Deep leaguers should take notice of Kristaps Porzingis
We’re off to a great start for the 2015-16 season. It’s been an exciting season already, and we’re just getting started. Several rookies are making their impact and showing why they belong in the league.
Below is a list of the current NBA rookies worthy of a spot on your fantasy team, based their performance two weeks into this season.
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Karl-Anthony Towns (Center, Minnesota Timberwolves)
Towns has been everything you would want out of a No. 1 draft pick. Over the first two weeks of season, Towns is averaging a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds. He’s contributing three blocks on the defensive end as well.
Thus far, Towns is a solid start and someone to keep in your everyday lineup. Look for big things out of Towns and the Timberwolves.
With Andrew Wiggins and Towns, Minnesota is on the right track and is poised for big things to come. Look for them to challenge for the eighth seed in the Western Conference.
Jahlil Okafor (Center, Philadelphia 76ers)
Okafor came into this season as Philadelphia’s No. 1 scoring option. Okafor was the third pick of the draft and just as easy could have been the first pick. His nearly 20 points per game rank first among rookies.
We would like to see his rebounding numbers increase, but there is time for that. We need to realize Okafor isn’t going to be a big time shot blocking, rebounding, or rim-protecting big man.
He is going to be a scorer and has already proven he can do just that. Any player in the NBA averaging twenty points a game needs to be on a fantasy roster.
Kristaps Porzingis (Power Forward, New York Knicks)
Porzingis has burst onto the New York scene and has made an immediate impact. Those boos on Draft Day are now loud cheers in Madison Square Garden. He has brought excitement to a team that needed it badly, and his putbacks are becoming a regular occurrence on SportCenter’s top plays.
His numbers of 12 points, eight rebounds and one block per game aren’t spectacular, but decent nonetheless. He’s 7’3, has a nice shooting touch and is only 20 years old.
I anticipate an increase in these numbers as the season progresses. Porzingis is worth a roster spot on your fantasy team on potential alone, particularly in deep leagues.
Emmanuel Mudiay (Point Guard, Denver Nuggets)
Mudiay has stepped into a role where he is expecting to contribute early and often. This can be tough on rookies, especially those who aren’t surrounded by a lot of talent. However, Mudiay has made the transition to the pros seamlessly.
We would like to see fewer turnovers and his outside shot improve, which will come with time. His nearly 13 points, five assists and four rebounds per game are nothing to sneeze at. 6’5, 19-year-old, athletic point guard should improve on these numbers. Mudiay is a great backup, plug-in player to keep on your roster.
Rookies to Watch
- Willie Cauley-Stein (Center, Sacramento Kings)
- D’Angelo Russell (Point Guard, Los Angeles Lakers)
- Justise Winslow (Small Forward, Miami Heat)
- Stanley Johnson (Small Forward, Detroit Pistons)
- Myles Turner (Power Forward, Indiana Pacers)
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Timothy Atkins is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Timothy, check out his archive and follow him @TJAtkins8832.
