It’s Saturday. You know what that means.
It’s time for another edition of the category analysis.
If you’re new to this column, here’s what we will be looking at each and every week.
Every week, we’ll be looking at players who are widely available and rostered in fewer than 60 percent of fantasy leagues on Yahoo. We’ll be focusing on 8-cat leagues because turnovers are a waste of a category, to be honest. We’ll be looking at players who can help you in each of the eight categories who you can get before your league-mates catch on.
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The eight categories we’ll focus on each week are:
- Points
- Rebounds
- Assists
- Steals
- Blocks
- Threes
- Field-goal percentage
- Free-throw percentage
Let’s get to it.
Points
Devin Vassell (SG/SF – SAS): 47%
One of the biggest post-deadline winners is Vassell, who we expected to get some increased run for the rebuilding Spurs after they dealt Derrick White inexplicably away.
While it’s been one game, it was a great sign of what could be to come for Vassell and the Spurs.
Vassell dropped 20 points in 28 minutes against the Hawks Friday night, which is a follow-up from his 18-point performance his last time out.
He’s shown us flashes all season of his potential, so kudos to you if you managed to keep him on your roster for the last 17 weeks. If not, he’s available in more than half of Yahoo leagues.
Rebounds
Isaiah Jackson (PF – IND): 33%
I’m a little nervous about Jackson moving forward. I mean, he has league-winning potential, but he left Friday’s game after he re-injured his ankle again.
He looked damn good before exiting, though.
The thing is, the Pacers could choose to be extra cautious with him moving forward in a lost season, and they have a logjam at power forward and center, which can allow them to practice patience with Jackson.
But the second he is cleared and if we see that he’s going to get a full workload, the sky is the limit.
Assists
Davion Mitchell (PG/SG – SAC): 55%
I’ve mentioned Mitchell in my last three columns – this one included – so I’m kind of tired of discussing him.
We’d like him to start, of course, but in the first post-Haliburton game for the Kings, Mitchell played 34 minutes and posted a full line, which included seven dimes.
The Kings are suddenly fun – bad, but fun – and have fantasy pieces to help down the stretch.
Mitchell stands out above the rest – regardless of his role.
Steals
Herb Jones (SF/PF – NOP): 55%
Sorry, but my foot is planted. I’m leaving Jones here every week until we get him over 60 percent. Even with the addition of C.J. McCollum, I just don’t get the hesitation.
Top 50 value over the last month still. Forty-sixth ranked played on the year.
Help me mix up the names in this column by picking him up in more leagues.
We’re so close.
Blocks
Daniel Gafford (C – WAS): 53%
There was a logjam in Washington, but now that Montrezl Harrell is in Charlotte, playing time has opened up wide for Gafford and Thomas Bryant.
While Gafford is out Saturday due to health and safety protocols, he’s due for major run when he returns.
Now, could Bryant take those minutes and run? Sure, he could. But the Wizards are fully invested and behind Gafford, and he is, frankly, better than Bryant across the board.
Threes
Reggie Bullock (SG/SF – DAL): 44%
Bullock has come back to Earth a bit, but the one thing that is remaining is his ability – and willingness – to take shots from behind the arc.
Bullock, despite seeing his scoring dip, has hit six threes in his last two games, and over the last two weeks, is averaging 4.3 three-pointers made per game.
I’m not worried about Spencer Dinwiddie taking away from him on offense, and I fully expect Bullock to get major run the rest of the season.
Field-goal percentage
Jaxson Hayes (C – NOP): 40%
The Pelicans made moves at the deadline, and when they brought in McCollum and Larry Nance, I had pause about Hayes’ value going forward.
But then, we found out that Nance is missing the rest of the season, so it looks like Hayes’ role is safe as the starting power forward beside big Jonas Valanciunas.
Hayes is the 42nd-ranked player in fantasy over the last two weeks, with 13 points, six boards, 0.9 assists, and 1.7 STOCKs per game during that stretch.
Free-throw percentage
Jamal Murray (PG/SG – DEN): 31%
You know the drill by now with this category. We find someone who can knock down free throws, yes, but it’s also to highlight a player who we can’t quite squeeze into any of the above categories. This week, we’ll talk about Murray.
Remember him? Of course you do.
Now, it’s hard to bet on players coming back from a major injury like a torn ACL to do anything productive right away.
But when it’s someone of Murray’s caliber, we have to at least put him on our watchlist when there’s positive news.
The Nuggets came out and said that Murray and Michael Porter Jr. will be cleared to return
“Hopefully in the not too distant future.”
Take that as you will, but if you have unlimited IR spots, Murray could be worth scooping up – even if the most likely scenario is a late-season playoff ramp-up session.
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Michael Waterloo is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Michael, check out his archive and follow him @MichaelWaterloo.
