Gary Trent Jr. Three straight games of playing at least 37 minutes have yielded 63 total points and 15 made 3-pointers. On the season, Trent is averaging 2.8 made triples per game. For a player who has been held to reserve minutes for the majority of the campaign thus far, that’s not too shabby at all. Trent may very well be playing his way into a greater role even when injured backcourt starters McCollum and Derrick Jones Jr. are able to return. The latter has been a major fantasy basketball disappointment, and the depleted Blazers need all the production they can get.
Other Players to Note
- Patty Mills, PG, San Antonio Spurs
- Wayne Ellington, SG, Detroit Pistons
- Davis Bertans, PF, Washington Wizards
Blocks | Fantasy Basketball Category Analysis
Daniel Theis, C, Boston Celtics (19.6% ESPN Ownership)
Tristan Thompson has been featured in this column for his rebounding prowess in past weeks, but Daniel Theis easily appears to be the premier Celtics center at this point in the season. Brad Stevens seems to think so too. Theis played 35 minutes in Boston’s last game against the Los Angeles Lakers compared to just 15 for Thompson. With blocks being such a rare and valuable commodity in fantasy basketball category leagues, Theis provides a stable floor average of 1.0 swats per contest. More minutes will only mean more contributions in other areas as well for the 28-year-old German big man. Even with the Celtics getting healthier in their backcourt, Theis remains an intriguing fantasy add going forward.
Other Players to Note
- Josh Jackson, SF/SG, Detroit Pistons
- Ivica Zubac, C, Los Angeles Clippers
- Naz Reid, C, Minnesota Timberwolves
Steals | Fantasy Basketball Category Analysis
Matisse Thybulle, SF, Philadelphia 76ers (2.3% ESPN Ownership)
No one has been picking more pockets lately than 76ers small forward Matisse Thybulle. A season-high 25 minutes in Sunday’s win over the Indiana Pacers saw Thybulle notch a whopping four steals as part of an all-around dominant defensive performance. The game marked his fourth straight with multiple thefts and boosted his season steals per game average to 1.6. Playing time will be the biggest question mark for Thybulle going forward. When Doc Rivers affords him ample time in the rotation, the 23-year-old has proven his ability to get after it defensively. In addition to his steals, Thybulle averages 0.8 blocks per game as well. For fantasy basketball managers solely in need of assistance in these two categories, there could be some real sleeper value here.
Other Players to Note
- Justin Holiday, SG/SF, Indiana Pacers
- Robert Covington, PF/SF, Portland Trail Blazers
- Jarred Vanderbilt, PF, Minnesota Timberwolves
